If you’ve spent any time digging through old R&B archives, you’ve probably seen those grainy, warm-toned Gerald Levert and Miki Howard pictures from the late 1980s. They looked like the perfect industry couple. Gerald, the "Velvet Teddy Bear" with that powerhouse growl, and Miki, the jazz-trained songstress with a range that could touch the ceiling.
But photos only tell you so much.
Honestly, their relationship was a lot more than just a promotional tour for a duet. It was a messy, beautiful, and sometimes heartbreaking tether that lasted way longer than their official dating timeline. While the public saw them as a powerhouse duo, the reality behind the lens involved deep-seated loyalty, a battle with addiction, and a bond that Miki Howard has spent years explaining to fans who just wanted to know: "Were they really in love?"
Why We Are Still Obsessed With Those Gerald Levert and Miki Howard Pictures
There is something about 80s and 90s R&B nostalgia that hits differently. When you see photos of Gerald and Miki together, you aren't just looking at two singers; you’re looking at the peak of the Atlantic Records era.
They looked happy.
In many of the most famous shots, Gerald has his arm draped over her, looking protective. Miki is often leaning in, glowing. It wasn’t a manufactured "PR relationship" like we see so often now. They actually liked each other. They dated from roughly 1985 to 1989, a period where both were exploding onto the charts.
But if you look closer at the pictures from their later years—the ones after the "official" breakup—you see a different kind of intimacy. It’s the look of two people who have survived the industry together. Miki has been very vocal about how Gerald wasn't just a boyfriend; he was the person who stepped in when things got dark.
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The Hits That Photos Can’t Hear
We can’t talk about their visual history without the soundtrack. Their 1987 duet, "That’s What Love Is," basically served as the anthem for their relationship. When they performed it, the chemistry was undeniable.
- Baby, Be Mine: Dedicated to Gerald.
- I’ll Be Your Shoulder: Written and produced by Gerald for Miki.
- Love Under New Management: A song born from the emotional turbulence of her life during and after their peak romance.
The pictures of them in the studio are some of the most authentic. You see Gerald in his element, producing and guiding, while Miki brings the fire. It’s easy to forget that Gerald Levert was a massive creative force, not just a singer. He helped shape Miki’s sound during her most successful years.
The Darker Side of the Lens: What Happened After the Flash Faded?
Pictures often lie.
While the red carpet shots showed a glamorous couple, Miki was dealing with some heavy stuff behind the scenes. After she and Gerald split around 1989, she married Eddie Phelps. That marriage was, by her own account, a nightmare. She’s talked about the abuse and how she felt blackballed in the industry.
Gerald never really left the frame, though.
Even when they weren't "together," they were together. Miki has credited Gerald with helping her through some of her darkest moments with drug addiction. When you see pictures of them from the late 90s or early 2000s, you’re seeing a woman who was saved by a friend.
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He didn't judge her. He just showed up.
The Biopic Factor
If you want a visual representation of their bond, the 2016 TV One biopic Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story is probably the best place to look. Darius McCrary (yes, Eddie Winslow from Family Matters) played Gerald.
It was a polarizing casting choice for some, but McCrary and Miki were actually close friends with the real Gerald. They captured the nuance. It wasn't just a "guy meets girl" story. It showed Gerald as the "kind yet damaged" man who remained her North Star even as his own life faced challenges.
Misconceptions About the Gerald Levert and Miki Howard Pictures
People often assume they were married. They weren't.
There was a lot of "almost" in their relationship. Miki has mentioned in interviews—like her famous sit-down with Russ Parr—that Gerald wanted to marry her at one point, but the timing was always off. Then there were the other women. Gerald was a legendary "Casanova," linked to stars like Kandi Burruss and even Mo'Nique.
The pictures of Gerald and Miki together in his final years show a deep, platonic-ish soulmate connection. It was beyond sex or records.
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When Gerald passed away in 2006 from an accidental overdose of prescription and over-the-counter meds, Miki was devastated. The photos of her at his funeral aren't the ones fans usually circulate, but they are the most telling. They represent the end of an era for R&B and the loss of the man who arguably knew her best.
What We Can Learn From Their Bond
Basically, their story is a reminder that relationships aren't always linear. You can love someone, break up, marry someone else, fall into a pit, and still have that person be your primary support system.
It’s complicated.
- Loyalty matters more than labels: They stayed in each other's lives for twenty years without needing to be "husband and wife."
- Creative chemistry is permanent: The music they made together still holds up because the feelings were real.
- Support systems are life-saving: Miki’s survival through addiction is partly credited to Gerald’s refusal to give up on her.
If you’re looking for those classic Gerald Levert and Miki Howard pictures, look for the ones where they aren't looking at the camera. Look for the candid shots in the studio or the ones where they’re laughing in the background of a party. That’s where the real story lives.
For anyone looking to dive deeper into this era of music history, the best next step is to watch Miki Howard's Unsung episode on TV One. It fills in the gaps that the still images leave behind, providing the raw, unpolished context of what it was like to be an R&B queen in the shadow of the "Velvet Teddy Bear." You should also check out the digital archives of Jet and Ebony magazines from 1987-1988, which contain the original high-resolution spreads of the couple during their peak.