Jerry Lawson Memorial Page

Saying so long to one of the great voices of music. It was a pleasure to interview Jerry for Urban Network Magazine in 2003 as he always held a special place in my heart fir the work he did with Joni Mitchell on Shadows and Light. Always remembering him and his wife Julie with affection. Respect.

A. Scott Galloway
07-16-2019

Such a pleasure to hear you and get to know you over the years. What a thrill to see you on TV and then to have you sing in my living room. You were a star, but with no pretense. And no one loved you and believed in you like Julie. You will be missed…

Patricia Dean
07-16-2019

There will never be another voice like his. I’m so glad we have recordings and video so we can continue to hear it.

Amy Malkoff
07-16-2019

Goodbye Jerry. You were such an amazing man with such an amazing story of your lifes work. Rest in Paradise Mr. Lawson, you will be missed.
Julie and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all in this time of loss. Jerry was the best Acapella artist I have ever lived to see. I’m very grateful to have met him.
Much love,

Vanessa Suarez
07-16-2019

Gone but never forgotten

Nancy
07-17-2019

It was a blessing to know you, Jerry and know that you and Julie had such an amazing life and relationship. You were a musical treasure and listening to your CD’s will now bring both joy and sorrow, knowing that you are no longer here to make more beautiful music.

Gita Devi
07-17-2019

I have a funny story, well it always makes me smile. I can remember the first Persuasions track i ever heard and it was on the BBC national radio in the UK, and it was played by the DJ Alexis Korner and i heard it late one Saturday afternoon, and the track was “Good times”, as a young teenager i was blown away by this magnificent, unique soulful sound flowing out of my radio, it really was a breathtaking and profound experience for me. Anyway, of course i went out with my pocket money and ordered a copy of “Street Corner Symphony” which i played repeatedly and came to love each and every track( I can honestly say that, there wasn’t one track on the album i didn’t rate highly), but again i was stunned by the quality of the vocals and the arrangements and even now when i listen to their interpretation of Curtis’s “People get ready” i lose myself in those hypnotic, rich and gorgeous vocal twist and turns, and in the end i can almost visualise the train leaving the station…It really is just magnificent. Anyway, back to the story…it was a little unusual in my school for a young English white boy to be into A cappella, and most of my friends were into various rock groups of the time, Led Zepellin, Pink Floyd etc…So you have to remember that this was the time before the internet, so some of my friends were excited because they were going to see Lou Reed at a local theatre, and i really wasn’t interested in going….but to my horror, the next day, all of my friends returned with stories of the incredible support act and that they played their set without a band!!!! I had managed to miss the opportunity of seeing the Persuasions with Jerry playing in my own town…oh, the shame of it. I never did get to see Persuasions or Jerry play live but he and they have been a constant presence in my life and for which i will always be grateful. I can remember seeing the Spike Lee movie and being moved by seeing Jerry and the guys and over the years, i have purchased almost every cd released, including Jerry’s solo CD which i really love too. I know that this will be a difficult time for his close friends and family and i send you my love and hope that you can survive these sad times. For me, i will continue to listen to Jerry and those other magnificent voices within the Persuasions and will always be eternally grateful for being introduced to their unique and incredibly spiritual and beautiful music. Take care and i’m sure people will continue listening to his magnificent voice and i do envy those guys and girls that in the coming years will be introduced to his fabulous body of work, beginning with the Persuasions own work, and then of course discovering those voices at work on other artists recordings..For example, at the moment i can’t stop listening to the live version of Joni Mitchell’s “Shadows and Light”. Thank you for reading this and i hope along with all of the other messages of support it helps to bring some comfort to you and your incalculable loss.

Terry Arnold
07-17-2019

Jerry was such a special soul. I met him through his dear wife Julie, and was so impressed with his sweet, quiet way, delightful approach to life and people, and, when I heard him sing … ah, such a natural, warm voice that could charm the coldest heart, I loved him! He was an outstanding human being and his talent in music and the art of a cappella will live on forever. He especially stood out, though, as a worker with young people who were developmentally disabled. He loved them and they loved him, and, I’m sure, will miss his care for them. So sing with the angels, dear Jerry, while we all miss you so deeply here on earth.

Marilu Norden
07-17-2019

Every Christmas, for the past few years, I have started the season by listening to his version of SILENT NIGHT from the NBC show competition. I love his narration in the recording. Always a blessing. RIP and bless you in Heaven.

Roger G Brace
07-17-2019

My thoughts and prayers are with the Lawson family in this difficult time. Jerry was indeed a true treasure! May he live forever with you in your hearts and minds.

Donna Johns
07-17-2019

Forty-five years ago when I was a college student, I shared a house with a group of friends. The only records I recall that we ever played in that house were the Persuasions. Any time of day or night, you could hear Jerry’s voice resounding down the stairwell and ringing through the halls, filling the air with soul-stirring sound. When the Persuasions came to Richmond (Virginia), we all scraped money together to go to the concert, a joyful event we never forgot. The musical score of my college years was sung by the Persuasions.
Imagine my surprise when some twenty-five years later, I became friends with Jerry’s girlfriend (later wife), who had moved to a nearby town. When Jerry came back from his tour, we met Jerry as well. Soon friends and family would gather together for music nights in the living room and we would sing along with Jerry to the songs we knew by heart. Somehow he tolerated our amateur harmonies. One of the most special things about Jerry was that despite his amazing talent, he always included everyone and made them feel an important part of his life. I already miss his presence in this world. But wherever he is, I know that he is flying free … and singing!

Zoe Tass
07-17-2019

I have known your music for many many years, but never got to know you as a person. However, the fact that you were married to my cousin for so many years and knowing how happy you made her, you must have been a great person. I only wish that we could have met face to face. Rest In Peace knowing you will always be remembered for your music and how good a person you were

Mike Siegel
07-18-2019

I only met Mr. Lawson a couple times but the way his daughter spoke of him you knew he was loved and there for his family, in addition to being a great singer and performer. He will always be remembered and lived by family, friends and fans alike.

Indira
07-23-2019

So wonderful getting to know Jerry and his
His wonderful wife Julie.i grew to
know and love them both.Jerry left the
world a better place with his music and
his humanity. Miss u my friend.

Marshall Thomason
07-23-2019

Yvette and Family I send sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Mary Reid & Family
07-25-2019

I listen to The Persuasions every week. Jerry and the guys had always made my day. Say hello to Toubo, Joe & Jimmy for me.

Cary Bagell
08-22-2019

I will always remember the sultry voice of Jerry when he sang with his group. He was one of a kind in expressing his emotions in a manner that captures the heart of the song and the hearts of the listeners. I don’t know anyone who comes close to Jerry today as a soulful lead singer of an acappella group. He is still the God Father of Acappella now, living with his heavenly Father.

Abraham Santiago
08-22-2019

I had the pleasure of meeting Jerry a few years ago in NY. I only wish we would have gone to a nicer restaurant than the one we did. It was really horrible in my opinion but the company was what was important. R.I.P Jerry

Susan
08-23-2019

My heart is forever broken with your sudden passing Jerry. We never met in person but became great friends over the years due to our love of vocal group music of which you constantly inspired me with your genius, generosity and complete humilty. Along with your gorgious wife Julie you always made me feel so very welcome and l will always treasure this. Music for me is everything and your music became the rhythm of my life for the past forty plus years and l will continue to play those recordings for as long as l live. Jerry you were the salt of the earth and everything we should all strive to be in life, never one to play the star but rather just to be “just Jerry” will be your legacy of what you did for many special people in later life. Very few and l must emphasise very few people had such an impact on music as you did as you redefined just how we saw it, heard it and interpreted it. You were a visionary. God needed help with his celestial choir so had only one person you call on even though he would break so many hearts down here but knew Jerry had given us so much already. Yes our hearts were broken, no they were shattered as he took Jerry home on gossemer wings. Already he has that choir singing in angelic tones. Julie’s heart is broken beyond belief but we love and want to support her so much. At present l understand her need for space but Jerry know that l will always be there for just as you would want. Sleep peacfully dear friend safe in God’s etrrnal care and sing on in the greatest vocal group ever assembled. Jerry my friend l love you and thank-you for eveything you have done for me.

Peter Merrett
08-24-2019

ALLAHS Peace And Blessings Be On Brother Jerry And his family. Lots of accapello singers before & now, but, I have Never seen & felt a singer whose spiritual energy dominated my soul like him. Watching the original group “going to church”, stomping their feet, and using their GD Given voices like none to compare. At 67 yrs of age, the original group with Jerry Is My Absolute All Time Greatest Singing Group.

Ahmed Hassan
12-05-2019

First got introduced to Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town on “The Sing-Off”. Their version of “House of the Rising Sun” became the definitive one for me from then on. Like Ben said, I hope someone heard that and puts it in a film. I’m glad I was blessed to be able to hear him. He had a great voice.

Lee Ann Morren
12-28-2019

hey there hi…im 58,,back in time late 80s? i was privileged to see jerry and the persuasions in a smoky small joint in either allston or cambridge mass. my older cousin had sent me a cassete tape of several persuasions tunes for the prior christmas….i pretend to sing lol..tho im a bass…….we were overjoyed when jerry asked us to stay for the second show…….a memory ill never forget….decades later while i listen to darn near everything on pandora ….my love to this day is my dads country guitar playing and singing………..and jerry lawson and the persuasions..ty don shaw

Don Shaw
12-05-2020

One of my happiest memories, is the night I sang “In The Still Of The Night” with Jerry on the stage of The Other End In New York City.
Jerry and The Persuasions were a very special group that comes but once in a lifetime. I’m so grateful they came into mine. Rest In Peace Brother… Herb Olson.

Herb Olson
12-23-2020

So very sorry to hear about this loss.
I went to a Lou Reed concert in Buffalo 1973 and ther Persuasions opened the show. They were fantastic! And then to my utter amazement they did a song about A.Smile Pants – who I worked for in NYC. Seemed so random, so obscured, so aimed perfectly at me. I mentioned it in a old blog of mine and I was floored to receive a sweet and kind message from Jerry, which read in part:
” Wow, that sure brought back memories. I never would have remembered A. Smile pants. I do remember that they only paid us in clothes for doing their commercial. The owner was a real nice guy .I must have just thrown it into the show that night.We toured with Lou Reed all through Europe. A real fun tour.”
Thanks, Jerry, for giving me such a great thrill that night in ’73. You and the Persuasions were awesome.

Jim Trowbridge
06-10-2021

with all my heart and love he was the best of all i have all lp sincerely is the best

Arthur Robinson
08-15-2021

One of the greatest male vocalists of all time. Rest In Peace, Mr. Lawson, and thank you for giving so much of yourself to this world.

Steven Paul Gilmore
09-26-2021