Biography
The Rude Boys are an R&B group formed by Larry Marcus (a cousin of B.B. King), Melvin Sephus, Edward 'Buddy' Banks, and Joe Little III, discovered by Gerald Levert in the late 1980s. Levert, son of O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert and a prominent singer-songwriter-producer himself (born July 13, 1966, died November 10, 2006), signed them to Atlantic Records, launching their career with the 1990 debut album Rude Awakening. This release featured new jack swing and quiet storm hits like 'Written All Over Your Face' (#1 R&B, #16 Pop), 'Heaven' (top 10 R&B), and 'Are You Lonely for Me' (#1 R&B), with the album peaking at #11 on the Billboard R&B chart.[1][3]
Their follow-up Rude House (1992) included 'My Kinda Girl' (#2 R&B underground hit) and 'Go Ahead & Cry,' selling under 250,000 units. Joe Little pursued a solo career with Puttin' It Down (1994, over 250,000 sold), and the group released Rude As Ever (1997) with Dwight Thompson replacing Little. After lineup changes, including Thompson's brief stint replacing Levert in LeVert, the original members reunited for Levert's funeral performance. The trio of Little, Banks, and Sephus continued, adding Thompson back before his later exit, while Marcus shifted to gospel.[1][3]
Gerald Levert's mentorship shaped the Rude Boys' smooth R&B sound blending new jack swing energy with quiet storm ballads, reflecting his own style from LeVert, solo work like Private Line (1991 #1 R&B), and supergroup LSG. Their legacy endures through tours and planned albums, tied to Levert's production for acts like Men at Large.[1][2][3]
Fun Facts
- Larry Marcus, an original member, is a cousin of blues legend B.B. King.[1][3]
- The group reunited to perform all four original members at Gerald Levert's funeral, sparking further reunions.[1]
- Dwight Thompson briefly replaced Gerald Levert in his group LeVert before rejoining the Rude Boys.[1]
- Joe Little III (a.k.a. Casino Joe) released a 2008 solo mix CD and signed a new deal with Majestee/Universal in 2010.[1]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Gerald Levert - Discovered the group, signed them to Atlantic Records, produced debut album, served as primary mentor (Rude Awakening (1990)) [late 1980s-1990s]
- Eddie Levert - Indirect influence as father of Gerald Levert and O'Jays lead singer (N/A (familial/stylistic influence via Gerald)) [1980s-2000s]
Key Collaborators
- Gerald Levert - Producer, toured with the group (Rude Awakening (1990), toured 1990) [1990]
- Dwight Thompson - Replacement singer for Joe Little, later filled in for Levert in LeVert (Rude As Ever (1997)) [1997, 2000s]
- Larry Marcus - Original member (later gospel solo) (Rude Awakening, Rude House) [1990-1992]
Artists Influenced
- Men at Large - Another group discovered and produced by Gerald Levert (N/A specified) [1990s]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Rude Boys/ Gerald Levert has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2025 | 22:25 | Written all Over your Face | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman |