Gerald Levert Totally Explained

Everything about Gerald Levert totally explained

Gerald Levert (July 13 1966 - November 10 2006) was an American R&B singer, one of several from the musical Levert family. His father, Eddie Levert, is the lead singer of the 1970s soul group The O'Jays. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B musical group comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert.

Early life & career

Gerald Levert was born to The O'Jays frontman Eddie Levert and his wife Martha in Philadelphia on July 13, 1966. Levert grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and due to his father's career, Levert would travel with the band regularly. While in high school, Levert's inclination towards music became apparent when he formed the R&B trio LeVert, with his younger brother Sean(deceased, March 30,2008) and friend Marc Gordon in 1984. The group proved to be very successful with four of its seven albums going platinum. These include, I Get Hot in 1985, Bloodline in 1986, The Big Throwdown in 1987, and Just Coolin in 1988. Among the group's memorable hits were, "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind", "Casanova", and "ABC-123" (not to be confused with the Jackson 5 hit of the same name).

Solo Career & Collaborations

In 1991, Levert went solo with the album, Private Line, which went to number one on the R&B charts. The following year, Gerald and his father, Eddie Levert, hit number one on the R&B charts with the single, Baby Hold On to Me. Levert recorded a string of albums throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, that spawned the hit singles, "Thinkin' About It" (Pop #12), "Taking Everything" (Pop #11), "Funny", "Mr. Too Damn Good to You", "U Got That Love", and a remake of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly", along with gospel singer Yolanda Adams. Gerald wrote and produced songs for other artists such as, Barry White, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass, James Ingram, The Winans and The O'Jays. In the mid 1990s, he also helped launch the careers of three Cleveland-area R&B ensembles: The Rude Boys, Men at Large and 1 of the Girls. In 1997, Levert teamed up with fellow R&B singers Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill, to form the supergroup, LSG. The trio released the album Levert-Sweat-Gill, the same year, followed by LSG2 in 2003. In 1999, Levert sang the chorus on the Chris Rock spoken-word comedy piece, "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)". One of Levert's last collaborations was with pianist Jim Brickman on the song "My Angel", for Brickman's 2006 album entitled Escape.
Levert released his tenth album,Voices, in 2005.

Personal life

Although never married, Levert had four children; LeMicah, Camryn,and Brandon,Carlysia Levert. Carlysia, an aspiring singer, appeared on the MTV series My Super Sweet 16, with her father in 2005.

Death

On November 10, 2006, Gerald Levert was found dead in his bed at his Newbury home when a cousin tried to wake him.Initial reports stated that Levert had died of an apparent heart attack. In February of 2007, an autopsy report conducted by the Cuyahoga County coroner's office concluded that Levert's death was caused by a fatal combination of prescription narcotics and over-the-counter drugs. The drugs in his bloodstream included the narcotic pain relievers Vicodin, Percocet, and Darvocet, along with anxiety medication Xanax and two over-the-counter antihistamines. The autopsy also revealed that Levert had pneumonia. The official cause of death was acute intoxication, and the death was ruled accidental. Gerald Levert was 40 years old.
Following the disclosure of Gerald Levert's cause of death, a family spokesman stated that all the drugs found in Levert's bloodstream were prescribed to the singer. Levert was taking the pain medication because of chronic pain from a lingering shoulder problem and surgery in 2005 to repair a severed Achilles tendon. Levert was also prescribed Xanax for anxiety attacks.In June of 2007, a book Gerald was working to complete entitled, I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep it Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship, was released. The book was initially planned as a tie-in for a Levert album of the same name. I Got Your Back explores Gerald and Eddie’s father/son relationship, the necessity of male bonding, and importance of repairing fractured families.Levert was also working on reality show in which he was losing weight along with 12 of his female fans, who were training with him at his palatial home.

Posthumous Grammy Award nomination and win

On December 7, 2006, it was announced that Levert, along with soul legend Chaka Khan, gospel singer Yolanda Adams, and R&B crooner Carl Thomas were nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocals for their collaboration on "Everyday (Family Reunion)", a song from the soundtrack of Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion. He was nominated again for the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his single, "In My Songs". At the 50th annual Grammy Awards, it was announced that Levert had won the award for "In My Songs". Levert's brother and former founding Levert member Sean Levert (deceased) accepted in his late brother's behalf.

Awards/Nominations

American Music Award
- 1999, Favorite R&B/Soul Band, Duo or Group (Nominated) w/ LSG
- 1993, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (Nominated)
- 1988, Favorite R&B/Soul Single: "Cassanova" (Nominated) w/ Levert

BET Awards

2007, Favorite Male R&B Artist: (Nominated)
2007, BET J Cool Like Dat: (Winner)

Grammy Awards

2008, Best Traditional R&B Performance: "In My Songs" (winner)
2007, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Everyday (Family Reunion)" (Nominated) w/ Chaka Khan, Carl Thomas & Yolanda Adams
1988, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Cassnova" (Nominated) w/ Levert

Image Awards

2004, Outstanding Male Artist (Nominated)

Soul Train Awards

2003, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Album: Tha G Spot (Nominated)
1999, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Album: Levert.Sweat.Gill (Nominated)
1995, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Album: Groove On (Nominated)
1988, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Single: "Cassanova" (Winner) w/ Levert
1998, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Album: The Big Takedown (Winner) w/ Levert

Discography

Albums (Levert)

1985: I Get Hot

1986: Bloodline (#8 R&B, #192 Pop)

1987: The Big Throwdown (#3 R&B, #32 Pop)

1988: Just Coolin (#6 R&B, #79 Pop)

1990: Rope A Dope Style (#9 R&B, #122 Pop)

1993: For Real Tho (#5 R&B, #35 Pop)

1997: The Whole Scenario (#10 R&B, #49 Pop)

Albums (LSG)

1997: Levert-Sweat-Gill (#2 R&B, #4 Pop)

2003: LSG2 (#3 R&B, #6 Pop)

Albums (Gerald & Eddie Levert)

1995: Father & Son

2007: Something To Talk About (U.S. Sales as of July 12, 2007: 69,656 copies)

Singles With LeVert

1986: "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind" (#1 R&B)

1987: "Casanova" (#1 R&B, #5 Pop)

1987: "My Forever Love" (#2 R&B)

1988: "Sweet Sensation" (#4 R&B)

1988: "Addicted to You" (#1 R&B)

1988: "Pull Over" (#2 R&B)

1989: "Just Coolin" (#1 R&B, with Heavy D)

1989: "Gotta Get the Money" (#4 R&B)

1990: "Rope A Dope Style" (#7 R&B)

1990: "All Season" (#4 R&B)

1991: "Baby I'm Ready" (#1 R&B)

1993: "ABC-123" (#5 R&B)

Singles With LSG

1997: "My Body" (#1 R&B, #4 Pop)

Solo Singles

1988: "That's What Love Is" (#4 R&B, duet with Miki Howard)

1991: "Private Line" (#1 R&B)

1992: "Baby Hold On to Me" (#1 R&B, #37 Pop, duet with Eddie Levert)

1992: "School Me" (#3 R&B)

1992: "Can You Handle It" (#9 R&B)

1994: "I'd Give Anything" (#4 R&B, #28 Pop)

1995: "Answering Service" (#12 R&B)

1995: "Can't Help Myself" (#17 R&B)

1995: "How Many Times" (#55 R&B)

1995: "Already Missing You" (#7 R&B, #75 Pop, duet with Eddie Levert)

1996: "Wind Beneath My Wings" (#30 R&B, duet with Eddie Levert)

1998: "Thinkin' Bout It" (#2 R&B, #12 Pop)

1999: "Taking Everything" (#3 R&B, #11 Pop)

1999: "Nothin' to Somethin" (#55 R&B)

2000: "Baby U Are" (#31 R&B, #89 Pop)

2000: "Mr. Too Damn Good" (#20 R&B, #76 Pop)

2000: "Dream With No Love" (#84 R&B)

2001: "Made To Love Ya" (#37 R&B)

2002: "Funny" (#37 R&B)

2002: "What Makes It Good To You (No Premature Lovin')" (#66 R&B)

2003: "Closure" (#57 R&B)

2004: "One Million Times" (#56 R&B)

2004: "U Got That Love (Call It a Night)" (#30 R&B)

2004: "Wear It Out" (#58 R&B)

2005: "So What (If You Got a Baby)" (#49 R&B)

2007: "In My Songs" (#28 R&B)Further Information

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