COFFEE CUPS UP! FEBRUARY ISSUE Issue February, 2014 | Page 17

In 1988, Gerald Levert released a duet with Miki Howard, song titled “That’s What Love Is”. Their voices were magical together. Gerald and Miki relationship was an on and off type relationship. They never could seem to keep it together. Gerald loved the word love. He battle with many relationships trying to find a love of us own. Some would say, Gerald Levert was a “Casanova”, which song titled in 1987 performed by “LE VERT”. It’s easy to say Gerald was looking for a good woman like his mother. He highly admired his mother. He was involved with many love quests that included Kandi Burress, Real Housewives of Atlanta; and comedian, Mo’Nique. Gerald would do anything to find real love.* He had the biggest heart. Of course he would always put his family first and took care of his friends, too. It was hard for Gerald to say ‘no’. Gerald felt like the financial anchor of his entire family. His song, “Mr. Too Damn Good” touched on how good he was to his family, lovers and friend.

At one time, he had 21 people on his payroll. He

give people cars, pay people’s rent. Gerald would

put the pressure on himself to care of his family.

In 1991 he released his first solo album “Private

Lines”. It topped the number one slot of the R&B

charts. Gerald was considered a sex symbol

whenever he embraced the stage. He would make

moves on stage that would drive the ladies crazy.

He’d hold on to teddy bears on stage and hold

them like towels to wipe his sweat. The women

would go crazy just to get

his sweaty teddy bears

that he would toss into

the audience. Gerald was

the creative mind of the

group but in 1991, the

group, “Levert” was coming

to an end when Gerald

decided to go solo.