LeVert
Encyclopedia
LeVert is a R&B/pop music
singing
group, formed in Ohio
in 1984
, comprising Sean
and Gerald Levert
, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert
, as well as Marc Gordon.
, the group released their debut album
, I Get Hot, which included tracks whose vocals drew strong comparisons to those of Sean and Gerald Levert's father Eddie. Bloodline followed in 1986, and this album included the band's first big R&B hit with "(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 hit single "Casanova
", which gave the band a crossover hit onto the pop charts
, peaking at number 5 in this market and making the UK Top 10. A pair of additional R&B top five singles, "My Forever Love" and "Sweet Sensation," were also released from this album. The band's success continued with their 1988
follow-up album Just Coolin'
, which was nominated in the Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year category 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
.
Gerald died due to an accidental overdose of over-the-counter and prescription drugs in November 2006., He had been planning a reunion at the time of his death.
Sean Levert died at 39 following his brother's death on March 31, 2008, while serving jail time in the Cuyahoga County
Jail for failing to pay child support
. After the death of Sean LeVert
, Marc Gordon and Blaq Rose are still planning to release their new album, "Dedication" www.levert2.com
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
group, formed in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
, comprising Sean
Sean Levert
-Biography:Levert was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is the son of Eddie Levert, the lead singer of The O'Jays. 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...
and Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert...
, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert
Eddie Levert
Edward "Eddie" Levert is an American singer, and is the lead vocalist of the soul/funk/R&B vocal group, The O'Jays.Levert was born in Bessemer, Alabama, but was raised in Canton, Ohio. While attending high school, he met buddies Walter Williams, Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, and William Powell...
, as well as Marc Gordon.
Biography
The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes' Tempre label. In 19851985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
, the group released their debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, I Get Hot, which included tracks whose vocals drew strong comparisons to those of Sean and Gerald Levert's father Eddie. Bloodline followed in 1986, and this album included the band's first big R&B hit with "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind
(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind
" Goes My Mind" is a song by LeVert, released as a single in 1986. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart for one week....
," a track that went all the way to number one. However, the band's next album, 1987
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
's The Big Throwdown
The Big Throwdown
-Reception:Released in 1987, lead by the number one R&B and top five Pop single, "Casanova", this album would go ahead and chart at number three on the Billboard R&B Albums charts.-Track listing:#Casanova - 6:25...
became an even bigger success, on the strength of the hit single "Casanova
Casanova (LeVert song)
"Casanova" is a 1987 single by LeVert. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number nine on the UK Singles Chart, their only top ten on either chart. The single also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks, becoming Levert's...
", which gave the band a crossover hit onto the pop charts
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 5 in this market and making the UK Top 10. A pair of additional R&B top five singles, "My Forever Love" and "Sweet Sensation," were also released from this album. The band's success continued with their 1988
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
follow-up album Just Coolin'
Just Coolin' (album)
-Reception:Released October 1988, This album would have five top twenty R&B singles on the Billboard charts. Both Addicted to You and the Heavy D assisted Just Coolin' would chart number one. Pull Over charted number two while Gotta Get the Money and Smilin' charted number four and number sixteen...
, which was nominated in the Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year category for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards
1989 Soul Train Music Awards
The 1989 Soul Train Music Awards aired live in select cities on April 13, 1989 , honoring the best in R&B, soul, rap, jazz, and gospel music from the previous year...
. Both The Big Throwdown and Just Coolin
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
.
Beginning in the 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
, Gerald began dividing his time between LeVert, and his solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, but the band released three more albums, and Rhino Records released a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
in 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
.
Gerald died due to an accidental overdose of over-the-counter and prescription drugs in November 2006., He had been planning a reunion at the time of his death.
Sean Levert died at 39 following his brother's death on March 31, 2008, while serving jail time in the Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
Jail for failing to pay child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
. After the death of Sean LeVert
Sean Levert
-Biography:Levert was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is the son of Eddie Levert, the lead singer of The O'Jays. 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...
, Marc Gordon and Blaq Rose are still planning to release their new album, "Dedication" www.levert2.com
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | US certifications |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||||
| 1985 | I Get Hot | — | — | — | — | Tempre |
| 1986 | Bloodline Bloodline (LeVert album) Bloodline is the second album by Cleveland, Ohio-based R&B group LeVert. This would be their first album on Atlantic Records.-Reception:... |
192 | 8 | — | — | Atlantic Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
| 1987 | The Big Throwdown The Big Throwdown -Reception:Released in 1987, lead by the number one R&B and top five Pop single, "Casanova", this album would go ahead and chart at number three on the Billboard R&B Albums charts.-Track listing:#Casanova - 6:25... |
32 | 3 | 86 | Gold | |
| 1988 | Just Coolin' Just Coolin' (album) -Reception:Released October 1988, This album would have five top twenty R&B singles on the Billboard charts. Both Addicted to You and the Heavy D assisted Just Coolin' would chart number one. Pull Over charted number two while Gotta Get the Money and Smilin' charted number four and number sixteen... |
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 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||||
| 2001 | The Best of LeVert | — | — | — | — | Rhino Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes... |
| 2004 | Just Coolin' and Other Hits | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not certified | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1985 | "I'm Still" | — | 70 | — | — | I Get Hot |
| 1986 | "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind (Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind " Goes My Mind" is a song by LeVert, released as a single in 1986. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart for one week.... " |
— | 1 | — | — | Bloodline |
| "Let's Go Out Tonight" | — | 14 | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Fascination" | — | 26 | — | — | |
| "Casanova Casanova (LeVert song) "Casanova" is a 1987 single by LeVert. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number nine on the UK Singles Chart, their only top ten on either chart. The single also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks, becoming Levert's... " |
5 | 1 | 27 | 9 | The Big Throwdown | |
| "My Forever Love" | — | 2 | — | — | ||
| 1988 | "Sweet Sensation" | — | 4 | — | — | |
| "Addicted to You Addicted To You (LeVert song) "Addicted to You" is a song by LeVert, released as a single in 1988. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart for two weeks and was featured in the film, Coming to America.-References:... " |
— | 1 | — | — | Just Coolin | |
| "Pull Over" | — | 2 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Just Coolin' Just Coolin' "Just Coolin" is a 1989 single collaboration between Levert and Heavy D. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, becoming Heavy D's only number-one hit, and Levert's fourth number one on the chart. It also peaked at number nineteen on the dance chart.-References:... " (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 Baby I'm Ready Baby I'm Ready is the title of a number-one R&B single by LeVert. The hit song spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart in July 1991 and would be the group's final number one on the chart.... " |
— | 1 | — | — | |
| "For the Love of Money For the Love of Money "For the Love of Money" is a soul/funk song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Anthony Jackson; and recorded by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays for the album Ship Ahoy. Produced by Gamble and Huff for Philadelphia International Records, "For the Love of Money" was issued as a single in... "/"Living for the City Living for the City "Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate... " (medley) (with Troop Troop (band) ----Troop is an R&B group from Pasadena, California. TROOP has had three number one singles and ten top ten singles on the Billboard R&B Charts. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album... feat. Queen Latifah Queen Latifah Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy... ) |
— | 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 Yo-Yo (rapper) Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube... & Queen Pen Queen Pen Lynise Walters, better known by the stage name Queen Pen, is a Grammy-nominated African-American female rapper.Her music career started as a protégé of Teddy Riley, a record producer and member of the R&B group BLACKstreet in the mid-1990s. She was a featured rapper, along with Dr. Dre, on... ) |
107 | 52 | — | — | The Whole Scenario |
| "Sorry Is" | 113 | 33 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||