CUE's Out and About

IN GERALD'S WORLD

AT THE HONEYNUT CHEERIOS SOULFEST!

By Robin A. Jones 7/14/00

The Honey Nut Cheerios Soulfest is always one of the hottest concert bills of the summer. This year's event would prove to be no exception. I had missed the show two years in a row, but I was determined to see it this year. Even the fact that it was on a weeknight and at the Nissan Pavilion, a venue thirty miles west of Washington, D.C., didn't matter. The bill included headliner Frankie Beverly and Maze, a group who has been able to sell out urban stadiums despite the fact that they have not recorded a studio release in over a decade. Opening acts were Kevon Edmonds and K-Ci and JoJo. Edmonds is best remembered for his stint as the lead singer of the R&B trio, After 7. Now as a solo artist on RCA records, Edmonds is enjoying success with his release “24/7”. R&B brothers' K-Ci and JoJo are touring following the success of their sophomore release on MCA Records. They are all great acts in their own right, but my number one reason for catching this event was the fact that my favorite male vocalist also shared this bill. Naturally when tickets went on sale I rushed out to the nearest Ticketmaster location. I was waiting to purchase tickets at a nearby outlet when Anne Carter walked in. We had never met, but before our tickets were processed we had discovered our commonality - a passion for Gerald Levert. Over the course of weeks prior to the show, Anne and I conversed via email, trading stories about the romance man we simply call “G.” She had met him several times and had even danced on stage with him. I had met him in 1997, when he performed with Keith Sweat on the New Edition Reunion Tour. Anne and I agreed that Gerald's charisma and exceptional talent had made us the loyal fans we had been for years. Needless to say our love and admiration for the singer was enough to bond us. So it was no surprise when we ended up attending the show together [and thanks to Levert's bodyguard Joe Bailey, we also attended the singer's birthday bash.] Come go with me as I recount how Anne and I literally lived in “Gerald's World.”

Just shortly before sundown, the R&B veteran took center stage following an exceptional performance by Edmonds. Unfortunately duo K-Ci- & Jo Jo were no shows. Therefore, after a seductive musical intro from back up singers, Sherena, Coco, and Tia, Gerald Levert emerged from the stage backdrop. Anne, who had front row seats, turned around to give me a high five. G. commanded the stage, wearing a Hershey colored three buttoned suit and a smile bright enough to resurrect the setting sun. He looked happy, almost hyped, performing on what was his 34th birthday. Birthday wishes rang out from his die-hard fans like fireworks on Independence Day. A young lady sitting behind me leaped to her feet. “Happy Birthday G”, she yelled waving flowers she had bought for the singer. Of course Anne and I came bearing gifts also. Anne was in tow with 13 long stem purple roses for which she had contacted ten area florists. Gerald looked down from the stage and smiled, perhaps remembering when she danced on stage with him. If nothing else, he knew those roses [purple being his favorite shade] were for him. Anne stood at the front of the stage looking more like the singer's significant other than his number one fan. I held up the lime fluorescent birthday banner that took me three days to construct. Gerald nodded at me. I hoped he would also catch a glimpse the temporary “G” tattoo I drew with liquid eyeliner on my left arm. [It made him smile.] Gerald Levert definitely gets the love from his fans and in return he gets his groove on for them. He wasted no time going into his first number “Heart Don't”. Those who are serious G. fans recognized the tune from his latest release “G” and hurled to their feet dancing and swaying. Others, a little fewer familiars, sat in awe of the man who has been a mainstay in the industry now for better than a decade and a half. When Gerald's up tempo material left some fans less responsive, he pulled out his most famous trick. He began to disseminate teddy bears [his hallmark] and long stem red roses. Dozens of women left their seats and swarmed the front row in riot proportions. “I knew that would get you up”, Gerald teased. Anne managed to get a teddy bear. However, I missed the two bears G. purposely aimed at me. And although I was wearing three-inch heels, he still over threw me. I did manage to get the rose the singer literally placed in my hand, forget that at least ten taller women nearly beat me down for it.

With his less commercial tunes out of the way, the singer, songwriter and producer began his soap opera drama called “Gerald's World.” It's the latest installation on his live show where the singer fantasizes about starring in his own soap opera. “Wouldn't it be cool to have a black soap opera” he polled the crowd. So he began setting up the plot, telling the story of his life with his leading boo [“let's call her Shan-knee-qua”, he said] through his hits, `Nothing' To Something', “Thinkin' Bout It”, “Taking Everything” and Applications, Looking for a New Love.” “Gerald's World”, was definitely a hit even if it never makes it to daytime television. Next Gerald went into his live show's old ritual of selecting a full size sister to join him on stage. His latest lady was a more than willing participant named Teresa. After Gerald saw “just how low Teresa could go”, he slid across the stage on his knees [ala Jackie Wilson] and landed his head on her stomach. It's a moment that makes many women in the audience size 18 and under wish she had eaten extra helpings of those mash potatoes last Christmas. When Teresa left the stage, women lined up to touch her, hug her, and high-five her. Gerald had boldly gone where many others only dreamed he would. By this time, Gerald had removed his jacket and the sweat drenched brown shirt stuck to his chest like crazy glue. When he walked over to the left side of the stage, I noticed he was without his trademark teddy bear necklace, but not without his trademark showmanship. It's amazing how well this man delivers a song. It's amazing how well he is able to put every inch of his own gutting wrenching emotion in each lyric. It's amazing how song after song, dialogue after dialogue he never tires. He sweats - but never tires. And one thing is for sure, the show doesn't start until a Levert starts to sweat - and Gerald was about to get started. His milk chocolate complexion glistened from the mixture of perspiration and stage lights. Gerald wiped his face in a huge white towel and began to sing the opening bars of his hit “Casanova”. Suddenly his younger brother Sean joined him onstage. The now svelte Sean serenaded along side his big brother my personal favorite “ABC, 123” and then helped to pay tribute to their father Eddie Levert with hits by the O'Jays. Sean hauntingly resembles Papa Eddie and proved that the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree, leading the O'Jays classic “Let Me Make Love To You.” “Sean they say you sound like Daddy a little bit”, Gerald remarked. [Yes he does.]. To the audience surprise, the fellows followed up with O'Jays' classics “For the Love of Money”, and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” Of course, no one really compares to Eddie, but the senior Levert would have been a doting dad watching his sons pay him homage.

Sean made his exit and Gerald sang a rendition of his latest single “Baby U Are” in his falsetto. Although he couldn't keep it going for a long period, he managed to give us a tease and then broke it down in his natural voice. The man has skills and unless you were really paying close attention you wouldn't have recognized the switch. I guess you could say that by this time I had forgotten I was covering this show. My press credentials began blowing in the rural night air. When the band played the opening to “Mr. Too Damn Good,” Anne stepped up beside me and whispered, “G. is about to come out into the audiencel.” Sure enough when event security along with his bodyguard affectionately known as “Big Joe”, began to move into position, I knew the best was yet to come. Anticipation was mounting. Women were screaming. Security looked worried. But to singing the passion lyrics of his near platinum romance anthem, Gerald walked down the stairs off the stage and toured as much of the outdoor arena as possible. He had made it back around to the stage relatively unharmed until one eager fan managed to slip through the bearer and get her bear hug on. She was ecstatic. Security was scared. Big Joe was patient. But G., kept smiling and singing. “Damn Good” was Gerald Levert's finale, and once onstage he waved goodbye over the constant cheering from his new and loyal fans. His back up singers- in harmony to die for- led the audience in singing happy birthday to him. He smiled and bowed his head in humility. He is simply G. - which always stands for gracious guy!

This is the debut of my column “Out and About. I want to thank J. Laffayette Carter and C.U.E. Magazine for giving me the opportunity to share with you my days and nights on the town. It was an honor and a privilege to come out of the box with this feature. Peace out Robjaye!