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Soul man Gerald LeVert had an auspicious childhood as the son of R&B legend Eddie LeVert, the lead singer of the O'Jays, and the choice gene pool seemed to kick in at an early age. While still a teenager, LeVert joined with brother Sean and friend Marc Gordon to form the soul group LeVert and, after one independent release, signed with Atlantic Records in 1985.
Gerald's voice was a near dead-ringer for his father's distinctive, growling baritone, and his engaging lead took the group to the top of the Soul charts with "Pop Goes My Mind" and followed the next year with the top five Pop and Soul Atlantic single, "Casanova," an infectious midtempo tune written for the group by Midnight Star's Calloway brothers that elevated LeVert to the top of the late 80s Soul music pyramid.
Gerald was developing as a songwriter and vocalist, and fronted LeVert through a string of top Soul hits over the next few years, including #1s "My Forever Love," "Just Coolin'" and "Baby I'm Ready." However, his development also moved him into a first-among-equals status that invariably led to a solo singing career. He branched out in 1991 with his solo debut, Private Line, and topped the Soul charts with the title track. Even better was his duet with his father Eddie on "Baby Hold On To Me," a phenomenal ballad that was one of 1992's most memorable songs and which led to their 1994 album of duets, Father and Son.
Over the remainder of the decade Gerald continued to score big on the Soul charts, while only infrequently crossing over (most notably on the bland David Foster ballad "I'd Give Anything"). However, as the turn of the century hit, Gerald's audience grew older and less tuned into hit radio, and he developed into more of an album artist. He remained incredibly prolific through the next half decade, releasing a new album annually and landing in the Soul and Pop 10 with each disc. He also provided quality songs and/or vocal help to a slew of other performers, including Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams, and was part of a popular but artistically disappointing 2-album stint with singers Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat in the macho, sexed-up group LSG.
In 2005, Gerald Levert compiled a number of his strongest duets with other artists as well as songs with LSG and a few new recordings on the CD Voices. For LeVert fans, Voices served as a nice compilation of some of LeVert's notable work outside of his solo albums, including great cuts with the Rude Boys ("Written All Over Your Face"), LSG ("My Side of the Bed") and Kelly Price ("All I Want Is You"). And for the uninitiated, it was a fine introduction to Gerald LeVert as a songwriter and vocalist.
While Gerald LeVert's catalog is of varying quality, he certainly demonstrated himself as a capable songwriter and a consistently strong vocalist. He also showed impressive longevity during a particularly fickled period in popular music and remained at the top of his game for two decades.
Sadly, on November 10, 2006, Gerald died of a heart attack while sleeping. His final recordings were released in February 2007 under the title In My Songs. In February 2008, Levert won a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance for In My Songs.
by Chris Rizik
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DEDICATION TO GERALD & SEAN
MZGLORIA - December 14th, 2008
DEDICATION TO GERALD & SEAN LVERT
When your life is out of balance then call on the angel of balance to bring your life back to center. You call on the angel of balance on an unconscious level the angel will allow you to step back from all that is challenging you, take stock and find the balance you need. The challenge will be solved. Angels are all around you but they will never interfere with your free will unless you invite them. Some ways to get in touch with your angels is just to call out to them. Anyway you have a special guardian angel so just call out to that angel. Call loudly "Guardian angel come to me." or "Help me guardian angel." An angel who holds dominion over the rising sun, we pray to this illuminated one for the promise of new beginnings, innocence, renewal, awakening and enlightenment.Face the rising sun in the morning and pray to this angel for these spirit gifts and attributes.
Angels On My Shoulders: Dedication To Gerald & Sean Levert
Mr. Gerald Edward Levert~July 13, 1966-November 10, 2006
Mr. Sean Edward Levert, Sr.~September 28, 1968-March 30, 2008
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
There are no words ...what can we say?
At last Gerald Edward & Sean Edward Levert sweet souls winged its way.
To peace and freedom in the sky.
Where never again will they suffer or cry.
It's all part of The Father's great plan.
Which remains a mystery to woman and man.
We cannot understand His heavenly ways.
Nor can we count our earthly days.
But who are we to question and doubt?
The Father knows well what He's all about.
He knew they longed to go to sleep.
Where only heavenly angels, a vigil keep.
The pain of living grew just too great.
No longer could Gerald & Sean can stay and wait.
For they did not want to leave us, our dears.
But Gerald & Sean had finished their work down here.
So they closed their eyes and when they awoke.
These are the words the Master has spoke.
"Welcome, dear precious sons, you both are home at last.
And now the burden of living has past.
There's work for you both in My Kingdom, have no fears.
And you are so needed and wanted here."
So weep not, for Gerald & Sean has just gone on ahead,
Please don't think of them as being dead.
Their out of sight for just a little while.
And you all will miss their touch and their big hearty smiles.
But you know in your hearts that they are safe in the Home above.
Where there is nothing but continuous Peace and Love.
And surely you would not deny them peace.
And you're glad that Gerald & Sean have found eternal release.
Think of the brothers there as souls that are free.
And Home at last, where Gerald Edward & Sean Edward Levert wanted to be.
So do not stand alone, or by their graves and weep.
They are not there, for they do not sleep.
They are a thousand winds that blows.
They are the diamond glints in snow.
They are the sunlights on ripened grains.
They are the gentle autumn rains.
They are the swift, uplifting rush.
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
They are the soft stars that shines at night.
So please dear ones do not stand alone, or by their graves and cry.
For they are not there for they did not die.
With just a single thought you can and will forever carry them deep in your hearts!
From My Heart To The Levert Brothers: Gerald & Sean
Di daakes'-meaning: When things and times are the hardest, brighter times are near.
Mi aime jou & Tu me manques
Amor vitae essentia-Love is the Essence of Life
Loving Gerald & Sean To Infinity With Out End
MzGloria
Heavenly Father, Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angels in heaven and appointed them our guide during this earthly pilgrimage. Accept our thanks for so great a blessing. Grant that we may experience the assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities. And you, holy, loving angels and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation. Then we shall love you for all eternity. We shall praise and glorify you unceasingly for all the good you have done for us while here on earth. Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our family, loved ones, friends, enemies and strangers. Take our place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty, short-sightedness, or sinful neglect. Lighten, O you perfect servants of God/Allah/Jehovah or whomever you worship, our heavy task. Guide us all that we may become like unto YOU, may imitate YOU faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal life.
Amen
