What happened to Eddie Levert’s sons Sean and Gerald Levert? What we know as the singer’s daughter, Ryan, dies

Eddie Levert, iconic singer and lead singer of The O’Jays, is known for his immense contribution to the music industry. Over the years, however, his family has endured a lot of personal tragedies, including the early deaths of his sons, Gerald and Sean Levert, and most recently, his daughter, Ryan Levert.

Gerald Levert, Eddie’s oldest son, was an R&B singer and songwriter who was very successful in the music industry.

As a solo artist and performer with the group LeVert, Gerald achieved fame with hits such as Casanova and Baby hold on to mea duet with his father. Gerald died tragically on 10 November 2006 aged 40.

Acute poisoning caused by a combination of prescription and medication led to his death. Gerald had been taking narcotic pain relievers, including Vicodin, Percocet and Darvocet, for chronic pain, according to Billboard.

Two years after Gerald’s death, Eddie Levert received another devastating news when his youngest son, Sean Levert, died on March 30, 2008 at the age of 39.

Sean had been jailed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, for unpaid child support. During his time in prison, Sean was unable to take his prescribed anti-anxiety medication, Xanax.

As a result, he reportedly suffered from extreme withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations and even difficulty breathing. His condition continued to deteriorate. He was taken to Luthersk Hospital, where he died. CBS News reported.

The Levert family’s tragic journey continued recently with Eddie Levert’s daughter, Ryan Levert, passing away at the age of 22.

An article by WBLS stated that Ryan died from complications of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.

Looking back at the legacy from Eddie Levert

Eddie Levert, born June 16, 1942 in Bessemer, Alabama, is a well-known singer and member of the legendary R&B group, The O’Jays. Levert, along with childhood friend Walter Williams, originally performed as a gospel duo.

Inspired by Frankie Lyman and the teenagers, they formed a group called The Triumphs with Bobby Massey, William Powell and Billy Isles.

Daily Life (Image via Getty)Daily Life (Image via Getty)
Daily Life (Image via Getty)

The group has achieved a lot over the years. The single Backstabs hit the top spot on the R&B charts and climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The group’s biggest hit came in 1973 with Love trainwhich was number one on both the Hot 100 and R&B charts.

The O’Jays received many honors, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and a BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.