Sean Levert

Sean Levert (September 28, 1968 – March 30, 2008)^[1] was an American R&B singer.

Biography

Sean Levert was born in Cleveland, Ohio^[1] and was the son of Eddie Levert, the lead singer of The O'Jays.^[2] He formed the trio LeVert with older brother Gerald Levert and childhood friend Marc Gordon; together they scored several smash hits on the U.S. R&B charts in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995, Sean launched a solo career with the album The Other Side on Atlantic Records, which peaked at #22 on the US Billboard R&B chart and #146 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] The album yielded the charting singles "Put Your Body Where Your Mouth Is" (U.S. R&B #40) and "Same One" (U.S. R&B #57) that same year.^[4] Sean and Gerald Levert appeared in the film New Jack City (1991);^[5] Sean also played a part in the direct-to-video Dope Case Pending (2000).^[6]

Child support problems and death

In 2008, Levert was sentenced to a 22-month prison sentence for failing to pay child support for three of his children, then aged 11, 15, and 17.^[2][7] Levert became ill while incarcerated in the Cuyahoga County Correctional Facility, prior to his transfer to a state prison, reporting high blood pressure and hallucinations; he died six days after being admitted to the jail, on March 30. The Cuyahoga County coroner ruled in May that his death was caused by complications from sarcoidosis. The official Coroner's report also noted issues of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and withdrawal from Xanax. In 2010, his widow was awarded 4 million dollars as a result of lawsuit filed against Cuyahoga County.^[8] Levert left behind a wife, Angela Lowe, and six children: Shareaun Woods (19), Keith Potts (19), Sean Levert Jr. (16), Breoni Levert (16), Brandon Levert (12), and Chad Levert (3). He was 39 years old.

References