In 2006, Gerald Levert, the R&B singer whose hits included "Baby I'm Ready" and "I'd Give Anything," as well as chart-toppers with the groups LeVert and LSG, died at the age of 40 from what was initially diagnosed as a heart attack at his Cleveland, Ohio, home.
"He was one of the greatest voices of our time, who sang with unmatched soulfulness and power, as well as a tremendously gifted composer and an accomplished producer," the statement read. "Above all, he was an exceptional human being whose warmth and grace inspired us all."
The Truth About His Death
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Initial reports stated that Levert had died of an apparent heart attack, which is still the number 1 killer of Black men in the United States. In February 2007, an autopsy report conducted by the Cuyahoga County coroner's office concluded that Levert's death was caused by a fatal combination of prescription narcotics and over-the-counter drugs. The drugs in his bloodstream included the narcotic pain relievers Vicodin, Percocet, and Darvocet, along with anxiety medication Xanax and two over-the-counter antihistamines. The autopsy also revealed that Levert had pneumonia. The official cause of death was acute intoxication, and the death was ruled accidental.
Check This Out: Substance Use Trends Among Blacks
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But with so many celebrities in the news that have died from an "accidental overdose", we raise the question as to why this happens? To avoid any illness or death associated with prescription medication we share the following Top 6 tips:
1. Always follow the directions on the Drug Facts label of your medicine. Read the label every time before you give the medicine.
2. Know the "active ingredient" in the medicine. This is what makes the medicine work and it is always listed at the top of the Drug Facts label. Many medicines used to treat different symptoms have the same active ingredient. So if you're treating a cold and a headache with two different medicines but both have the same active ingredient, you could be giving...
...two times the normal dose. If you're confused, check with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
3. Give the right medicine, in the right amount. It may sound easy to do, but you'd be surprised. Medicines with the same brand name can be sold in different strengths, such as infant, children, and adult formulas. The dose and directions also vary for children of different ages or weights.
4. Always use the right strength and follow the directions exactly. Never use more medicine than directed unless your doctor tells you to do so.
5. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. By simply talking to the expert it helps you find out what mixes well and what doesn't. Medicines, vitamins, supplements, foods, and beverages aren’t always compatible.
6. Use the dosage delivery device that comes with the medicine, such as a dropper or a dosing cup. A different device, or a kitchen spoon, could hold the wrong amount of medicine. And never drink liquid medicine from the bottle.
Levert, the son of O'Jays member Eddie Levert Sr., first hit it big with his sibling Sean and friend Marc Gordon as the trio LeVert in the mid-'80s. The group's hits included the 1987 song "Casanova," which hit the Top Five on the pop charts. Gerald Levert went solo in 1991 and formed a group, LSG, with singers Johnny Gill & Keith Sweat. Both solo and group ventures had numbers hits and sold over two million copies.
Gerald was and is still being missed by his millions of fans. We hope many can learn from his life.
