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By Pamela Wells
Staff Writer
“I have always wanted to sing
with my father,” platinum R&B
artist, Gerald Levert said in a
recent interview. “I wanted to be
the third O'Jay. It has always
been a dream of mine to sing
with [him].”
Gerald looks at his father, clas
sic musician, Eddie Levert and
touches his arm as he reflects on
his childhood dream.
‘‘When I was a little boy and I
told my father I wanted to be the
third O’Jay he would laugh,”
Gerald said. “When I started put
ting out my own records and
they became hits....now. I am
laughing because now he is beg
ging me to sing with him.”
Gerald and his father have
‘Father and Son’ continue
in the Levert Tradition
teamed up for an emotional union
on wax called “Father and Son. ”
“Father and Son" captures
love, laughs, tears and struggle as
seen through the eyes of a father
and son who have been there for
each other at every turn. The love
and bond the two share comes
across in the many songs that are
on the album. One, in particular,
is “ Wind Beneath My Wings. ”
“I get a mushy feeling in my
stomach just hearing the song.
The album is a series of songs
that we wrote and produced about
our relationship as father and
son,” Gerald said. “We want to
touch a lot of people. We under
stand one another and we can
sense what the other feels.”
Eddie smiles and looks at his
son with admiration and pride.
“We love one another,” the el
dest Levert said. ‘This project is
very private and personal. It is
between us. If the world would
like to share it with us, they can.”
The world is definetly sharing
the family bond and enjoying the
musical union as well.
“Some mothers in the audi
ence would bring their sons up to
thank us for displaying such fam
ily unity,” Eddie said. “It made
us proud. It started opening our
eyes that this thing could be taken
even further.”
The musical history of the fa
ther and son team spans over 30
years, with 10 million albums
sold.
Eddie, who started the R&B
group The O'Jays in the early
1970’s, set the standard himself
for the Levert name. The group
began in their hometown, Ohio.
Eddie would sing gospel tunes
on a local radio station.
Although he has many musi
cal accomplishments, Eddie feels
his greatest accomplishments
was fostering such a talented fam
ily to carry on the musical legacy.
But this task was not easy.
“The music business is very
stressful. It is full of ups and
downs. It can be disappointing.
If someone is weak minded and
has low self-esteem, it can hurt
them. Gerald has proved himself
to be strong mentally, physically
and emotionally. I am very proud
of him,” Eddie said.
Gerald and his brother Sean
formed “Levert” in 1985 with
their childhood friend, Marc
Gordon. This was the starting
point for Gerald who went on to
pursue a solo career.
His first solo project was “Pri
vate Line. ” He has also been a
part of the song writing team for
Anita Baker, Barry White, Sub
way and The O 'Jays.
Eddie and Gerald still reside in
Ohio and live about ten minutes
from each other. The bond is not
only residential, but continues to
the musical aspect through “Fa
ther and Son. ”
“The album holds a special
place in my heart,” says Eddie.
“It allows me to show my emo
tions. It has a lot to say about our
relationship. [Gerald] is my best
friend. We have a chance to be
there for one another. When
someone is there for you, it is a
special thing.”
The first song that the two sung
together was “Baby Hold on To
Me,” (from Gerald’s 1991 plati
num, “Private Line” solo debut).
“My father forced his way on
the song.” Gerald admits.
Eddie looks at Gerald, who he
has nicknamed “The middle
Levert,” and smiles.
“It was a beautiful song,” Eddie
says. “I wanted to sing on it. I
twisted his arm and I boggarded
my way in.”
Gerald looks at his father and
says: “It was a pleasant boggar. I
am glad we did it together.”
CAU/ Morris Brown Parade 9 a.m.
I Sunday, October 22:
I Chapel Service Gospel Explosion
( Monday, October 23:
Music on the yard , Talent Show (Gym 7 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 24:
Music on the yard, Revelations Fashion Show (Gym
7 p.m.)
Wednesday, October 25:
Music on the yard , Dorm Step Show (Gym 9 p.m.)
Thursday, October 26:
Music on the yard , Greek Step/ Comedy Show
(Gym 7 p.m.)
Friday, October 27:
Pep Rally/Cau Day (wear school paraphernalia) Coro
nation (“Rhapsody”) Formal Ball immediately following
the coronation.
Saturday, October 28:
Tailgate party at Olympic Hockey Stadium (Following
the parade) CAU vs Albany State( The Georgia Dome
2 p.m.)
Regional Rap Concert 7 p.m.
Featuring:
GRAND PUBA, OUTKAST, GOODY MOB, A-TOWb
PLAYERS, COMMON SENSE, WARREN G, THE
DOVE SHACK AND THE TWINS ($5) (7 p.m
Olympic Hockey Stadium)
Jazz Concert
Featuring:
NCOGNITO (8 p.m. The Fox Theatre) student tickets
$20.50; Post-concert party at the gym 11p.m.-3a.m.
Sunday, October 29: Closing Chapel Service, Offi
cial Gospel Concert (TBA).
(Schedule and event prices subject to change before
printing)
j I0TR
By Jimmie O. Woods, Jr.
< my lower eyelids
] eleven inch dams
] holding a foot of water
j holding barely my damn tears
i damn
an artisan, resting
my black Phoenician feet
in a Mediterranean Sea
crafting, smithing, wishing
soul to word
depreciated
like a legless
runner
falling
behind.
Black Milk
By Khadafi Pearson
I’ve tasted all sorts of treats:
lemon-lime Chinese,
butter-scotch Mexican.
But, I can’t forget
the one
taste of you,
black milk;
The sweetness of
your existence
running down
my red lips of
Afrika.
The smell of your
tartness
when I
ignored your
glass...
I had to see
what the others were like.
The way my body tingled
when your treats
hit my Sweet Tooth...
But not even the most tempting
of treats—the white chocolate,
that didn’t carry enough sugar
to hold
a football hero—can
sway me from the quintessence
of
me—you.
My black, cocoa-flavored milk,
let
me hold onto
your glass and
protect you from
those who
wish
to bite your flavor.