Gerald Edward Levert of Cleveland, Ohio, the last of a dying breed of pure soul singers, died in his sleep November 10, 2006. He was survived by four children, his mother, two brothers, his sister, and his father, Eddie Levert of the O'Jays. Gerald was 40. He started as a member of LeVert, and had the effervescent 1987 hits "Casanova" and "Just Coolin'" with the trio. There was a successful, if over-hyped, on-and-off stint (1997-2003) as part of supergroup LSG alongside Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill, but Gerald Levert, starting in '91, produced three stellar, platinum-selling solo albums. A prolific songwriter (most notably behind Barry White's 1994 "Practice What You Preach"), he alternately eschewed and courted big-time mainstream popularity. He'll surely remain cherished by his zealous fan base - mostly women too mature for gangsta rap but too young and wanting hunky masculinity to keep after Luther Vandross. Gerald Levert had a smile to end all smiles, and a sense of humor robust and shrewd. Levert liked his food, he liked his cognac, he liked the BeeGees. He had his demons - they showed up in the abandon of his full-bodied tenor and the ferocity of his face when he fell to his knees with a howl. Gerald never was "cool," and though he sometimes wished he was, it was his '70s-style lack of restraint, as opposed to a post-hip hop all-too-self-aware stance, that made us love every pound of him, every "Me and Romeo ain't never been friends." We wonder what dreams may come for Gerald Levert in the sleep of death ("Can't you see how much we really loved you?"), and can only hope they're filled with rhythm and no blues, that he's rocked eternally in what the poets call that cradle of the deep.
Comments
1.
dyme_ting says:
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Rest In Peace G.Levert...
ur truly missed...
One Million Times is my Tuneeeeeeee still... !
November 26, 2007 at 4:39 am
2.
M.Taylor says:
I remeber when I was in High School that jam he and his brothers sand "CASANOVA". Much love
http://marshalltaylor.blogspot.com
November 15, 2007 at 3:53 pm
3.
Lauryce says:
Gerald was my definition of a man
November 14, 2007 at 1:41 pm
4.
Alnastic says:
I remember taking a girl name Nina to sing for Gerald, he didn't waste anytime he heard her voice jumped up and said "Hay Murf we got the lead singer for the group" One Of The Girls was the groups name and though they had minimal success they represented the teenage swagger back then.
Gerald was the only star out here whose house and studio you could just go to and hear the Rude Boys record live and see Eddie do his thing.
Rope-A-Dope Style, Gerald had a Purple and Black Blazer with that on the back, GL is missed out here.
November 13, 2007 at 7:35 pm
5.
ONYEKA says:
G.Rest in peace. U was an epitome of good virtue. As far as Music is concern.
November 12, 2007 at 5:20 am
6.
Rise' G says:
GERALD IS TRULY LOVED AND MISSED THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER WITH A VOICE AS STRONG AND SENSUAL AS HIS. MUCH LOVE TO THE TEDDY BEAR.
November 11, 2007 at 7:21 pm
7.
Sharon says:
Gerald was one the greatest singers of all times and he will be forever missed. You'll always have a place in my heart for eternality.
November 11, 2007 at 11:58 am
8.
Jill says:
I am and will forever feel the great loss of your passing. I love U G. Time does not heal all wounds. REST IN PEACE.
November 10, 2007 at 8:45 pm
9.
yvette says:
I can't believe that it has been a year since that sad, sad day. Losing Gerald was like losing one one of my own family members. Gerald LeVert was/is truly my favorite singer. It's hard knowing that we never hear his sexy voice on any other sexy CD that he would have created. REST IN PEACE, YOU BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL MAN
November 10, 2007 at 6:55 pm
10.
JaNee says:
I CANT BELIEVE TO THIS DAY THAT HE IS GONE. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT MY FAVORITE SONY "ONE MILLION TIMES". I LISTEN TO THAT SONG ALL THE TIME AND I CRY ONE MILLION TIMES. I WILL TRULY MISS YOU FOREVER AND ALWAYS. NOTHING CAN CHANGE HOW MUCH I REALLY DO LOVE YOU. IT HAS ONLY BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE YOU BEEN GONE BUT IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER. REST IN PEACE GERALD LEVERT. LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU ALWAYS. I HOPE THAT GOD LETS YOU SING THAT BEAUTIFUL VOICE OF YOURS AND LET IT SHINE DOWN ON US. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART.
November 10, 2007 at 4:14 pm
11.
Tanya says:
Gerald Levert was the best.
November 10, 2007 at 9:29 am
12.
Tracey says:
Gerald Levert will always remain my favorite performer. He sang from his soul and touched many people with his amazing gift. There are far too few balladeers left that sing with such passion. Gerald Levert is truly missed. I hope he is singing in heaven now.
November 10, 2007 at 3:17 am
13.
Margaret Brandon says:
Your are greatly missed.
November 9, 2007 at 10:07 pm
14.
sharita says:
I WILL MISSING U SO MUCH.
November 9, 2007 at 8:33 pm
15.
Vera L. Cheeks says:
MISSING U SO MUCH TEDDY BEAR, MY HEART STILL ACHES KNOWING THAT U ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE. NOV 10TH WILL BE ONE YEAR AND IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS. NOW THE MEMORY OF THAT DAY IS HERE AGAIN. I HOPE YOUR MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSIC WHILE CLIMBING THAT STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. LOVE YA!
November 9, 2007 at 4:55 pm