Gerald Levert

A contemporary soul singer whose smooth yet robust vocals infused energy and emotion into even his calmest tracks, Gerald LeVert matured in the orbit of his father, Eddie LeVert, Sr., of the O'Jays. That familial connection supplied early industry access that equipped the younger LeVert for a multifaceted career as writer, arranger, producer, and performer. Entering adulthood, he teamed with longtime associate Marc Gordon and brother Sean to create the trio LeVert, which issued its debut single, “I’m Still,” on the independent Tempre imprint. Although still developing as a vocalist, Gerald delivered a forceful, evocative performance on the track that earned critical notice and climbed to number 70 on the Billboard R&B chart, where it logged eight weeks.

The single secured an Atlantic Records contract the next year. Working primarily with the group, he amassed five number-one singles, seven Top Ten singles, and four additional Top 20 singles on the Billboard R&B chart, among them the Reggie and Vincent Calloway-written and -produced chart-topper “Casanova,” which also reached number four on the Billboard pop chart. He further collaborated with labelmate Miki Howard on the number-four single “That’s What Love Is.” In 1991 Gerald issued his first solo album, Private Line; its title track supplied his initial R&B number-one hit as a solo artist. The following year he paired with his father for another chart-topping duet, “Baby Hold on to Me,” and reached number three with “School Me,” a track whose style recalled Babyface’s “Whip Appeal.”

David Foster offered Gerald a pop-oriented song that became the number-one pop and Top 20 R&B single “I Swear.” Gerald later revisited Foster’s circle to cut “I’d Give Anything,” also produced by Foster. Originally a number-four country hit for Boy Howdy under the title “She’d Give Anything,” Gerald’s rendition peaked inside the pop Top 30 yet performed even more strongly on the R&B chart, where it reached number four and underscored his devoted R&B audience. Beyond his own recordings, the Cleveland, Ohio native contributed songwriting, vocals, and production to numerous acts, including the O’Jays, Barry White, Stephanie Mills, Troop, Teddy Pendergrass, the Winans, Patti LaBelle, and Rude Boys. In 1997 he formed the supergroup LSG with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill, yielding the hit single “My Body.” As a solo artist he released Love & Consequences in 1998 and G in 1999, then maintained a steady output in the early 2000s with the albums Gerald’s World, G Spot, Stroke of Genius, and Do I Speak for the World before 2005. Shortly after finishing a memoir with his father and another album, Levert died on November 10, 2006, at age 40; the cause was ruled accidental after a lethal mix of prescription and over-the-counter medication. The completed project In My Songs appeared the day before Valentine’s Day 2007, followed that June by Something to Talk About, recorded with his father.