|
Gerald Levert Interview
My friend Andreia wanted me to tell you that her fiancé
used the song "Awesome" from your last album to describe
his feelings for her and that he played the song prior to proposing.
Do people often tell you that they got married or engaged using
your music?
Gerald Levert-Yeah.
Yes I do. A lot of things I write say things that guys want
to say or don't know how to say it or don't know how to put
it in the right form. "Awesome" is a song.... I had
the title for like 4 years. I never started writing it. I ran
into a young lady and I really thought the conversation was
real cool. Everything was real cool. She was the one. I think
she was my definition of awesome.
You come from a musical family. Did you ever consider a
career outside of music?
Gerald Levert- No. I tried
sports, you know football. They hit me hard one day and I quit.
So I was back in the choir room. Basically, I wanted to do it
from the beginning. I wanted to just write, that was my intentions
but I started seeing the reactions I got from singing. I said
let me try this. I kept writing and singing songs to people
trying to get my stuff out there and then finally something
popped. We had a guy who had an independent label We had a song
that me and my dad had written called "I'm Still."
It was the first record we put out that charted on Billboard.
From them on we went to different musical conventions and Atlantic
was the first one. There were a lot of companies like Geffen
and Island, but Atlantic got off quick with the money. It's
about getting paid. We had just got out of high school and even
though my father was doing well I always wanted to be able to
support my family or help support my family or bring something
to the table.
I know you had a couple of big hits in the 80's with Levert.
Gerald Levert-A couple!
(sounding shocked at my lack of knowledge)
You know what I mean I, remember "Cassanova".....
Gerald Levert-A couple???
Do you know…
I was a kid in the 80's, but I remember. You know I was
only like 9 or 10 years old then. I don't remember all of the
songs from the 80's. I remember more of the recent stuff. My
question was going to be how did you go from the group Levert
to Gerald Levert the solo artist?
Gerald Levert-Actually,
what was happened was Syliva Rhone, I know you know who she
is, Sylvia we were like sister and brother and it was around
1989 when she came around and she said they were about to give
her a situation at East/West. It was called East West Records.
She had a group En Vogue and she wanted to sign me as a solo
artist. I was like, "I don't know if that is something
I want to do." She said, "You can keep your deal with
Atlantic as the group but I wasn't to keep you. I want you over
here as a solo artists." So I had two deals.
Just for the record, is LSG done or is there going to be
another LSG record?
Gerald Levert-I don't know.
Everybody asks me about LSG and I think if it was left up to
us, yeah but we have to get the right situation. It's something
that we really, really, really have to have some people behind
us.
You have a really dynamic live show. I've met you before,
I'm sure you don't remember because you meet so much press but
you seem like such a cool guy.
Gerald Levert- I try to
have fun.
How many shows do you do a year? It seems like you perform
a lot?
Gerald Levert-Umm…it
depends on what year it is. How I feel or what's happening in
the marketplace. A lot of it has to do with how I feel. If I
feel healthy, I do it. I put a lot of effort and time, a lot
of me into doing concerts. It's not just about singing some
songs each night. It's about making those songs stories and
making it to where people can really relate to the songs. It's
like you go buy a record for one reason but when you see it
in concert, you want to see it interpreted a certain way.
My favorite video of yours is "Funny." What is
your favorite video of yours?
Gerald Levert-It was supposed
to be continued. "Funny," in the end I am trying to
get out of the Range Rover when I reach but the record company
didn't want to spend any more money. I was so mad. Let's see,
my favorite video. "Taking Everything-The Remix."
It was with the little girl from Parenthood.
"Taking Everything" the remix, not the original but
the remix. In the video we were arguing and we ended up breaking
up and I was standing in the rain and it went to this opera
thing. Remember that?
I remember the song, but I haven't seen the video. I'm going
to find it. I am going to look on Launch.com.
Outside of music, what do you do in your free time?
Gerald Levert-Try to rest.
Just try to rest. Or I might go out. I write. Or I'll be around
my family.
Speaking of family, my husband wanted me to ask you how
are the O'Jays and your dad doing?
Gerald Levert-Great. Their new album is called Imagination.
It's a good album. They have a lot of great producers.
Have you and Teena Marie had a chance to do any dates or
performance together? (Gerald and Teena's song "A Rose
By Any Other Name" is a hit and featured on Teena's album
La Dona)
Gerald Levert-We didn't
get a chance to perform but before Rick James died her and him
were on tour and I came to a show in Detroit. Me and Rick go
back. That was my boy. We came in that night he kinda had an
attitude. "I don't know what you are here for. I'm about
to rip this. I'll show you love, I'll show you love but watch
the show, watch the show."
I later on came to find out when me and Teena did the video
for "A Rose By Any Other Name" Rick had a problem
with me doing a duet with Teena. That night they almost got
in a fight because he thought she was putting me ahead, that
we were going to do the duet during the show and I was going
to come on stage and try to upstage him. We had no plans. We
had recorded that record about 5 years before the album came
out so I didn't even remember how it went. So if I would have
got up there I would have looked like Boo Boo the Fool. So it
didn't really make sense but it was a shame. He died the next
year and we never really made amends. He didn't really hurt
my feelings, we talked he acknowledged me, but to find out he
was salty about that situation, kinda....I don't know.
I was actually going to ask you about that. I had a question.
It is Black History Month. Over the past few years we have lost
several legendary musicians. I was going to ask you to share
your thoughts on an artist and disclose whether or not you all
worked together. You have already shared your feelings about
Rick. Did you all ever have a chance to work together?
Gerald Levert-No, but in
L.A. they used to have these sit in with the band things at
the club.We would sit in with the band. We would do that after
he got out of jail. We would hang out and go to the clubs. He
was a fan of my dads. If you listen to like Fire and Desire
and all that stuff if you listen to his voice and the Teena
Marie and Gerald Levert duet she knew that Rick was a fan she
wanted the Rick James and Eddie Levert thing. My father was
a big influence on Rick James and Rick James was a big influence
on me, so I really I hate that he passed and our relationship
ended like that.
The next artist I was going to mention is Barry White? Did
you ever work with Barry White?
Gerald Levert-Yes.
Gerald Levert-Sho' you
right.
Did you work together?
Gerald Levert-Sho' you right.
(Okay, I don't know if this will read in print the way it
transpired, but Gerald kept saying "Sho' you right"
and I was just sitting there quiet kinda awkward wondering if
he was going to answer my question then he started laughing.
Quite a moment-Dorrie)
Okay....
Gerald Levert-Ha ha (laughter).
Yes, I wrote a song for Barry White. "Practice What You
Preach."
See you know us people that listen to the music and us media
people we don't always know the inner workings of a song like
who wrote it or who produced it. We just know it's a jam and
we like it. We don't always know the stories behind the songs.
Gerald Levert-I produced
it. It was basically going to be my record and I got mad at
my record label because they weren't doing something with my
last album prior to that one. The last album prior to that there
was single I wanted them to put out. I had already started the
next album and I played them "Practice What You Preach"
and they thought it was a smash. I told them it wasn't finished,
I hadn't finished it. Barry called and said he wanted me to
do a song for him. I gave the song to Barry White. I told the
record company, "I'll write another song." I have
much respect for him.
Speaking of singles, Do I Speak For The World seems
like a very social album. Will the more socially charged singles
like "Speak For The World" or "Crucify Me"
be released as singles?
Gerald Levert-I'm going
to make "Crucify Me" one. That is my favorite song
on the album. That is something that people need to hear. I
think some people think when you talk about things that are
going wrong or social issues they take it the wrong way. "Crucify"
is need to express. Hear it and grasp it. I think everybody
should hear that record, I think they should hear the whole
album, but especially that record.
Does it surprise you that you have fans of all ages? I know
the last time I saw you perform it was me, I'm in my 20's, my
mom, she's in her 50's, and my aunt, she's in her 60's and we
all had a great time.
Gerald Levert-Where were
you at?
This was in Chicago. I don't remember where but I know your
dad was hurt and he was supposed to be performing.
Gerald Levert- Oh ,that
was the day my dad broke his foot.
It surprises me, but I think it's because
I don't say things that everyone can't relate to. If you have
children you will relate to what I'm saying. I'm trying to reach
the children, the parents, and reach some of the white folks
to. Those who accept your message. They don't want to talk about
it. I'm open to expression and I want everyone to express themselves.
Are you touring now?
Gerald Levert-We doing promotional
tour and it's so weird.
Try to get some rest.
Gerald Levert-I'm trying
to now as soon as I get done with you
Okay go to bed.
Gerald Levert-No, No..what
else.
I'm done.
Gerald Levert-I don't want to bore you. Where are
you based out of?
Virginia Beach. I met you back in 99 in Connecticut at NBA
player Vin Backer's Vin Baker Celebrity Cruise. It was
a lot of fun.
Gerald Levert-That was a fun
time. I had a ball.
News flash!
Gerald Levert Voices
Collection of new and classic duets coming Oct. 4th
Party
Player Listening Party
Listen
to album
Order
Now
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com
or e-mail her at webmaster@thabiz.com.
May not be reprinted, copied or distributed.
Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, imissthe80s.com
2006
|
