Gerald Levert
July 13, 1966 – Nov. 10, 2006

Pure soul music—the kind that sparks true romance, ingrains memories, serves up a soundtrack to our lives—is hard to come by these days; it peeks between and presses against all too many offerings that depend on thumping beats and synthetic melodies to stir, instead of music and voices that move. Indeed, there are only a handful of artists who have the ability to make our hearts swell. And recently, we lost one of the best of them: Gerald Levert.

Levert, the prince of soulful R&B love songs who sang with unmatched soulfulness and power, died November 10, 2006 of a massive heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. The son of legendary O’Jays frontman Eddie Levert was 40.

To say that the gifted singer, composer, and producer’s death took his family, friends, and fans by surprise is an understatement; more than 1,000 relatives and close friends attended a private funeral for Levert, including comedian Mo’Nique, Bobby Brown, and Motown President Sylvia Rhone. The next day, 10,000 more showed up at the Cleveland Convention Center—many dressed in purple, Gerald’s favorite color—for a public Celebration of Life service that included musical performances by Gerald’s father, his brother, Sean, Stevie Wonder, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, Angela Winbush and The Rude Boys. Other celebrities in attendance included Tyler Perry, Usher, Yolanda Adams, Jermaine Dupree, Mary-Mary, Judge Greg Mathis, Mike Tyson, Kelly Price and Brian McKnight and even Omarosa, to name few.

Eddie Levert, who took the mike to explain that the purpose of the public service was to celebrate his son’s love of music and life, had onlookers fighting back tears. The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reported that Winbush, who sang “Smile,” cried so much that she had to yank off her fake eyelashes.

Journalist Ed Gordon told the audience he considered himself to be best friends with Levert only to get to the service to find out that there were dozens more who were best friends with Gerald Levert too.

Since his death, Levert’s sultry ballads have flooded the airwaves as listeners call into radio stations across the country to pay tribute to the R & B crooner. Days after Levert’s death, O’Jays member Walter Williams, who has been friends with Eddie Levert since he and Eddie were six- and seven-years-old respectively, spoke on behalf of the Levert family on the Steve Harvey Morning Show, where he told listeners that Eddie asked him to stand in for him because he was “a wreck.”

“I was there when Gerald was born. We used to take Gerald on the road with us when he was a little boy. His death was so unexpected; it’s a pain that just hurts.”

Distraught, comedian-turned-radio show host Steve Harvey broke down on the air, telling listeners he and Gerald were friends who both grew up in Cleveland. “This is hard for me,” said Harvey, unable to choke back the tears. “Gerald was a man’s man. Gerald made a full run at life—he could sang!”

Those sentiments were repeated in interview after interview; Vaughn Harper, host of WBLS’s Quiet Storm in New York City, told JBG he was deeply saddened by the loss his friend.”This was a terrible loss and I am still in shock,” said Harper, who was feted by Levert and his father at a gala to celebrate Harper’s 25th year in radio in 2001. “Gerald was a wonderful man, an extraordinary singer and dear friend. His death is heartbreaking,” Harper added, fighting back tears.

Skip Dillard, operations manager for WDMK-FM in Detroit, told the Detroit Free Press that Levert played an important role in the history of black music. "He personified that vital link that reached across generations," Dillard told the Free Press. "What is most frustrating for me is Gerald had so much more music left in him. You are like, 'Wow, I wonder what the next song would have been like?' "

That praise certainly was extended from his peers.

It’s very sad. He was an amazing talent, obviously, friend and fellow R & B singer Will Downing said. "Gerald was a hard worker. He would go out there and do his thing, and be in places where the folks were. He would touch the people, and that's really what it's all about."

Singer Patti LaBelle, who had recorded with Levert, said he was like a son to her. "He was such a great entertainer," she said. "It's not for real to me that he is gone. Nobody was prepared for this."

Crooner Keith Sweat, who recorded with Levert and Johnny Gill under the moniker LSG, said he and Levert had plans to spend time together later this month in Atlanta. Sweat said he heard about his friend’s death when he landed in San Diego, but he didn’t want to believe it.

“It crushed me,” said Sweat. “Gerald Levert had a soft heart, but he didn’t take no mess.”

Back in New York City, WRKS/KISS-FM jock Lenny Green, also a friend of Levert, played past interviews with Levert and shared personal stories. Green jokingly said that Levert, whose nickname was “Teddy Bear,”� stole the whole bear-thing from him. He said Gerald Levert enjoyed handing out teddy bears at his concerts.

Indeed, Levert sold millions of albums and had numerous R & B hits. His career began two decades ago as a member of LeVert, which included his brother, Sean, and childhood friend Marc Gordon. They quickly racked up hits like "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind," "Casanova," and "Baby I'm Ready." Gerald Levert's voice—powerful and soulful, almost a carbon copy of his famous father's—was always the focal point, and in 1991, he made his solo debut with the album "Private Line," which included a hit duet with his dad, "Baby Hold on to Me." His father also recorded the successful album "Father & Son."

Levert had four children, including his 16-year-old daughter, Carlisia, was recently featured on MTV’s “My Super Sweet Sixteen” reality show. In addition to his children, he is survived by his parents and brother.