Gerald Levert, son of the O'Jays vocalist Eddie Levert and an immensely talented rhythm and blues singer in his own right, first launched himself onto the charts in the mid-'80s, as a member (alongside his brother, Sean Levert, and a childhood buddy, Marc Gordon) of the R&B trio LeVert. That ensemble signed with the indie Tempre label around 1986, and issued the single "I'm Still," which encouraged Atlantic Records to sign the men as a group the following year. Levert went solo on the East West label in 1991, promoting a hot, raw, and suggestive style, and a number of critically acclaimed LPs followed, including Private Line (1991), Father and Son (1995), Groove On (1995), Love and Consequences (1998), The G Spot (2002), and Do I Speak for the World (2004).
Levert made a scant few contributions to film soundtracks, including Coming to America (1988) and New Jack City (1991). He also appears in a documentary about the Funk Brothers, Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002). Gerald Levert died of unspecified causes, in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, on November 10, 2006. He was only 40 years old.