Eddie Levert - Wikipedia

American singer (born 1942)

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Eddie Levert
Levert performing at the 2010 Alabama Music Hall of Fame concert
Background information
Born	Edward Wills Levert (1942-06-16) June 16, 1942 (age 83)Bessemer, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul gospel disco
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Years active	1958–present
Labels	EMI Philadelphia Int'l Columbia Twenty Two Recordings

Musical artist

Edward Willis Levert (born June 16, 1942) is an American singer best known as the lead vocalist of the O'Jays.[1] He is the father of sons Edward Jr (1964-), Gerald (1966–2006) and Sean Levert (1968–2008) and daughter Ryan Levert (2002–2024).[2]

Biography

[edit]

Levert was born in Bessemer, Alabama, and was raised in Canton, Ohio, where he moved at the age of six. He attended church regularly and eventually joined the church choir. As Levert continued singing into his teenage years, he became a recognized voice in the church choir, sang in school plays and performed regularly on a gospel radio show.

While at high school, he teamed up with classmates Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles to form a group called the Triumphs. The Triumphs played locally in Canton opening for different acts, playing 'sock hops'. They traveled to Cincinnati to canvas King Records whose President Sid Nathan changed their name to The Mascots and signed them to his label. The Mascots' popularity grew as their music was broadcast on Cleveland radio stations.

In 1969, The O'Jays signed with Philadelphia International Records where they began to release records under the new label. The O'Jays later signed with EMI-Manhattan Records and Levert and Williams began co-writing and producing their own tracks. Their EMI debut album, "Let Me Touch You", went to number three R&B and included "Lovin' You", which became a number-one R&B hit in the summer of 1987.

In 1984, Levert's two sons Gerald and Sean, both still in high school, announced that they wanted to follow their father's musical background. They met Marc Gordon recording under the group name LeVert – four of their seven albums went platinum. In 1992 Eddie and son Gerald recorded "Baby Hold On to Me", which was a No. 1 R&B hit and reached No. 37 on the Pop charts.

In 2006, upon returning from a South African tour with sons Gerald and Sean, Eddie's son Gerald died due to interactions between his prescribed medications. In 2007, Eddie and son Gerald's album recorded in 2006, "Something to Talk About", was released followed by the publication of the book I Got Your Back, co-authored by Eddie and son Gerald. In 2008, Eddie's son Sean died as a result of being denied needed prescription medication by government officials in Ohio. Later in 2008, Eddie and his late son Gerald were presented with "Best Duo or Group" Image Award. In 2009, The O'Jays were awarded BET's "Lifetime Achievement Award" and Eddie Levert was honored with the "Heroes and Legends Pacesetter Award". On January 29, 2011, The O'Jays received the "Trumpet Lifetime Achievement Award". Throughout Eddie Levert's career, The O'Jays have released ten Gold Albums, with nine eventually going Platinum and ten No. 1 hits.

Levert is still performing and touring with The O'Jays, as well as performing as a solo artist.

Albums

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Year	Album	Peak chart positions		Certifications
		US[3][4]	USR&B[3][4]
1995	Father and Son (with Gerald Levert)	20	2	RIAA: Gold
2007	Something to Talk About	19	5
2012	I Still Have It	—	43
2016	Did I Make You Go Ooh	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

[edit]

1. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Biography: Eddie LeVert". AMG. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
2. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (December 24, 2024). "O'Jays singer Eddie Levert's youngest child Ryan dies at 22, years after brothers' deaths". Los Angeles Times.
3. ^ a b "Eddie Levert - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
4. ^ a b "US Charts > LeVert". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

Awards for Eddie Levert

v t e NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration Duo or Group (1979–2007) The Jacksons (1979) The Commodores (1980) Kool & the Gang (1981) Gladys Knight & the Pips (1982) No Award (1983–1985) Atlantic Starr (1986) Gladys Knight & the Pips (1987) LeVert (1988) After 7 (1989) No Award (1990) The O'Jays (1991) Boyz II Men (1992) En Vogue (1993) No Award (1994) Boyz II Men (1995) Kirk Franklin (1996) Boyz II Men (1997) Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey (1998) Destiny's Child (1999) Destiny's Child (2000) Destiny's Child (2001) India Arie and Stevie Wonder (2002) Outkast (2003) Destiny's Child (2004) Destiny's Child (2005) The Cheetah Girls (2006) Eddie Levert and Gerald Levert (2007) Duo, Group or Collaboration (2008–2019) Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia (2008) Black Eyed Peas (2009) John Legend and The Roots (2010) Mary J. Blige and Drake (2011) Mary Mary (2012) Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharrell (2013) Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige (2014) Empire Cast featuring Estelle and Jussie Smollett (2015) Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar (2016) Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna (2017) Kendrick Lamar and SZA (2018) Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, Beyoncé, and Wizkid (2019) Contemporary (2020–present) Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (2020) Tobe Nwigwe featuring Fat Nwigwe (2021) Chris Brown featuring Wizkid (2022) Chris Brown featuring Davido and Lojay (2023) Wizkid featuring Brent Faiyaz (2024) Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller and Usher (2025) Traditional (2020–present) Chloe x Halle (2020) Silk Sonic (2021) Silk Sonic (2022) Ciara and Chris Brown (2023) Adam Blackstone and Fantasia (2024) 803Fresh featuring Fantasia (2025) v t e Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2005 Performers Buddy Guy The O'Jays Eddie Levert, Bobby Massey, William Powell, Sammy Strain, Walter Williams The Pretenders Martin Chambers, Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott, Chrissie Hynde Percy Sledge U2 Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. Lifetime achievement Frank Barsalona Seymour Stein

v t e The O'Jays
Eddie Levert Walter Williams Eric Grant Bill Isles Bobby Massey William Powell Sammy Strain Nathaniel Best
Studio albums	Back on Top Back Stabbers Ship Ahoy Survival Family Reunion Message in the Music Travelin' at the Speed of Thought So Full of Love Identify Yourself Serious Emotionally Yours Heartbreaker
Other albums	The Very Best of the O'Jays
Singles	"Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette) "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today) "Back Stabbers" "Love Train" "For the Love of Money" "Give the People What They Want" "I Love Music (Part I)" "Livin' for the Weekend" "Message in Our Music" "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" "Use ta Be My Girl" "Lovin' You" "Have You Had Your Love Today" "Stairway to Heaven"
Related articles	Discography

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat
National	United States France BnF data Czech Republic
Artists	MusicBrainz
Other	IdRef Yale LUX