Singer Sean Levert Dies at 39

Singer Sean Levert Dies at 39

By THOMAS J. SHEERAN

CLEVELAND (AP) — Singer Sean Levert, a third of the 1980s R&B trio LeVert and son of lead O'Jays singer Eddie Levert, has died after falling ill while serving a jail term. He was 39.

Levert was sent to the Cuyahoga County jail last week for failing to pay child support. He died at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland late Sunday, less than an hour after he was taken there from the jail, said coroner Frank Miller. An autopsy was planned, he said.

His brother Gerald Levert, who had success as a solo artist after leaving their trio died in 2006 at age 40 of an accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The brothers had formed LeVert in the 1980s with childhood friend Marc Gordon. Their hits included and "Baby I'm Ready," "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind" and "Casanova."

"Casanova" was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. It was also nominated for best R&B song.

At Gerald Levert's funeral service in November 2006, Sean Levert and his father performed "Dance With My Father" and personalized the words for Gerald. The elder Levert's group, the O'Jays, was known for such smash hits as "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train."

Sean Levert found a new third partner last year and was trying to revive LeVert.

Warden Kevin McDonough said Levert had been sick and guards were watching him at the jail's regular cellblock because he had been acting strangely. He declined to be more specific about Levert's medical condition.

Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail, Caesar said. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks, he said.

Sean Levert had pleaded guilty last week to six counts of nonsupport involving children ages 11, 15 and 17.

Happy Birthday Uncle Charles 2008

What can I say? This has to be one of the best, if not the BEST birthday present I have ever had. It's awesome that you all would take the time to make me feel so special! Here is my testimony for this remarkable feat you have done... Giving honor to God, who is the head of my life, and Hank, Kim, Janet, Sabrina, all of the young people and children present... I have a special place where I carry each and every one of you in my heart. I love you; one and all. Like little Timothy Cox at Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Indianapolis had said years ago in Children's Council: "I thank the Lord for being baptized, I thank the Lord for being here, and y'all pray for me I be sabed!" (at least long enough to come visit or maybe even long enough to relocate to the great ATL. In a nutshell, I LOVE ALL YALL!

Rev. Jeremiah Wright - Part 1 of 4

Ye shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you FREE!

Spoiled Girl Cries Over Getting a Lexus

The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Dick Gregory apologizes to the first Black President

David A. Paterson - 1st Black Governor of New York

David A. Paterson will assume the position of governor of New York upon the resignation of ex-governor Eliot L. Spitzer, effective March 17.

David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of New York in November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer. Previously, Mr. Paterson had served as the minority leader of the state Senate. The scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr. Paterson was born legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before entering politics.

Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr. Spitzer's running mate stunned many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats in statewide elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his party took over the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling triumvirate in Albany and take his seat with the governor and the Assembly speaker to decide between them how New York State is governed. By contrast, the lieutenant governor's post brings with it no power and little prestige.

Read More...

Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few lieutenant governors who had been given a real role, saying he wanted to be an "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close to him spoke of the enviable position he would be in if there was a chance to move up. If, for instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president, Mr. Spitzer would appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr. Paterson has demonstrated political skills and good timing in the past; he became the minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a coup, which is a rare feat in Albany.

As the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate, Mr. Paterson has tried to make up for his lack of power with wit, flurries of reform proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a combination that has made him a quotable presence in a Capitol where such leaders are often ignored as irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with national Democrats, traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional leaders. And here, where much of what passes for legislative humor is of the backslapping variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.

Take his request at a recent news conference on government reform. "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling you about the reform that they're doing, I want you to give me their names, we're going to bring them to this conference room, and we're going to beat them up," he said, with a straight face.

Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil, represented the same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr. Paterson was raised at the knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also grew up legally blind, after an infection as an infant that left him totally without sight in his left eye and with severely limited sight in his right. His family moved to Long Island, where they found a school that agreed to educate him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high school in three years, went to college at Columbia and graduated from Hofstra Law School.

When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr. Paterson recalled the discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled. “So I have had this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to show them I could do things they didn’t think I could do,” he said. “This is just another.”

How To Use Chopsticks

How To Use Chopsticks