Brenda Nelson-Strauss of Black Grooves wrote ” Featuring a mix of classic and contemporary songs, Just a Mortal Man has broad appeal, effortlessly crossing genres but with a definite Nashville sound. The album is a fine showcase for Lawson’s vocal abilities, which after 40 years are still above and beyond the range of most mortal […]
The Jerry Lawson Legacy project explores the history of Jerry Lawson and the legendary Persuasions in chronological order as explained in candid biographical commentary by Jerry and special guest host and Persuasions aficionado Julie Lawson. It is being produced by Lawson Productions and Drew Verbis. Jerry is being recorded and filmed going through his entire […]
Sam Gazdziak of Country Universe wrote ” The album is a soul record, though there are more than enough elements to make it fit comfortably in the country music world, or at least within the endearingly fuzzy borders of Americana. Just a Mortal Man is one of the year’s best releases. On a quieter song like Paul Simon’s “Peace […]
“Just a Mortal Man is a master class in basic human emotions in all their complexity and inscrutability. With The Persuasions, Jerry Lawson made many great recordings, but Just a Mortal Man is his finest hour… a great stylist with an infallible instinct for the essence of every song he sings.” – David McGee, Deep […]
“This collection of tunes serves notice that Jerry Lawson deserves mention in any conversation about great singers in American history.” Dave Stallard did a Q&A with Jerry this month – read the full thing here.
The Tennessean published photos from Jerry’s CD Release show at Nashville’s Station Inn on June 5th 2015. Click here to view the gallery.
The reviews are rolling in – here are a few of our favorites. Click to visit the publication/read more! “One of the best albums of 2015.” – Rich Kienzle, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Music Podcast “Lawson calls Sam Cooke, Brook Benton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and David Ruffin his heroes, but one listen to this album and you’ll […]
Jerry Lawson was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but raised in the tiny country town of Apopka, FL, about 12 miles north of Orlando. This was when there were still a million orange groves there, untouched by Disney. Jerry’s uncle, Booker T. Washington, owned a juke joint in Apopka named The Two Spot, and he and his mom lived in the apartment upstairs during his early years. His Mom, Miss Estee, fried the catfish, and Jerry kept the joint clean.
A note from Jerry about the song: “It’s rockin’! ‘Never Been to Memphis’ is my first country song with a band. I really get a kick out of it. I love the energy of it. I love the story it tells and I can’t wait to perform it live and see the audience reaction. Alan […]
At the age 71, Jerry released his first solo album on a major label that is already critically acclaimed and features the backing of Nashville’s finest recording artists including Jim Lauderdale, the McCrary Sisters, Eric Brace and many more. Tune In
“Affecting throughout, it demands playing.” – The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal named Just a Mortal Man one of the ‘Six Retro Roots Albums to Jump-Start Your Summer.’ Click here to read the article.
Jerry and producer Eric Brace talk with Joel Rose about Just a Mortal Man. Full audio and story here: npr.org/2015/05/03/403290204/soul-singer-jerry-lawsons-just-a-mortal-man-almost-came-true
With his new album Just A Mortal Man out this week, his solo debut, and even after half a century in the music business, Jerry says it’s a thrill to see his own name alone on the marquee. A lot of people may be wondering what took him so long. Listen Here
Folks, April 28 is finally here, which means that Just a Mortal Man is finally out! This is Jerry Lawson’s masterpiece, the album of a lifetime that he has been crafting over the past two years with Grammy-nominated producer Eric Brace. And now it’s here. As you all know, Jerry spent more then 40 years […]
“The power of this album lies in Lawson’s powerful and passionate interpretation of each of the album’s 13 tracks. Not only does he know his way around a song, but he possesses a genius for understanding the heart of the song’s lyrics and singing them straight to the hearts and souls of his listeners.” – […]
“I’ll Come Running Back to You” (Live with Eric Brace & Peter Cooper) A note from producer Eric Brace about the video: “We were nearly done with the album when we went into Joe Pisapia’s East Nashville studio with The McCrary Sisters to capture their beautiful voices on five of the songs on Just a […]
Just weeks before the release of his solo debut album Just a Mortal Man, Jerry was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Contemporary A cappella Society during the Boston Sings! Festival (BOSS), April 11th 2015. The annual awards show is called the Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), and the Lifetime Achievement CARA […]
The folks over at Billboard.com have premiered the title track, “I’m Just a Mortal Man” from Jerry’s upcoming album and posted a great interview with Jerry. Click here to read.
Red Beet Records will release Jerry’s solo debut, Just a Mortal Man on April 28. Click here to read more!
Host John Semper Jr. of Experience Talks speaks with Jerry: John is an Emmy-nominated writer, story-editor, and producer with thirty years of experience in the entertainment industry, focusing primarily on animation and children’s television. His many credits include producer/story editor/writer of the Fox animated TV series, “Spider-Man,” and the PBS animated pre-school series, “Jay Jay […]
NPR’s Tom Ashbrook enthusiastically interviews Jerry about their tribute CD to The Beatles, The Persuasions Sing The Beatles. The Persuasions perform live in studio and discuss the art of making a cappella music. View the original post on WBUR This program aired on July 4, 2003
Jesse interviews Jerry about his tribute CD to The Grateful Dead titled: Might As Well: The Persuasions Sing The Grateful Dead (Out of Print) What led The Persuasions to the Dead? According to Lawson it was a dream conjured up by a special request. They’ve done Dylan, Zappa Kurt Weill, Sam Cooke to name a […]
Jesse interviews Jerry about his tribute CD to Frank Zappa titled Frankly A Cappella The Persuasions Sing Zappa– Listen Here
