LeVert was an American R&B vocal group from Cleveland, Ohio, United States.[1] Formed in 1983, LeVert was composed of Sean and Gerald Levert (sons of Eddie Levert, founder and lead singer of R&B/Soul vocal group O'Jays) and Marc Gordon.[2][3]
LeVert | |
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| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1983–1997 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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Biography
editThe group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes's Tempre label.[2] In 1985, they released their debut album, I Get Hot, which included tracks whose vocals drew strong comparisons to Sean and Gerald Levert's father Eddie.[1] Bloodline followed in 1986, and this album included the band's first big R&B hit "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind", a track that went all the way to Number One.[1] However, the band's next album, 1987's The Big Throwdown became an even bigger success, on the strength of the Number One R&B hit "Casanova", which gave them a crossover hit on the pop chart (number 5) and also a UK Top 10.[4]
A pair of additional R&B Top Five singles were also released from this album: "My Forever Love" and "Sweet Sensation". The band's success continued with their 1988 follow-up album Just Coolin', which was nominated for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. Both The Big Throwdown and Just Coolin' received gold certification.[1] Beginning in the 1990s, Gerald began dividing his time between LeVert, and his solo career,[1] but the band went on to release three more albums, and Rhino Records released a greatest hits album in 2001.
Gerald Levert died of a heart attack in November 2006.[5] Sean Levert died in March 2008.[6][7]
Discography
edit- Studio albums
- I Get Hot (1985)
- Bloodline (1986)
- The Big Throwdown (1987)
- Just Coolin' (1988)
- Rope a Dope Style (1990)
- For Real Tho' (1993)
- The Whole Scenario (1997)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 307. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
- ^ a b Wells, Chris (1986) "It's in the Blood", Echoes, 8 November 1986, p. 5
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "LEVERT - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "R&B singer Gerald Levert dead at 40". Cnn.com. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "R&B; Singer Sean Levert Dies While Serving Time In Prison". NBC Augusta. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
- ^ "Sean Levert Dies After Jail Emergency". Billboard.com. March 31, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2019.