Eddie Levert, iconic singer and lead singer of The O’Jays, is known for his immense contribution to the music industry. Over the years, however, his family has endured a lot of personal tragedies including the early deaths of his sons, Gerald and Sean Levert, and most recently, his daughter, Ryan Levert.
Gerald Levert, Eddie's oldest son, was an R&B singer and songwriter who had great success in the music industry.
As a solo artist and a performer with the group LeVert, Gerald gained fame with hits such as Casanova and Baby hold on to me, a duet with his father. Gerald passed away tragically on November 10, 2006 at the age of 40.
Acute intoxication triggered by a combination of prescription and medications led to his death. Gerald had been taking narcotic pain relievers including Vicodin, Percocet and Darvocet, for chronic pain, according to Billboard.
Two years after Gerald's demise, Eddie Levert received another devastating news when his youngest son, Sean Levert, died on March 30, 2008 at the age of 39.
Sean had been jailed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, for unpaid child support. During his time in jail, Sean was unable to take his prescribed anti-anxiety medication, Xanax.
He reportedly suffered from extreme withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations and even difficulty in breathing. His condition continued to deteriorate and he was taken to Lutheran Hospital, where he passed away, CBS News reported.
The tragic journey of the Levert family continued recently with Eddie Levert’s daughter, Ryan Levert, passing away at the age of 22.
An article by WBLS stated that Ryan died of complications of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
Looking back at the Legacy of Eddie Levert
Eddie Levert, born on June 16, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama, is a renowned singer and member of the legendary R&B group, The O'Jays. Levert, alongside childhood friend Walter Williams, initially performed as a gospel duo.
Inspired by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, they formed a group called The Triumphs with Bobby Massey, William Powell, and Billy Isles.
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The group has achieved a lot over the years. Their single Back stabbers hit top spot in the R&B charts and climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The group's biggest hit came in 1973 with the Love Train, which was number one on both the Hot 100 and R&B charts.
The O’Jays earned many honors including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, and a BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
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