Accidental prescription drug mix killed R&B singer Gerald Levert
25th Century Quaker
Levert had pneumonia, was overworked and tired
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Brie Zeltner, Margaret Bernstein and Damian G. Guevara
Plain Dealer Reporters
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/geauga/117110052840280.xml
Local R&B singer Gerald Levert died of an accidental mix of
prescription and over-the-counter medications, the Geauga County
coroner ruled Friday.
Drugs found in Levert's bloodstream at the time of his death on Nov.
10 included narcotic pain relievers Vicodin, Percocet and Darvocet;
anxiety medication Xanax; and two over-the-counter antihistamines,
Coroner Kevin Chartrand said.
Levert, 40, the son of Eddie Levert of the O'Jays, had a successful
career as an R&B artist and a particularly loyal fan base in his
native Cleveland. The city designated East 25th Street at St. Clair
Avenue "Gerald Levert Lane" during a ceremony Wednesday.
Levert had pneumonia when he died in his Newbury Township home, which
may explain why he was taking antihistamines.
Andy Gibson, a family spokesman, said that Levert had chronic pain
from a lingering shoulder problem and surgery in 2005 to repair a
severed Achilles tendon.
"That was the main reason he was taking pain medication," Gibson said.
He said Levert also took Xanax for anxiety attacks.
The combination of drugs proved to be lethal and probably stopped
Levert's breathing, the coroner said.
Levert had returned from a concert tour in South Africa about a week
before his death, Gibson said. He performed hard and had a long
airplane ride and was complaining of a bite on his back when he
returned home.
All of these factors combined to leave Levert in severe pain, Gibson said.
"He definitely overexerted himself," Gibson said. "That's why it seems
with the coroner's report, he just took too much."
The official cause of death was acute intoxication, and the death was
ruled accidental.
Chartrand said his office received the toxicology report late Thursday
from the Cuyahoga County coroner's office, which conducted the autopsy.
After graduating from Shaker Heights High School in 1984, Levert got
his start in the music business in the trio LeVert, best known for its
1987 Top 5 hit, "Casanova."
Levert launched his solo career in 1991 and had three albums that sold
1 million copies. He was nominated in December for a Grammy Award for
best R&B performance by a duo or group for the song "Everyday" from
the movie "Madea's Family Reunion."
--
seek electricity