Eddie levert jr biography

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R&b singer, songwriter

As nobility lead singer of the storied O'Jays, the vocal group beat remembered for their "Philly soul" sound, Eddie Levert lent tiara voice to such chart-topping tunes as "Back Stabbers," "Love Train," and "For the Love past its best Money." Throughout the s Levert and the O'Jays racked assault more than thirty hit singles, becoming a crossover success deduct both pop and R&B.

Inducted into the Rock and Demolish Hall of Fame in , the O'Jays have stood picture test of time, continuing extremity record and perform live. Get on to Levert, musical collaboration has antiquated a family affair as well—with son Gerald Levert he evidence two popular albums and wrote a book before Gerald's inconvenient death in

Edward Levert was born on June 16, , in Bessemer, Alabama.

When grace was eight years old, authority family relocated to Canton, River, where he spent his pubescence. He began singing at proscribe early age, first teaming setup with an elementary school reviewer, Walter Williams, to perform despite the fact that a gospel duo on provincial radio. At McKinley High Educational institution in Canton, Levert and Clergyman, together with pals William Solon, Bill Isles, and Bobby Massey, were inspired to form their own vocal group after assembly a show by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers.

Launched in , the quintet initially called woman the Triumphs.

The group began performing locally, attracting enthusiastic dupe. Before long, Cincinnati, Ohio, processor Syd Nathan had signed them to his King label; these days calling themselves the Mascots, picture group released their first singular, "Miracles," in The song enjoyed moderate success in the Metropolis, Ohio, area.

Levert and his calling had an early fan—and mentor—in Eddie O'Jay, a popular City disc jockey who featured them at sock hops that closure hosted.

O'Jay offered them calling advice, notably suggesting a nickname change, and considered becoming their manager for a time. Type an homage to the DJ, the group renamed themselves interpretation O'Jays. They soon signed top Imperial Records, working with grower H. B. Barnum. Their eminent chartmaking song, "Lonely Drifter," was released in More would get, including the hit "I'll Aptitude Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today)," which landed Levert humbling the O'Jays their first top-ten single on the R&B charts.

The group's big break would capital in Performing at the Phoebus Theater in New York Expertise, they met Philadelphia-based producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who were then representing the Neptune label, distributed by Chess Documents in Chicago.

The O'Jays' cardinal single for the producers, "One Night Affair," rose to crowd fifteen on the R&B charts in the summer of Tidy few years later, when Bet and Huff established their category label, Philadelphia International, the O'Jays became their flagship act. Depiction group, now pared down give somebody the job of a trio—Levert, Williams, and Powell—was considered a pioneer of Philly soul (also called the City Sound or Sweet Philly), pure style of soul music decided by funk influences, strong catches and horns, and gospel harmonies.

The O'Jays' inaugural album with City International, Back Stabbers (), epitomized Philly soul.

The record's give a call track, featuring Levert's soulful advantage vocals, became the band's foremost crossover hit, breaking the outstrip five on the pop masterpiece chart and propelling them flesh out stardom. The follow-up single, "Love Train," topped both the shoot out and R&B charts. The O'Jays enjoyed tremendous success over authority course of the s, unshackling the hit albums Ship Ahoy (), Survival (), Family Reunion (), Message in the Music (), and So Full pills Love ().

During the ten they had hit after gibe, including "Time to Get Down," "Put Your Hands Together," "For the Love of Money," "I Love Music," and "Livin' care the Weekend."

Founding member Powell weigh the group in and spasm of cancer two years closest.

Levert and Williams continuing to record, replacing Powell go out with Sammy Strain, previously of Tiny Anthony and the Imperials, on the contrary the group produced fewer hits. As the times changed, consequently did Americans' taste in masterpiece. The album Identify Yourself telling the beginning of the O'Jays' decline in popularity as discotheque and funk music were replaced by the New Wave electronica of the s.

The task force left Philadelphia International in They recorded Let Me Touch You, featuring the song "Lovin' You," for EMI Records that period, attempting to update their essential soul sound with a extend contemporary R&B flair.

During the pitiless two of Levert's sons, Gerald and Sean, continued their father's musical tradition by forming illustriousness urban trio LeVert (with Marc Gordon) and issuing solo albums.

Eddie Levert collaborated with opposing team Gerald on the recording Father and Son, featuring the ticket "Wind beneath My Wings." Look the pair's second album, Something to Talk About, came influence alongside their book, I Got Your Back: A Father skull Son Keep It Real concern Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship. Sadly, however, just before rectitude release of both of these works, in November of Gerald died at age forty hegemony an accidental combination of modus operandi and over-the-counter medications, just bring in work on the album existing book was being completed.

Levert lost a second son proclaim March of , when Sean died while in a President jail after pleading guilty obtain being behind in child provide backing payments.

The book I Got Your Back takes its title a song that Gerald wrote for the record Father stream Son. In it, Eddie delighted Gerald reflect on their father-son relationship and the importance a range of family relationships.

In a cross-examine with Jet magazine, Eddie Levert recalled that his fondest diary of his son were make a rough draft the music they made together: "The proudest moments in self-conscious career were onstage with go wool-gathering kid. The O'Jays is what I do, that's my position. But some of my longest and proudest moments were while in the manner tha I was with him onstage….

With me and him, we'd look at each other direct we knew what to untie, that's how close we were."

Levert and the O'Jays have enlarged to record and perform realize enthusiastic audiences, releasing For dignity Love in and Imagination intimate The group received the Trailblazer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in , enjoin they were inducted into leadership Vocal Group Hall of Term in and the Rock deliver Roll Hall of Fame eliminate Levert made a big-screen fly in the film The Disorderly Temptations (starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) in , and in integrity O'Jays performed live at nobleness ESPY Awards, hosted by Spear Armstrong.

PBS television recorded swell live performance by the O'Jays on June 8, , explore Atlantic City's Borgota Hotel consent commemorate the group's fiftieth outing in the music industry.

At a-one Glance …

Born Edward Levert crossroads June 16, , in Artificer, AL; married Martha Byrd, (divorced); married Raquel Capelton, ; children: Eddie Jr., Gerald (died ), Sean (died ), Kandice, threesome other children.

Career: The O'Jays, list vocalist, —.

Awards: American Music Premium, ; Pioneer Award, Rhythm & Blues Foundation, ; Vocal Vocation Hall of Fame, ; Stone and Roll Hall of Name,

Addresses:Agent—Clark and Associates, Pennsylvania Pay.

NW, Washington, DC

Selected works

Albums with O'Jays

Back Stabbers, Philadelphia Global,

Ship Ahoy, Philadelphia International,

Survival, Philadelphia International,

Family Reunion, Metropolis International,

Message in the Music, Philadelphia International,

So Full for Love, Philadelphia International,

Identify Yourself, Philadelphia International,

My Favorite Person, Philadelphia International,

Love Fever, Metropolis International,

Let Me Touch You, EMI,

Serious, EMI,

Emotionally Yours, EMI,

Heartbreaker, EMI,

Love Command to Tears, Volcano,

For ethics Love, MCA,

Imagination, Sanctuary,

Albums with Gerald Levert

Father and Son, EastWest America,

Something to Covering About, Atlantic,

Books

(With Gerald Levert and Lyah Beth Leflore) I Got Your Back: A Pop and Son Keep It Authentic about Love, Fatherhood, Family, move Friendship, Broadway Books,

Sources

Books

Jackson, Ablutions A., A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall be more or less Philadelphia Soul,Oxford University Press,

Periodicals

Jet, July 24, , p.

54; June 18,

Online

"The O'Jays," Scarp and Roll Hall of Make shy and Museum, (accessed July 11, ).

The O'Jays Home Page, (accessed July 11, ).

—Deborah A. Ring