I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship [Paperback]

Sr. Eddie Levert (Author), Gerald Levert (Author), Lyah Leflore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2008

The final collaboration from Eddie and Gerald Levert: an intimate glimpse into their lives, their passions, and their musical legacy. But most important, I Got Your Back gets inside the special and rare father-son bond that these two R&B legends shared. Eddie and Gerald put their hearts and souls on the line and talk about their failures, concerns, fears, and triumphs as father and son. With a powerful message of reconciliation for broken families, Eddie and Gerald explore the themes of fatherhood, male bonding and male-female relationships. The book includes moving tributes from Eddie, Patti LaBelle, Steve Harvey and others, as well as treasured family photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The candid father and son conversations…are the heart of the book.” – Leonard Pitts, Jr., Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood

“Eddie Levert is an American icon. Gerald Levert is the most talented soul-singer of my generation. With ingredients like these, anything they create together is delicious! This book is a tasty testimonial to the power of love.” –Tavis Smiley, host of The Tavis Smiley Show, New York Times bestselling author of What I Know for Sure, and editor of the New York Times bestsellers The Covenant with Black America and The Covenant in Action

“I GOT YOUR BACK celebrates black men and the deep relationship that Eddie and Gerald Levert share as father and son. For generations they have inspired us with the power of their Love Train especially for me as I reflect on my relationship with my grandfathers and father.” –Hill Harper, actor and New York Times bestselling author of Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny

“Eddie Levert is one of the great figures in American popular music and Gerald Levert is the greatest soul singer of his generation. Both exemplify the height of grace dignity and integrity as self-respecting black men. I GOT YOUR BACK is their powerful and poignant gift to us – a life enhancing message we so badly need in these difficult days! I thank Lyah Beth LeFlore for her help in laying bear the wisdom of these two geniuses!”
–Dr. Cornel West, New York Times bestselling author of Democracy Matters and University Professor of Religion, Princeton University

“I got my start in R&B music with Gamble and Huff's O’Jays so Eddie Levert will always be important to me. I've been a fan of Gerald Levert ever since he began. To see a father and his son make indelible marks on music over many years is very, very special.” –Clive Davis, founder of Arista Records and J Records, Grammy Award winning record producer, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Chairman and CEO of BMG North America

“Eddie and Gerald Levert are musical nepotism at its best. Strong “Man” voices singing harmonious lyrics. If you play one of their songs, you should be able to get you some…..” –Cedric the Entertainer, actor and comedian

“When I think of Gerald and Eddie together, I had never seen anything like that in my whole life…the love they shared for each other, the way they talked to each other, the way they got along, and the music they made over the years is truly mind-blowing.” –Reverend Run, hip hop icon, pastor, author of Words of Wisdom, and star of MTV’s Run’s House.

“As a member of the legendary singing group, The O’Jays, Eddie Levert’s brand of silky soul is the reason some of us are here. Gerald Levert has continued to keep the baby-making songs alive. With I Got Your Back, these talented men show us another side; the beautiful bond between father and son.”–Mo’nique, actress, comedienne and New York Times Bestselling author of Skinny Women are Evil

About the Author

EDDIE LEVERT is one of the founding members of the pioneering 1970s soul group and 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O’Jays. He lives in Las Vegas.

Founder of the chart-topping group LeVert, GERALD LEVERT released his first solo album in 1991, and in 1997 formed LSG with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill. Gerald also wrote and produced songs for many musical artists, including Barry White and Patti LaBelle. Gerald Levert passed away suddenly in 2006 at age forty.

LYAH BETH LeFLORE is the coauthor of the novel Cosmopolitan Girls, and the author of Last Night a DJ Saved My Life. Lyah has been a television producer and entertainment executive for over a decade and has worked at Nickelodeon, Uptown Entertainment, and Alan Haymon Productions.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767927605
• ISBN-13: 978-0767927604
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book, June 8, 2007

By 

Lolita (Memphis,Tn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship (Hardcover)

I've been waiting on this book since I preordered it Jan. 2007. I received it on the June 7th and finished it the same day. It will make you laugh,cry and be thankful of life. My heart goes out to the Levert Family please stay stronger. Martha Levert you were so blessed to such loving children especially Sean and Gerald.To Gerald loving keep children keep being prayful only he knows your pain.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 7, 2007

By 

Norma Y. Harris "Queendiva" (Laurel, Md) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship (Hardcover)

I have been waiting for this book since I heard about it. I got it on the 5th of June, and here it is the 7th of June and I'm done. It is a wonderful, wonderful book. I love the relationship between Gerald & Eddie. Now that dvd's are the thing. I have a vhs tape that I recorded of Gerald & Eddie singing "Wind beneith my wing" I will not get rid of those vhs tape until I find that tape. Every father & son, Mother and daughter should read this book. I can't tell you how much it has changed my way of thinking. My heart goes out to Eddie for the loss of his son, best friend and business partner. My prayers are with you and your family. And Martha you did a wonderful job. I wish my son felt the same about me the way Gerald felt about you. God Bless you all.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, June 27, 2007

By 

Lauren M. Deshong "lalaj1963" (Newark, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship (Hardcover)

Eddie, I truly enjoyed getting to know you and your beloved son, Gerald while reading "I Got Your Back." Gerald has been a "friend in my head" for some time now, but feel like I've gotten to know him for real. I still can't believe he's not here with us to hear all the praises for all of his hard work. You are amazingly strong (I know it must be hard), but keep your head up for you other children and grandchildren who still need you too. You were amazing on the BET Awards last night. I'm enjoying both CD's too. Long-time fan, Lauren DeShong, from Newark, NJ.