 Gerald Levert would make a welcome addition to television's "In Living Color" hard working Jamaican family, the Headleys simply because of all the jobs he holds. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, concert performer, talent scout, and entrepreneur. Add to that his duties as a loving son and father, and he is surely a young man to make Mr. Headley quite proud. And he is a YOUNG man! Gerald began singing as a young child, heavily influenced by watching his father in action. Summers spent touring with the O'Jays allowed him to meet R&B legends like James Brown and one of his major musical influences, the late Marvin Gaye. "During those times, I knew that singing and performing was what I wanted to do. My dad tried to talk me out of it, but it was no use, my mind was made up," recalls Gerald. After many years of mimicking his father's group, Gerald and his younger brother Sean, along with their childhood friend, Marc Gordon formed the group, LeVert. Though the group was successful, Gerald still wanted more, and in 1991 with full blessing from his group members, released Private Line his first solo album. "I was very nervous about the release of Private Line, because I didn't know how people would receive it or react to me singing by myself." He did not have to be nervous for long. Private Line went gold and garnered two (2) number one hits. In 1994, he released his second solo album Groove On, which catapulted him into stardom. The album achieved platinum status and put Gerald at the top of the charts again, with the David Foster produced single, "I'd Give Anything." Just when it seemed that there was nothing else he could do to top himself, Gerald did it again. "After the success of "Baby Hold On To Me" (duet with his father, Eddie Levert) from my Private Line album, people kept saying" you guys should do an album of songs together" and we thought about it and said "why not". So in 1995, Gerald and his father released the critically acclaimed Father & Son album. The album became one of those rare musical moments that created an entirely new audience for Gerald, one where families could point to him as a new role model that symbolized the importance of family. "The whole thing took on a life of its own," says Gerald. "I think people saw through us the willingness to endure the scrapes that families go through, and still come out stronger than ever." One, of the album's many highlights was a heart-stopping version of the classic ballad, ""Wind Beneath My Wings."
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