Jerry Lawson Legacy

We Are Not a Doo Wop Group

Jerry Lawson and Jimmy Hayes of the Persuasions sing “Rainy Night In Georgia” from the documentary “Spread the Word: The Persuasions Sing A Cappella” directed by Fred Parnes.

"Sweet Soul Music"

NBC features Jerry with The Sing-Off All-Stars  performing an a cappella rendition of Arthur Conley’s  “Sweet Soul Music

"House of the Rising Sun"

Jerry & Talk of the Town performing ‘House of the Rising Sun’ on Episode 4 of Season 2 of NBC’s The Sing-Off. Jerry’s unique arrangement includes the guys singing a bit of Amazing Grace!

Performing with Rod Stewart

Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast” The all-star broadcast raised 30 million dollars for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
 
Rod Stewart made it his personal mission to track down Jerry so he could sing “The Impressions” classic gospel-soul anthem, “People Get Ready” with him.

Joni Mitchell

The Persuasions with Joni Mitchell on her Shadows and Light tour.

Live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl
September 9, 1979
[2024 Remaster]

"Time and Water"

Jerry performing “Time and Water” from his debut album as a solo artist on Red Beet Records The album title is “Just A Mortal Man” 

Jerry Singing in IHOP

Jerry sang everywhere and anywhere. Here he is getting a cup of coffee at the IHOP after singing with Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix

"Lay Down Your Mountain"

This song was intended for a documentary about Anton Yelchin. A gifted young man whose career was taking off when he passed tragically.

Words by: Allen Ginsberg.
Music by: Chris Seefried.

Vocals: Jerry Lawson
Piano: Georg Egloff
Guitar: Chris Seefried
Bass: Don Was
Organ: Deron Johnson

"I'm So Glad (I've Got Skin)"

Jerry & Talk of The Town performed the tune “I’m So Glad” on Jack’s Big Music Show on the Nickelodeon Network. This adorable song is available on The Persuasions multi-award winning album “On The Good Ship Lollipop” 

"Never Been to Memphis"

From the album: Just a Mortal Man

Written by:
Alan Brace

Band:
Joe Pisapia
Duane Blevins
Jen Gunderman

with:
Jim Lauderdale – harmony vocals
Richard Bailey – banjo
Kevin Cordt – trumpet
Britt Savage – harmony vocals

"The Man in Room 1009"

James discovered that Reverend Claude Jeter, lead singer of the legendary Swan Silvertones, was alone in a nursing home during his last days on Earth. James sat by his side, held his hand and thanked him for his touching music. As he walked home deep in his feelings he was moved to write this song. Jerry grew up listening to the Swan Silvertones every Sunday. The universe must have known this was a destined collaboration.

Tribute to Rev. Claude Jeter

2 Videos

"I'll Come Running Back to You"

The Mortal Man session wrapped but the engineer kept rolling and captured this impromptu moment with Eric Brace & Peter Cooper. It was included as the closing track.

Tribute to Barack Obama

Jerry & Talk of the Town. Jerry used a bit of The Dixie Chicks song “I Hope” and wrote his own campaign song.

iPhone 6 Commercial

The Persuasions’ song “Good Times” prominently featured in a 2015 Apple commercial for the iPhone 6.

2018 Winter Olympics - Farewell Commercial

This 2018 Comcast TV commercial for the Olympic Winter Games features “People Get Ready” from The Persuasions 1972 album “Street Corner Symphony” on Capitol Records

Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town

Documentary footage of the 2010 Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town record, while it was still in production. The documentary includes interviews with Jerry, showing him and the band recording in the studio.

"Oh Mary, Don't You Weep"

Talk of the Town - Rehearsing

2 Videos

The Persuasions Sing The Beatles

The Persuasions Sing The Beatles

14 Videos

"The Man in Room 1009"

The Man in Room 1009 was written by James Power as a response to discovering that Reverend Claude Jeter — a major architect of modern gospel harmony — had spent his final days largely unrecognized.

Being a lifelong fan of The Persuasions and enthusiast of Jerry’s new album with Talk of the Town, James Power hopped on a plane to Arizona to meet Jerry. 

As fate would have it, Power’s meeting the Reverend Jeter at about this same time gave impetus for a song Jerry was the ideal collaborator for. Connecting the tribute directly to the lineage both Jeter and Jerry helped create.

The Persuasions Sing Zappa

Album cover artwork for The Persuasions Sing Zappa

"God's In The Stones"

This is the story of a farmer who took on the hardest of land and made it his home.

Performed by: Jerry Lawson and Jessika Murphy in 2009

Music and Lyrics by: Jim Chakedis & Frank Cotolo
Recorded at Porcupine Studios

Abie's Taxi - Phone Interview

Phone interview with Abe Mittleman a NY taxi driver and big fan and a really good guy.

Jerry shares his history with The Persuasions, explains why they are not a Doo Wop group, how the music industry has never given them proper credit, radio play and so much more. The Persuasions were contemporary a cappella. A genre created by Jerry. However Jerry’s eclectic repertoire did include a few songs from the Doo Wop era. He talks about working with Spike Lee, Stevie Wonder, Take 6, Rockappella, Donny Hathaway, Liza Minnelli, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, The Five Blind Boys and the thrill of singing with his hero David Ruffin.

"Oh Heavenly Salvation"

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Jerry and The Persuasions sang everywhere and anywhere. Getting a cup of coffee at the IHOP after singing with Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix. 

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Jerry & Talk of the Town Rehearsing

Pitsburgh Rehearsal
May 05 2011

Song: Oh Mary Don’t Ya Weep
Originally by Aretha Franklin

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Jerry & Talk of the Town: “The Sing Off ” NBC TV

Jerry & Talk of the Town: The Sing Off

8 Videos

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Jerry & Talk of the Town “I’m So Glad”

Jerry & Talk of The Town performed the tune “I’m So Glad” on Jack’s Big Music Show on the Nickelodeon Network.  This adorable song is available on the Persuasions CD titled “On The Good Ship Lollipop” and it’s available here.

The Persuasions Sing The Beatles

The Persuasions Sing The Beatles

14 Videos

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