Part 4 - The Sun Now, that Gerald had proven he could stand alone, he was free to collaborate. His first serious joint effort was with Eddie. The two wrote and produced Father and Son, which rose to platinum status, gusted by the crowd-pleaser "Wind beneath my Wings". Beyond the music, the album was culturally relevant; their mutual love and respect inspired the nation. The album was a milestone for Gerald since he was able to express on record the expanse of his gratitude to his idol/friend/mentor. Although Eddie had originally discouraged Gerald from pursuing music, he had dropped countless invaluable lessons on his son over the years, ranging from how to negotiate a contract to how to work a stage. Gerald had learned well, and then some, especially when it came time to performing. When the two took their blowout show to the stage, it had become obvious that the younger Levert's stage tactics were just as formidable as his father's. By watching his dad perform over the years, Gerald had learned to make love to the music. Now, he worked it and worked it and just wouldn't stop until the crowd screamed. In city after city, the combined efforts of father and son worked the crowds until they exploded. Gerald also collaborated with numerous other successful artists, such as Anita Baker, Regina Belle, Barry White, and the Winans, as well as up and coming artists Rude Boys and Men at Large. He wrote and produced major hits for these acts and occasionally lent a vocal. He sang on Chris Rock's comedic club-hit "No Sex in the Champagne Room", which kept fans on their toes. All of these collaborations groomed Gerald for the biggest one to date: LSG. The brainchild of Keith Sweat, it was originally slated to feature R. Kelly, but scheduling conflicts cleared the way for the final lineup of Gerald (L)evert, Keith (S)weat, and Johnny (G)ill. Judging from fan reactions, it shouldn't have been any other way. Two chart-topping singles and a double-platinum album later, everyone agreed. In a rare instance of musical synergy, styles, talents, and images fused to form a whole that was greater than its parts. The healthy competition between the members allowed them to push themselves and each other further. Thus they were able to reach a level of craftsmanship in a short amount of time that would have been harder to attain if each man were working alone. The clever "Door #1" is a definitive example of what a little teamwork can accomplish. The performers' individual attributes shine in a way that doesn't detract from the group. The dynamics that Gill's gospel-tinged riffs, Sweat's achy adlibs, and Gerald's soul-to-the-toes delivery provided amplified the aural energy level. Contributions from LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, Faith Evans and others cranked up the party a few more notches. The final product was an all-star extravaganza that remained intimate enough to showcase both the individual and collective talents of the group. Considered by some to be a risky experiment with built-in kinks, at the end of the run, which included a lucrative US concert tour, LSG was considered to be an all-around success.