Formed in 1984, Cleveland, Ohio, natives the late, greats; Sean & Gerald Levert, sons of the legendary O’Jay’s founder, Eddie, and brother-from-another-mother, Marc Gordon, unleashed their grown & sexy on the masses. Known for their strong vocals, reminiscent of the family patriarch, the trio would soon go on to drop their first number one chart-topper, ‘Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop (Goes My Mind),’ from their sophomore release, Bloodline. Levert’s biggest hit-to-date would later come in the form of their huge, crossover smash, ‘Casanova,’ off of ‘87’s The Big Throwdown. Gerald would eventually juggle his group duties with an equally stellar solo career, but, those demands, and off-shoot projects with both his dad, and LSG, soon outweighed those of the Levert collective. However, Sean, Gerald, and Marc did have plans of finally reuniting for another album and tour, but, sadly, their legacy would be cut down short by Gerald’s untimely passing in November 2006. Sean & Marc made it a point to continue on in G’s memory, and even started on their brand new effort, but in a twisted sense of fate, Sean, too, suddenly lost his life…

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First things first, my condolences on the untimely passing of your best friends, brothers, and group-mates, Sean & Gerald Levert -- They are, and will continue to be, sorely missed:(

View the LeVert II Dedication videos

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Todd Davis: Marc, how are you actually holding up?

Marc Gordon: It’s been rough, really rough. Gerald & Sean were like brothers to me and we’ve been through a lot together. I have good & bad days…

TD: How are you finding the strength to move forward in the name of Levert?

MG: God, family, and it’s such an unbelievable story that (I) can’t let it end like this. I gotta continue for my brothers.

TD: After the surprise of, first, losing Gerald, you and Sean both continued the Levert legacy by putting together another group effort, correct?

MG: Yes, we we’re just finishing up Dedication, a new record for Gerald.

TD: How far along in the recording process were you when Sean left to go and serve his jail sentence for unpaid child support?

MG: (We were on) one of the last records.

TD: Do you remember your initial reaction when news broke that he had taken ill while in custody?

MG: Shocked, because I knew what was going on, but he said it was handled.

TD: How long had it actually been since you had seen or talked to him?

MG: I talked to Sean pretty much every day, but while in custody I talked to him once. And, the day after he passed, his attorney was (supposed to be) meeting with the judge to work on his release.

TD: It is just so sad to take into consideration what happened next. I imagine you were probably filled with such disbelief when you were first informed of him dying, too. Can you recall your initial thought(s)?

MG: I didn’t have a good feeling about him being there in the first place, because he shouldn’t have been there anyway. Sean was a good father, and just had his kids for summer break, and they just came back from Christmas vacation to the Bahamas with their grandfather, Eddie. But, you didn’t hear that in the headlines… I was actually on the phone with a publicist talking over plans for the record and waiting on what the judge was gonna say the next day about his release, when I got the call. Unbelievably hurt and numb -- Don’t make sense.

TD: How is the family doing in the wake of these devastating tragedies?

MG: Up and down, but getting through it.

TD: Do you remain in touch with their parents, children, and extended families?

MG: Yes. Life’s too short.

TD: As a tribute to those two great men, are you still planning to release that FINAL Levert project?

MG: Yes, I was hoping by Gerald’s b-day, but we’ll see.

TD: You actually are featuring a new member on it as well, right?

MG: Yes, Blaq Rose.

TD: What does he bring to the Levert table?

He’s a very skilled, talented singer with a lot of energy.

TD: For someone, like my-self, who has yet to hear anything from the new record, what’s to be expected?

MG: R&B Soul, a lil’ Funk & Hip-Hop, and, of course, ballads.

TD: Is it still being called Dedication?

MG: Dedication…It started as a dedication for Gerald.

TD: What are your favorite or most personal songs on the CD?

MG: ‘Anywhere,’ ‘Superman,’ ‘Call Me,’ ‘What You Need,’ ‘Not Enough,’ ‘So Sexi,’ (and) ‘Understand You.’

TD: I know Sean is a part of the album, but were you also able to incorporate any vocals from Gerald?

MG: Not for this project, but I have future plans.

TD: How do you feel that the new material(s) either differs and/or compares sonically to other Levert releases?

MG: Have a lil’ younger sound, but a good song is a good song.

TD: Share with me a favorite story and/or memory of both G & Sean…

MG: So many from the early years on the road, I don’t know…

TD: On a less somber note, I know that you also ventured out as a soloist at one point -- Why hasn’t a Marc Gordon solo project ever surfaced?

MG: I never really wanted to be solo. So, either it was the group, or I stayed behind the scenes.

TD: Will there be one eventually?

MG: Nah, (that’s) not the plan.

TD: What caused the dissolution of Levert in the first place?

MG: The music biz is hard, and there’s always people trying to divide, but you gotta stay strong.

TD: For those who do not know your whole back-story, tell me your whole inception into music?

MG: I started in grade school, taking lessons just to get out of class for an hour.

TD: How did the three of you even come together to form Levert?

MG: Me & Gerald got together and started writing songs day & night, putting together bands, doing talent shows, and it took a minute before his father took us serious. We did an indie record, which then got us signed with Atlantic.

TD: Did you ever imagine back then the amount of success that you all would eventually go on to achieve?

MG: No…I still say that today, never knew what to expect, we just worked hard and did what we loved to do; music.

TD: What has been the secret to your success?

MG: I think chemistry was a big part. We was always together, ‘cause I stayed with the family for a while.

TD: Are you happy with the current state of the music industry, and specifically R&B music?

MG: Not really, where is it? I don’t really hear R&B anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I like all styles of music, but they push too much of the same thing.

TD: Outside of music, what types of things do you also enjoy doing?

MG: Hanging out with the fam, sports, (and) video games.

TD: What has been your greatest career achievement?

MG: People appreciating, and buying my music around the world -- That feels good.

TD: Do you have any other future goals and/or aspirations, maybe completely away from your music?

MG: TV and film ideas (that) I want to put together.

TD: As for the immediate, what’s next for Marc Gordon?

MG: Getting this LeVert II Dedication album out, (and) writing & producing new artists.

TD: Do you have any message for our readers?

MG: Check out my My Space page at Levert2MarcGordon@myspace.com. I’ll be featuring some new music from Dedication until the website is done.

Whatever you do in life, be dedicated -- Thank you.