Eddie Levert
His raw, soulful voice powered the O'Jays, defining the sound of Philadelphia soul and giving voice to Black American pride and passion.
Born 1942 (age 84)·American singer·Birthday: June 16·The Silent Generation
Biography
Eddie Levert’s journey from Canton, Ohio, to the pinnacle of soul music is a story of grit and gravelly emotion. As the founding and unwavering lead singer of the O'Jays, his powerful, preacher-like baritone became the engine for the group’s most enduring anthems. Under the guidance of producers Gamble and Huff, Levert’s voice delivered messages of social consciousness, love, and survival, turning songs like 'For the Love of Money' and 'Love Train' into cultural landmarks. His life offstage was marked by profound personal tragedy, losing both his singing sons, Gerald and Sean, yet he has persevered, his voice a testament to resilience. More than just a frontman, Levert embodies the very spirit of classic soul, a direct line to an era of lush, meaningful music that continues to move audiences.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Eddie was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 80
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 84 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 as a member of the O'Jays.
- As lead singer, helped propel the O'Jays to eight number-one hits on the Billboard R&B charts.
- Performed on and popularized the seminal Philadelphia International Records label, a cornerstone of 1970s soul.
- His vocal performance on 'Back Stabbers' is considered a defining moment in the Philly soul genre.
Did You Know?
He and his O'Jays bandmates originally called themselves the Mascots and then the Triumphs before settling on their final name.
His son Gerald Levert had a highly successful solo R&B career and was part of the group LSG.
He made a cameo appearance in the 1999 film 'The Wood'.
“I sing from my gut. I don't sing from my throat.”
