Eddie Levert American soul singer and member of the group The O'Jays. Date of Birth: 16.06.1946 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career Beginnings
2. The O'Jays Ascent to Fame
3. Collaborations and Chart Success
4. The Gamble and Huff Era
5. Continued Success and Legacy
6. Film and Personal Life

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Edward LeVert was born on June 16, 1946, in Bessemer, Alabama. He spent his childhood in Canton, Ohio, where he met Walter Williams in elementary school. Together, they formed a duo and sang Catholic songs.

After entering McKinley High School in 1958, they expanded their group to form "The Triumphs," which also included William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. They entered a talent competition called "Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers" and subsequently signed a contract with King Records.

The O'Jays Ascent to Fame

Taking the stage name "The Mascots," the group released their first recordings in 1961. They soon came under the mentorship of Cleveland, Ohio, DJ Eddie O'Jay. It was O'Jay who officially renamed the group "The O'Jays."

O'Jay introduced the O'Jays to producer Don Davis, who brought them to the attention of H.B. Barnum. Barnum's arrangements earned the O'Jays a contract with Imperial Records. Their debut single, "Lonely Drifter," reached the Top 100 R&B chart in 1963. Their debut album, "Comin' Through," followed in 1965.

Collaborations and Chart Success

After working with Bell Records, the O'Jays had their first R&B Top 10 hit with "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Than I Was Today)," produced by George Kerr. In 1967, Minit Records released their album "Soul Sounds."

In 1969, the O'Jays performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York City, where their renditions of "Cowboys and Girls," "(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game," and "Slow Drag" caught the attention of producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

The Gamble and Huff Era

Gamble and Huff signed the O'Jays to their Neptune Records label, a subsidiary of Chicago's Chess Records. Their collaboration resulted in the R&B Top 15 hit "One Night Affair" in 1969. They then moved to CBS Records.

The O'Jays achieved major success with their hits "Back Stabbers," which reached number one on the R&B chart and number three on Billboard's chart in 1972, and "Time to Get Down," which spent two weeks at number two on the R&B chart.

Continued Success and Legacy

The O'Jays continued to release chart-topping singles throughout the 1970s, with Eddie LeVert's vocals leading the way. They signed with EMI-Manhattan Records in the late 1980s and continued to produce hits with "Lovin' You" and "Let Me Touch You."

Film and Personal Life

In addition to his music career, Eddie LeVert also acted in films. He starred in and wrote all the songs for "The Fighting Temptations," which featured the hit single "He Still Loves Me."

LeVert was the father of three sons: Gerald, also an R&B singer who died in 2006; Sean, who died in 2008; and Eddie LeVert Jr.