Founder of the chart-topping group LeVert, GERALD LEVERT released his first solo album in 1991, and in 1997 formed LSG with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill. His most recent album was 2005’s “Voices. EDDIE LEVERT is one of the founding members of the pioneering 1970s soul group and 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O’Jays. flooded with over 500 condolences from fans across the nation. Levert also worked with other artists as a songwriter and producer. He was the son of OJays singer Eddie Levert. The OJays still do a very high-energy show. The self-titled album sold more than two 2 million copies, and their hits included the sensual “My Body.” Distinctive Homes Home Buyers Guide Top Real Estate Agents Home Building. “Every night, that was our thing.”Īlthough Levert was successful as a solo singer, in 1997 he got into group mode again - joining with R&B singers Johnny Gill and Keith Sweat to form the supergroup LSG. “When we would do shows together, we would get on stage and battle for the hearts of women,” Downing said. Gerald Levert was known for his sensual, romantic songs, but unlike Luther Vandross, whose voice and songs were more genteel, Levert’s music was explosive and raw - his 2002 album was titled “The G Spot.” But they didn’t want to hear that they wanted to be in show business.” “I didn’t discourage them,” he told a Times reporter in 1989, “but I really wanted them to go to college, learn a craft, and then, if they wanted to do music and it happened for them, great, but they would already have a craft that would generate a living. I made it a point that I would know them and I would let them know me a lot more than I knew my father.”īut the elder Levert initially had concerns when his sons got involved in the music business. But that’s why I made it a point to have the kind of relationship that I have with my sons. Her clear tones and elastic range soared on a selection of mellow yet funky tunes.“Don’t get me wrong - he took care of the family. I reviewed Watts singing Janette Mason’s re-arranged soul covers here, and was fortunate to hear Watts’ original material last night. Supporting The O’Jays was Natasha Watts, an independent artist who has toured with Gladys Knight and has been featured on tracks with Cool Million. house exploded died in the blast, police say Julia Roberts breaks silence. Eddie LeVert IS THE LEAD SINGER OF THE MGHTY Ojays.AND ON THESE PAGES YOULL FIND. She afterward dissolved her married relationship with him. This prompted an audience member to signal to Levert and shout ‘no politics’ – a bizarre interaction which the group nipped in the bud with a performance of ‘Love Train’ (indeed, a political song but inoffensively so). Eddie Levert and his son, Gerald, lead singer of the group Levert. She was Eddie Levert’s previous wife (Actor, Singer and Songwriter). There were a handful of decidedly political moments throughout the night, with Levert expressing his distaste for the current occupant of the White House. Levert later explained that they chose ‘Ship Ahoy’ to put into perspective the success of The O’Jays given the historic (and still very present) oppression of African-Americans. Each member of The O’Jays (Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, and Eric Nolan Grant) walked out individually, singing the haunting chorus of ‘Ship Ahoy’ – an epic re-telling of African slaves being transported through the Middle Passage. Images of the African continent, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and racial violence and unrest in the United States were presented on a screen as the theatre filled with smoke. While the set was fairly predictable, the opening certainly surprised. The sound mix combined with audience singing drowned out the group slightly on the uptempo, disco numbers – but it was undeniably crowd-pleasing fun. Other highlights included the paranoid ‘Backstabbers’, and the irresistibly funky ‘For The Love of Money’. I was sadly denied the full six minutes of ‘Stairway To Heaven’, but the brief segment performed was passionately sung. They tackled most of their greatest hits, albeit many were condensed into vignettes and medleys. The group was supported by a strong live band, with an impressive horn section. Eddie Levert in particular can still rouse audiences with this full-throttle gravelly belt. Call me a cynic, but I’m sure a large proportion of the audience were less interested in hearing high-quality musicianship, and more invested in singing along to 1970s Philly soul classics in the presence of the group who originated them.įortunately, however, the group was on very good form. Last night, Philadelphia soul legends The O’Jays occupied Theatre Royal Drury Lane, currently home to 42nd Street, for a special ‘one night only’ concert.Īs with any legacy artist or group, I was concerned that the concert would be fuelled solely by nostalgia. The O’Jays offered up a wealth of nostalgia, but with strong vocals too.
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