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"I Got Your Back is their powerful and poignant gift to us--a life-enhancing message we so badly need in these difficult days!"
--Dr. Cornel West, University Professor of Religion, Princeton University
"With I Got Your Back , these talented men show us another side: the beautiful bond between father and son."
--Mo'Nique, comedian
In a heartfelt, and now bittersweet love song, Eddie and Gerald Levert, R&B's most beloved father son duo offer straight talk about family, fatherhood, and more.
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. The book includes a moving tribute from Eddie, Patti LaBelle, Steve Harvey and others, as well as treasured family photos.
A Broadway Books Hardcover - In Stores Now
ISBN: 978-0-7679-2744-4 - $18.95/$24.95 in Canada
CHECK OUT THESE NEVER BEFORE SEEN EXCERPTS OF THE POWERFUL UPCOMING SUMMER RELEASE "I GOT YOUR BACK: A FATHER AND SON KEEP IT REAL ABOUT LOVE, FATHERHOOD, FAMILY, AND FRIENDSHIP" by EDDIE LEVERT, SR. and GERALD LEVERT with LYAH BETH LEFLORE
...AND DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO GET UPDATES ON THE UPCOMING "I GOT YOUR BACK" BOOK TOUR AND RECEIVE VIP ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INVITATIONS TO SPECIAL "I GOT YOUR BACK" BOOK SIGNINGS WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK PERSONALLY SIGNED BY EDDIE LEVERT AND THE COAUTHOR LYAH BETH LEFLORE!
Prologue: A Father's Reflection
Las Vegas , Nevada
December 13, 2006
Eddie Levert
...I got a call and the voice said he was gone. I lost all feeling. A part of me had been ripped away. My soul had never been so heavy. At that moment, I would've given up everything I had to see my son's face again. Just to get up on that stage and sing together again, one more time. In reality, all the money and resources didn't mean a thing.
My son was gone.
...Some of the greatest times of my life where when I was performing on stage with Gerald. Gerald and I didn't have to rehearse. It was what I like to call "all natural"! We'd feed off one another. He'd goad me on, "Where's that Eddie Levert that I keep hearing is the man? I need to see him!" Or he'd say, "Dad you're throwing me the ball but it's coming real slow!" That would really get me pumped up and I'd say, ‘Boy you'd better back up and leave me alone!' Audiences would go crazy...
Family Reunion :
The Meaning of Family
Eddie:
My family is my life, and with my sons I just wanted them to know that even if they weren't singing, I wasn't going to love or support them any less, no matter what they decided to do...
It's been a long journey to get to Eddie the father "now" vs. Eddie the father "then", but it was worth it and I thank my kids for having patience and forgiveness. That's the biggest reward for me when I think about family.
Gerald:
...Bottomline, the father has to be there in order to keep the family together. If he's present that solidifies the unit. I do agree with my dad that you have to be a strong male figure and not dominate or be overbearing. You have to be supportive of your woman. A father also needs to be supportive when it comes to how he deals with his kids. With my kids I have to listen to what they're saying and not think everything is corny or stupid, just because they're kids...
The Apple Don't Fall:
Father...Sons...Brothers
Eddie:
Gerald, Sean, and I work together. I am their father, but I want them to know that I can be selfish, and I can be destructive, and I can be sad I can be lonely and all of that. And sometimes I have to speak to you as that person. At some time, I, as the father, have to reveal to my sons that I'm a person who cries, hurts, feels bad, and has bad days. When that happens, I'm not speaking to them as their father I'm speaking to them as a person . And I think that makes for a better relationship...
Gerald:
My brother Sean didn't want to be in the music business at first, but I pulled him in. I guess somehow I feel responsible... I told the record company when I first got my solo deal that I wasn't leaving my brother behind. He's very important to me...
...My relationship with Sean is clear. He will always be a part of what I do! If we discuss it, fuss about it, that's okay too. It's all a part of being a family.
Darlin', Darlin' Baby:
Mothers...Sisters...Daughters...and "Baby Mamas"
Eddie:
I wish I were closer to my daughters, especially Kandi, because she's the oldest girl. My first-born daughter. When a father has a daughter, that bond is just as sacred as a mother's with her son. If that sacred bond is broken or non-existent then that young girl can be set up for one unhealthy relationship after the other, always searching for that father figure.
... It's funny, all of my daughters, Kandi, Asha, Uri, and Ryan, think that I'm more into the boys than the girls. It's not that I'm into the boys more, it's just that I understand them a little bit better...
Gerald:
...With my son Lemicah I just want him to have a good woman in his life one day. Carlysia and Camryn better have the best. All dads get like that with their girls though. Boys are tougher. My biggest concern at this point is me having the best relationship I can with my kids.
...As fathers we need to tell the truth to ourselves. Are we doing all we need to do to be good fathers? For those of us who have daughters, remember that what they see us do and say effects what kind of men they're drawn to...
Love Train:
Community
Eddie:
Black folks as a whole have to realize that we have to work for the total good of our race. The struggle is not an individual struggle. I've heard people say, ‘I need to do my thing.' Unfortunately, that thinking causes us to go in separate directions, and be at odds. If we work together everyone can have a slice of the pie. That's the attitude me and Gerald have in terms of our careers in the music business.
Gerald:
With Martin Luther King Jr., there had to be a lot of people in his ear telling him, "Man, you're taking a big risk. Think about your family, you have a beautiful wife and kids!" But he knew what he had to do in his heart, and he didn't let them affect what he felt needed to be done.
In order to be a leader of substance, you have to take a stand and say, "I'm going to do this and I'm not going to listen to what everybody else is saying because they're afraid." That's why we have icons like Martin, Malcolm, even the Kennedys. They stood for something and they didn't care that what they were doing would endanger their lives.
I Got Your Back:
Man to Man
Eddie:
Fathers and sons have to keep it real with each other. It keeps their relationship alive. Me and Gerald are buddies, and what better person to be your buddy and tell you the truth than your son.
In our personal lives, we have no qualms telling the other person, ‘Hey man, you were wrong and should've handled that better.' Even though I'm the father, I have to take it, even when I don't want to, and vice versa...
Gerald:
It's about telling the truth and being honest and straight up with each other. If I'm out of order or trippin', I may not like it or want to hear it, but I need to know. Sometimes men need for their egos to be checked! I think that you can only get that from another man. Men tend to accept advice and criticism more from a man than a woman, because we don't want to come off weak to a woman or like we're not in control...
Do I Speak For The World:
Older Brothas to Young Brothas
Eddie:
I've got two issues with our young black men: Sex and Education. First off, young black men have to get past this macho sex thing that they have. They walk around acting like all women are bitches and they gotta be the pimp...
As men we have got to start caring more about ourselves, too, and what were doing to ourselves. We've got to be selective. Sex is not just for fun. It is something that's very important and sacred in a relationship. But before you even need to be thinking about having babies and all that, it's about getting that knowledge...
Gerald:
I want to encourage young black men to read more, and open their minds to new ideas and places. Think beyond just your ‘hood or block. I know most of the negativity young black men get caught up in today is because they don't have fathers at home.
...Understand, young brotha, you don't have to have a father in your household to find a father figure in your life. Maybe it's your pastor, maybe it's an uncle? Maybe it's a cat on your block with a lot of wisdom? You are not alone and we got your back!
A Prayer:
Men and God
Eddie:
In this life there are non-believers and believers. I'm definitely a believer, but at one point in my life, I seemed to be in constant search of the truth in many different religious organizations. I discovered that you can't put your faith in man for life's answers. I've seen a lot of people grab that believer umbrella and use it just as something to walk under when it's convenient.
Gerald:
I write songs and sing about life and love. If I do a sexual song I don't want to be judged by the church. I feel like Gerald Levert the artist should be able to create freely. God gave me this talent! Just because I sing about making love doesn't mean I don't live by and believe in The Word.
...I've never lost sight of the fact that you have to believe and have faith. Faith is the most important thing people need nowadays. People also must stop judging each other.
I Love Music:
Passing the Baton
Eddie:
Fathers and sons have to keep it real with each other. It keeps their relationship alive. Since we're best friends and business partners, we are our own worst critics on all fronts, career and on the home front.
...When it comes to career, I tell Gerald what he should be doing, and he tells me the same. And if one of our performances is lousy, we have to be tough, so that we can figure out how to be better next time, and make this music thing work better. We're each other's eyes and ears. We have to let each other know so we can stay on top, even if that means being so truthful, it's brutal.
Gerald:
You can't please everyone, but with my dad, it's an even harder situation, because in the end, he's always gonna be my father. Sure, I try not to mix business with the personal, but he's my dad and it always ends up personal.
He's gonna have his opinion and I have mine, and I respect him, but I have to draw the line on when he's my dad, and when we're in business together. He knows that I have delved deep into this business. I understand where the O'Jays lost, where they could've made more money, or had more fame...
Made To Love Ya:
Love, Lies, and Trust
Eddie:
Sometimes during the day you should touch your woman, let her know that she's appreciated, and that you needed to touch her face, hold her hands. These are the things we have to do as a man for a woman. I think black men on a whole need a woman. They need to make that decision to say, "Hey, I got this woman and I'm gonna give it my all. I'm gonna play it straight instead of holding something in reserve."
...Black women have to do the same and stop looking for that man in the magazine ad. Just look for someone that's trustworthy...
Gerald:
My dreams of success have come true. I've headlined my own tour, I've written my own songs, and worked with a lot of great people, but I'm not totally fulfilled. I've come to the realization that it's no fun being successful and alone...
...If a man has an issue or an unhealthy relationship with his mother, he's likely to treat women negatively. There are a lot of men out here who aren't nice to women and I think that has to stop. Even though women can be frustrating and relationships aren't easy, I can't conceive of treating a good woman badly. I love women!