Which turned out to be a pretty good source.

'But most of it I took from Eddie Levert.' I took something from everybody to become what Gerald Levert is. As I got older, once I got some hit records, I was able to go out on tour with Patti Labelle, the O'Jays, the Whispers, the Temptations, Frankie Beverly. 'As a little kid, I saw Gladys Knight and the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Flip Wilson and Richard Pryor, and it taught me a lot about performing, about timing, about just being able to capture a crowd's attention. 'I was exposed to a lot of great things because my dad took me on the road a lot,' Gerald recalls warmly. Of course, Eddie Levert didn't do a particularly convincing job discouraging his sons by plunging them into the strobe-lit wonders of the R&B and comedy circuit of the '60s and '70s. He was just there to make sure that when I fell, he was there to help me up.' 'I don't see Gerald Levert, the superstar, but the kid who I told 'I don't really want you to be in show business, I want you to go to college and get an education and do something that's a little bit more solid,' and him telling me 'Dad, I want to do this!' And me saying, 'If you're going to do this, you're going to have to come up to my standards before I even lift a hand to help you.' 'Īdds Gerald, 'He didn't push me to do this. 'As I watch them, I think, you didn't do bad, Eddie, even though you weren't home as much as you wanted to be, even though there are things you see as a father that if you'd been there just a few more days and spent a little more time, you could've broke them of some bad habits,' Eddie Levert says, slipping into an old role. Yet there were also numerous basement jam sessions with Eddie on keyboards, Gerald on drums, and Sean on bass, and the imparting of hard-won wisdom. Familial memories include the rigors of touring, long separations from family and the dedication and sacrifice a successful music career demands. 'There's no word for the reward, for the feeling I get when I see Gerald or Sean do what they do,' the senior Levert says proudly. and Gerald Levert share the stage at DAR Constitution Hall this weekend. Yet the tour continued without missing a beat as Gerald and Sean took turns delivering classic hits and essaying the smooth dance routines they've known all their lives. Just as the O'Jays were embarking on a tour - something they do six months out of the year - Eddie Levert slipped in a swimming pool and broke his foot. The other opportunity for the younger Leverts to step into their father's shoes was more literal. 'Our thing was that this is from us to you, all your Grammys and American Music Awards wrapped up in one.' They sang about things that were relevant to the times and are still relevant today and they were and are a great performing group,' Gerald says.

'Sean and I noted that the O'Jays have put out so many hits over so many years, and yet they've never gotten a Grammy Award, they've never gotten the respect and justice that they deserved.

At the Ebony event, Gerald and brother Sean, also a solo artist, praised their father in words before Gerald and Eddie dueted on a riveting 'Wind Beneath My Wings' that made the song's lyrics that much more immediate and meaningful. 'We have helped each other through all the trials and tribulations of this business, given each other strength and support,' says Gerald, who began his career in the early '80s updating the O'Jays sound with the trio LeVert before embarking on a successful solo career in 1991. Eddie Levert was the only musician honored at the inaugural event. Walter Massey, president emeritus of Morehouse College. Part of an Ebony magazine-sponsored African-American Men's Day gala in New York, 'Footsteps: Walking the Path of Our Fathers' honored outstanding fathers from various professions - others included Black Enterprise publisher Earl Graves Sr., Percy Sutton of Inner City Broadcasting and Dr. The first time was actually the culmination of a lifelong homage to Eddie, founding member and lead singer of legendary vocal group the O'Jays.

Last year, Gerald Levert twice stepped into his father's shoes, once purposefully, once because of an accident.

Gerald levert album list