Remembering Sean LeVert
Sean LeVert, son of Eddie LeVert (founder of the soulful r&b trio The O'Jays) and brother of the late Gerald LeVert passed away Sunday evening in Cleveland Ohio. Sean LeVert was in a Cleveland jail on charges stemming from pass due child supports payments. Early reports state that Sean was feeling sick while in custody and he was taken to an area hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:57 at Lutheran Hospital. No definite cause of death is available at this time.
Radio host Tom Joyner, close friends with the LeVert family was clearly shaken up this morning as he spoke about the tragic turn events for Eddie LeVert. His co-host as well shaken by the news sent their condolences to the LeVert family. Fans across the internet and urban music radio host are all in a state of disbelief over this news.
The LeVert musical legacy is one that spans over four decades. The O'Jays formed in 1958 but they are best known for their hits during the 1970's. My parents listened to the music of Eddie LeVert and The O'Jays.
As a little girl I can remember such tunes as "Back Stabbers", "For the Love of Money", "I Love Music" and "Used to Be My Girl" playing on our stereo. The O'Jays was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1984, Sean and Gerald Levert along with Marc Gordon formed the group LeVert. The group had such hits as "Casanova" "Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop (Goes My Mind)" and "Just Coolin'". Gerald went on to have a successful solo career. He also collaborated with singers Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill to form the short lived 1990's super group LSG. Their sexually charged song "My Body" was a hit on the R&B charts. Gerald LeVert was found dead in his home from what appeared to be a heart attack in November 2006, in February 2007 an autopsy it report concluded that the singer had actually accidently died form a lethal combination of prescription and over the counter drugs.
The idea of burying your child is a concept all parents dread. This is truly a sad time for the Levert family. Losing two sons in such a short time span is unthinkable. Sean LeVert will be missed by family and fans.
Tom Joyner eloquently summed up Eddie Levert's relationship with his sons this afternoon on his blog:
"I don't know this for sure, but I don't think Eddie has any regrets as a father. He admits that he wasn't perfect but one thing for sure, he was there for his children. He knew they loved him and they knew he loved them. I don't know what his last conversation with Sean was like, but I'm willing to bet that they both said "I love you," before the conversation ended.
One thing I didn't include in the book that I remember about seeing the LeVert family in Phoenix 14 years ago is that as I was wrapping up the interview with Eddie, we could hear the newly-formed LeVert band gearing up. Very few people were interested in hearing them at that point but Eddie started getting antsy. "I gotta go, man. I gotta go listen to my babies."
Eddie had his priorities in order. Family first. No regrets.
Rest in Peace, Sean."
SOURCES:
Tom Joyner's Blog: http://affiliate.kickapps.com/kickapps/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=2188600&as=16936&b=
Tom Joyner Morning Show- Black America Web: http://tomjoyner.com/
Sean LeVert's My Space page: http://www.myspace.com/leverts
Published by Lorraine Hayden
I'm a freelance writer, wife and mother. View profile
Top Five Gerald LeVert SongsWith the recent passing of soul singer Gerald LeVert, the time is right to take a look at some of his best work.- Gerald Levert: Do I Speak for the World?Do I? Do I speak for the world when I say "we'll miss you, Gerald?" Maybe so, maybe not. Just as Mother Teresa's passing was often an afterthought to Princess Diana's, Gerald Levert quietly exited this life in the wak...
R&B Crooner Gerald Levert Dies at 40Radio station WZAK reported that R&B singer, Gerald Levert died today, Friday Nov. 10, after suffering a fatal heart attack at his home in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 40-years-old.- We Mourn the Passing of Edward Rudolph Bradley, Jr. and Gerald LevertMourning the passing of Ed Bradley & Gerald Levert.
- Popular R&B Singer Levert Died from Accidental Drug MixThe death of R&B singer Gerald Levert appears to have happened due to an accidental mix of prescription narcotics and over-the-counter-drugs. A report was released by the coroner who did an examination on the late si...
- Sean Levert Member of R&B Group Levert Dead at 39
- Gerald Levert: Casanova
- Tribute: Sean Levert, Brother of Gerald Levert, Dies at Age 39
- Sean Levert, Second Member of the Great Musical Trio, Has Passed On
- Breaking News: Gerald Levert Dies at age 40
- In Memory - Gerald Levert
- Classic '80s Soul Music Review: LeVert / the Big Showdown
15 Comments
Post a CommentChange of Address for Sean Edward Levert
September 28, 1968~March 30, 2008
Please be advised that I have moved. I received a call the other day from God?Jehovah and he informed that my new home was completed. I knew that my mansion needed some finishing touches and that The Father/Jehovah had to inspect it and give me the final approval.
On Sunday, March 30, 2008 He let me know that my mansion was finally completed and I could move in right away.
He told me to go ahead and change my address. Let me tell you that my new home is finished and what a sight to behold. It is located on an exclusive estate area behind the pearly gates and surrounded by a beautiful lake, it's beautiful. I couldn't believe it til this moment that now I am also proudly and happily living down the street from Gerald. It is truly an honor to be back together again with my big brother, for I have missed him more than words can ever express. Oh Father what a heavenly and joyous day this truly is. As
Never heard of him
Quoteshia, locking a man up for not paying child support is counterproductive. Now he can't pay you a DIME because he's locked up and when he gets out, he's going to have an even worse time trying to find follow-up employment. In addition to that, assuming he is an active father, now he can't even spend time with the children. No doubt he's going to be extremely pissed off at the mother. If the mother is making this amount and cannot afford more children in her salary, invest in closing your legs and buying birth control. I have zero sympathy for women who complain about a bunch of kids. I can sympathize with one, but four? Hell naw. Lock them legs!
Quoteshia, I couldn't disagree with you more. First of all, WOMEN have 100% right to abort a child if they are not financially capable of taking care of it. Men have 0% power in that situation. If you were in a situation where you couldn't take care of ONE child, why in the hell would you have three more? This pisses me off. Use condoms. Use protection. I hate it when women blame men because they were just as careless with sexual protection as the guy was. Ladies, you know there are deadbeat dads all over the place. That means you should take extra special care to take care of YOU. We have no way of knowing what Sean Levert was going through or for what reason he couldn't pay child support. The government gives this certain percentage for child support disregarding his other expenses. Considering his health state, how do we know he didn't have this money because of health issues himself?!
Okay, I only followed Gerald Levert's song "Funny" so I wasn't as familiar with the other brothers. However, I did read on AC about Sean Levert dying, but for some reason, I convinced myself that he had been in prison for a long time. It wasn't until I read an article in the Chicago Defender that I realized this was a very recent death and he hadn't been there long. This is awful! While you already know how I feel about cops, even if nobody did anything to him, that's a LOT of pressure and stress to be put in prison. I wish there was another way to handle child support issues. It just seems like the government's way of finding another excuse to lock up black men considering so many economical issues already effect them. I guess the crack/coke deal wasn't enough. *sigh*
Scenario: There is a single mom working two minimum wage jobs say bringing in 32,000.00 a year with four kids and no support from the father. That equates to $2,666.00 a month. Rent is 1,200.00, electric is $450.00, water is $200.00, gas is $600.00, there is only $216.00 left for food for the entire month. Who are you kidding a family of five can not survive off that. I hope she doesn't have a car and car insurance, there is no money for leisure or life insurance, and I hope like hell she doesn't have to pay a baby sitter to watch the children while she works. What in the heavens is wrong with demanding child support from the absentee parent and what in the hell is wrong with punishing them by locking them up for neglecting their children and not helping to feed and support them.
While I am saddened by the sudden death of one of R and B greats I can not sit here and say that jailing men who do not support their children is not the best solution. Why should they be free when they are not taking care of their responsibilities. The mther or whoever the care giver is has to support the child(ren) by themselves while the pappies are out partying, playing, and making more babies. His death is so sad that much is true but all these dead beat dads neglecting these children financially and other wise does more to harm our society than anything else I can think of. Look at the statistics on teenage pregnancies, drug use, drug dealing, and see who is in the penetentiary and look at their backgrounds nine times out of ten they were raised in a single family home with only women serving as a role model. I am a single mom of four and I did not make them by myself but with the help of the GOVERNMENT I am taking care of them all by myself. Get real people what's right is right
Thank you Mike and Momie
Great job on this Lorraine. This saddened me as well. As far as the child support, I also agree that jailing people for that isn't the best solution. Mike, thanks for the mention. :-)
Good piece, Lorraine, and Momie Tullottes wrote one as well. ...... As for the child support, I do have some thoughts that I will try to express later after the funeral and so forth, due respect, but for now I agree lockup is not the answer. -- Mike