The Truth Behind Miki Howard and Eddie Levert: Rumors Vs. Verified History
By Alexander Ross
Eddie Levert’s life has been marked by musical triumph and staggering personal heartbreak. As the undisputed front-vocal anchor of The O'Jays, Eddie forged an indelible sound across the Philadelphia International Records catalog. In later years, he endured the unimaginable pain of losing two sons within sixteen months: Gerald in 2006, followed by Sean Levert in 2008.
In the industry circles where Howard came of age, Eddie was revered royalty. Howard entered the scene with her own regal musical pedigree, she is the daughter of gospel icons Clay Graham of The Pilgrim Jubilees and Josephine Howard of The Caravans. Because Howard grew up surrounded by heavyweights like Aretha Franklin and Billy Preston, her interactions with elder soul figures like Eddie were defined by professional reverence, not romantic intrigue.
Eddie watched his son work with Howard during the height of LeVert's fame. When Gerald and Eddie teamed up for their own landmark father-and-son collaborative projects, such as their 1995 album Father and Son, Gerald’s romantic life was an open book within the family. Eddie was well aware of Miki’s role in Gerald’s world. He respected Howard as a vocalist of extraordinary caliber, recognizing that she possessed the same raw, church-honed delivery that he had passed down to Gerald.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
