Singer Sean Levert Dies At 39 After One Week In Jail

By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

One third of the R&B trio LeVert, singer Sean Levert has died.

The 39-year-old crooner, son of O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert and younger brother to the late Gerald Levert, died after a medical emergency in jail.

Levert was taken from the Cuyahoga County jail in Cleveland late Sunday evening and died within the hour at Lutheran Hospital, said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County's coroner's office.

Early last week, it was reported that Levert was sentenced 22 months in jail after pleading guilty to six counts of nonsupport. The singer owed more than $85,427.68 in back support for his three children, ages 11, 15 and 17.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death began this morning, Caesar said in a statement. Apparently, Levert suffered from high blood pressure and had been hallucinating in jail. Toxicology reports could take four to six weeks.

According to the Associated Press, 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.

"There was nothing that would show any of this," McDonough said. "He had an illness while he was here and it turned into an emergency at that time."

Levert's arrest for child support was a big story last week and during my report last Friday on the 'Tom Joyner Morning Show,' show host Tom Joyner, a longtime friend Eddie Levert, said that the O'Jays singer was hoping to help his son pay back the child support so that he could get out of jail.

"They are working on a deal right now," Joyner said Friday morning. "Eddie said he got some new money from Coors. They re-upped his contract. He was planning on doing some fun stuff with that money, but you know..."

The LeVert trio had attempted to reunite after the death of Gerald Levert in 2006.

Levert, group member Marc Gordon and a new member Dwight Thompson re-launched during the O'Jays' headlining set at the 2007 Essence Music Festival.

LeVert was best known for hits like '(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind,' 'Just Coolin'' and 'Casanova.'

The family released a statement that said: "There are no words that can express what we are feeling today. There is no song that can capture the loss that we have in our hearts. But we are humbly overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of love, condolences and support from the many friends, fans and admirers of our son Sean. At this very difficult time, we thank you for your prayers and hope you will understand our need for privacy."