LeVert
| LeVert | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | New jack swing, R&B, pop |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Atlantic Records, Rhino |
| Associated acts | The O'Jays, Gerald Levert, The Rude Boys, Men At Large |
| Members |
Marc Gordon Blaq Rose |
| Past members |
|
LeVert was an R&B/pop singing group, formed in Ohio in 1984, composed of Sean and Gerald Levert---sons of Eddie Levert, founder of the O'Jays---and Marc Gordon.[1]
Biography
The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes's Tempre label.[1] 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. 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. 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 onto the pop chart (number 5) and also the UK Top 10. 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 as Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. Both The Big Throwdown and Just Coolin' received gold certification.
Beginning in the 1990s, Gerald began dividing his time between LeVert, and his solo career, but the band released three more albums, and Rhino Records released a greatest hits compilation album in 2001.
Tragedies
Gerald's death
Gerald died of a heart attack due to an accidental overdose of over-the-counter and prescription drugs in November 2006.[2][3]
Sean's death
Sean Levert died in March 2008, while serving time in the Cuyahoga County Jail for failing to pay child support.[4][5]
Members
- Marc Gordon
- Blaq Rose
Former members
- Gerald Levert (deceased)
- Sean Levert (deceased)
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions[6] | US certifications[7] |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK[8] | ||||
| 1985 | I Get Hot | — | — | — | — | Tempre |
| 1986 | Bloodline | 192 | 8 | — | — | Atlantic |
| 1987 | The Big Throwdown | 32 | 3 | 86 | Gold | |
| 1988 | Just Coolin' | 79 | 6 | — | Gold | |
| 1990 | Rope a Dope Style | 122 | 9 | — | Gold | |
| 1993 | For Real Tho' | 35 | 3 | — | Gold | |
| 1997 | The Whole Scenario | 49 | 10 | — | — | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | US certifications |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK | ||||
| 2001 | The Best of LeVert | — | — | — | — | Rhino |
| 2004 | Just Coolin' and Other Hits | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions[9] | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Dance |
UK[8] | |||
| 1985 | "I'm Still" | — | 70 | — | — | I Get Hot |
| 1986 | "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind" | — | 1 | — | — | Bloodline |
| "Let's Go Out Tonight" | — | 14 | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Fascination" | — | 26 | — | — | |
| "Casanova" | 5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | The Big Throwdown | |
| "My Forever Love" | — | 2 | — | — | ||
| 1988 | "Sweet Sensation" | — | 4 | — | — | |
| "Addicted to You" | — | 1 | — | — | Just Coolin' | |
| "Pull Over" | — | 2 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Just Coolin'" (feat. Heavy D) | — | 1 | 19 | — | |
| "Gotta Get the Money" | — | 4 | — | — | ||
| "Smilin'" | — | 16 | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Rope a Dope Style" | — | 7 | — | — | Rope a Dope Style |
| "All Season" | — | 4 | — | — | ||
| 1991 | "Baby I'm Ready" | — | 1 | — | — | |
| "For the Love of Money"/"Living for the City" (medley) (with Troop feat. Queen Latifah) |
— | 12 | — | — | New Jack City | |
| "Give a Little Love" | — | 63 | — | — | Rope a Dope Style | |
| 1993 | "Good Ol' Days" | 78 | 12 | — | — | For Real Tho' |
| "abc-123" | 46 | 5 | — | — | ||
| "Do the Thangs" | — | 41 | — | — | ||
| 1997 | "Tru Dat" (feat. Yo-Yo & Queen Pen) | 107 | 52 | — | — | The Whole Scenario |
| "Sorry Is" (feat. Terry Ellis) | 113 | 33 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wells, Chris (1986) "It's in the Blood", Echoes, 8 November 1986, p. 5
- ↑ Gerald Levert dies
- ↑ "R&B singer Gerald Levert dead at 40 - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ↑ R&B Singer Sean Levert Dies While Serving Time In Prison | Breaking News, Weather, Sports and Entertainment for Georgia and South Carolina | Local News
- ↑ Black Star News | Relaunch
- ↑ "LeVert US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ↑ "LeVert US certification history". riaa.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "LeVert UK chart history". chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
- ↑ "LeVert US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.