Sean Levert Member of R&B Group Levert Dead at 39
Legendary O'Jays Crooner Eddie Levert Loses Another Son
He was 39. This is the second time in recent months that the Levert family has been faced with news of such unbearable sadness. Less than 16 months ago, Sean's brother, R&B icon Gerald Levert, died in his sleep of an accidental overdose. One cannot fathom the depth of this family's grief. Sean, Gerald and childhood friend Marc Gordon made up the successful R&B trio Levert. Spawning a number of hits including the Top 5 hits "Casanova" and "Pop, Pop, Pop, Goes My Mind"; the group secured a loyal following. Though never disbanding officially, the members stepped away to pursue other projects. Sean appeared in the movie New jack City in 1991.
Gerald went on to find success as a solo performer and as a member of the group LSG, which featured Gerald, Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill. In 1995 Sean released a solo project "The Other Side" but it did not meet with commercial success. More recently he toured with the inspirational stage play "Will a Real Man Please Stand Up". Though he never achieved the same level of acclaim as Gerald he remained supportive of his brother. In recent years the brothers along with Gordon sought to revive Levert. Sean had pushed back a solo project he was working on to concentrate on the new Levert project.
It was Sean's dream to see Levert back performing. Since Gerald's death he had recently added Dwight Thompson, formerly of the Rude Boys, as the third member of the group. They had performed at several local Cleveland venues as well as in Miami, New Orleans and Atlanta and received favorable reviews. This is something my brother would really want us to do," said Sean, 39. "We all love the music," he said. "We're doing it for the music." Sean said in an earlier interview.
Levert was being held in Cuyahoga County jail for failure to pay over $80,000 in back child support. He was slated to begin serving a 22 month sentence. It has been reported that he had been acting strangely and was under observation. After he complained of feeling ill, he was transferred to Cleveland's' Lutheran Hospital where he succumbed. An autopsy and toxicology screening is to be performed to discover what contributed to his death. He leaves three children ages 11, 15 and 17.
Edwin "Tony" Nicholas a longtime musical collaborator of the family spoke affectionately of Levert. "Sean was just a joy to be around . . . . You just couldn't get mad at him. He was always good-natured, just an all-around fun guy."
Published by Demetria Dixon
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5 Comments
Post a CommentSince I'm in the middle of dealing with precisely this problem, I wanted to share my opinion. No, jail isn't the right option if the parent ordered to pay support is truly trying to do the best they can in supporting themselves and their children. Jail is usually ordered for those parents who are either sitting on their behinds instead of working. Or, they're working, have income, all that good stuff, and just flat out don't pay, which is the situation I'm in. For most people who really do have the ability to pay, and don't, it's usually due to negative feelings towards the other parent. Putting the fact that if they don't get up and take care of their responsibilities like they should, that they will face jail time, usually puts a little motivation into them! If a parent just isn't going to help support their kid, why should they be out enjoying free life.. they need to get a foot up their behind, at the very least.. but letting "Big Bubba" handle that in jail works too!
Thank you. I think the authorities think that by putting you in jail that they will put enough fear in you that you will not want to come back. I don't know if going to jail actually absolves the person of having to pay. That would short change the kids. I guess they sen d you to jail and then you still have to to pay.
Great write-up. This news really saddened me. I also agree that jail is probably not the best way to handle failure to pay child support. If someone is in jail, how are they supposed to earn the money for the owed support?
You are correct about that. If you aren't working to make money, how are you ever supposed to pay it?
I never understand the logic of sending people to jail for not paying child support. I also never trust prison deaths. Too many prisoners are mistreated. That is not to imply this was the case in Sean's tragic death. Just terribly sad to die for not paying child support. It seems some type of arrangement could have been made to pay it. This is very sad news.