 |
      |
 |
      |
This website is a service of SyllogisTeksDesign.com
Excerpts:
Prologue:
A Father's Reflection
Chapter One:
Family Reunion: The Meaning of Family
Chapter Four:
Love Train: Community
Chapter
Six: Do I Speak For The World: Older Brothas to Young Brothas
Chapter
Eight: I Love Music: Passing the Baton
Chapter Nine:
Made To Love Ya: Love,
Lies, and Trust
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…
Chapter One
Family Reunion:
The Meaning of Family
Eddie:
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:
Chapter Four
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…
Chapter Six
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!
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…
Chapter Nine
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!