The Persuasions are an a cappella group which began singing together in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1960s and have gone on to produce many albums covering a wide range of musical genres, yet all filtered through their own four-to-six-part a cappella doo-wop sensibilities. During their major years of recording, to date, they have produced 25 original albums (not including compilations of their material) within a 35-year period, in addition to appearing on numerous recordings by other popular artists. They continue to perform and record on a regular basis, appearing in concert many times each year, and constantly expanding their repertoire to include more current compositions than the "street-corner" rhythm and blues doo-wop on which their style was founded. The five original members were Jerry Lawson, Jesse 'Sweet Joe' Russell, Jayotis Washington, Herbert 'Toubo' Rhoad, and Jimmy 'Bro' Hayes. Other members have included Willie C. Daniels, Ray Sanders, and Bernard Jones (who currently performs with The Dubs). Noted Washington, DC vocalist Reggie Moore joined the group in 2005. The year 2009 marks the group's 47th year in the music industry. They have also performed for periods as a four-man group, and on disc as a six-person organization. The Persuasions have also enjoyed recognition from outside the doo-wop, gospel, and a cappella communities. Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell and the Grateful Dead have all been numbered among their fans. The group opened concerts for both Mitchell and the Dead, appearing singing backup on Mitchell's live album Shadows and Light . They appeared on the album New Train by Paul Pena, and their version of the Rivingtons' "Papa Oom Mow Mow" appears on the soundtrack of Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . Frank Zappa was responsible for The Persuasions first LP Acappella . He heard a record of The Persuasions singing over the phone from a New Jersey record shop. Due to his passion for Doo-wop Zappa immediately flew the vocal group to Los Angeles to record the album. Thirty years later Zappa fan Rip Rense encouraged & supervised the leader of The Persuasions, Jerry Lawson, in the creation of a Persuasions tribute CD to Zappa, Frankly a Cappella on Earthbeat Records.Out of print since 2008 but might be found at [www.jerrylawson.biz] The Persuasions later recorded tribute albums consisting of material by the Grateful Dead (Might as Well ), the Beatles (The Persuasions sing the Beatles ), and U2 (The Persuasions Sing U2 ). Their constant eclectic choice of material, as well as the clever, unique direction of their arrangements, have been hallmarks of their live work and recordings since their earliest days. Toubo Rhoad, one of the original members, died in the mid-1990s. Moore replaced Lawson who left the group in 2003 to pursue a solo career and do charitable work. The Persuasions are considered by many to be the benchmark of a cappella singing, with groups as varied as Take 6, Rockapella, The Nylons and Boys II Men citing them as major influences. The current members of the Persuasions (2009) are: Joe Russell - lead singer Ray Sanders - first tenor Reggie Moore - baritone Jayotis Washington - second tenor Jimmy Hayes - bass

THE PERSUASIONS TICKETS BTS Tickets Rush Tickets Journey Tickets Shakira Tickets Bryson Tiller Tickets Earth, Wind and Fire Tickets

Influences

Jerry Lawson seems to have taken much of his inspiration from the songs of Sam Cooke, "Sweet Joe" Russell from Jackie Wilson. Excellent examples of The Persuasions's versions of songs by these two Soul Music pioneers can be found on We Came to Play and Chirpin , two albums considered by many to be among their best.

However, in the liner notes to the 2003 album A Cappella Dreams , they reveal their influences to be quite different from what has often assumed to be the case:

• Sweet Joe Russell references the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Soul Stirrers, and "all those gospel greats."
• Jimmy Hayes speaks of Jimmy Ricks [Rix] and Melvin Franklin.
• Jayotis Washington focuses his attention on Louis Jordan.
• Ray Sanders thanks all of the Temptations for his influences.
• Jerry Lawson cites Roy Hamilton, Sam Cooke,Al Hibbler,Brook Benton and Elvis Presley as his mentors, adding, "Believe it or not, Elvis was a big influence. I thought he was...a fine singer, and I think we do him pretty good."

Discography

ALBUMS:

• Acappella (1970; Reprise/Straight [CD issue: Enigma Retro; CD reissue: Collectables])
• We Came To Play (1971; Capitol [CD issue: Collectables])
• Street Corner Symphony (1971; Capitol [CD issue: Collectables])
• Spread The Word (1972; Capitol [CD issue: Collectables])
• We Still Ain't Got No Band (1973; MCA [not yet issued on CD])
• I Just Want To Sing With My Friends (1974; A&M [not yet issued on CD])
• More Than Before (1974; A&M [not yet issued on CD])
• Chirpin' (1977; Elektra)
• Comin' At Ya (1979; Rounder/Flying Fish)
• No Frills (1984; Rounder)
• Stardust (1987 [recorded 1969]; Catamount [CD issue: Relic])
• Good News (1988; Rounder)
• Live In The Whispering Gallery (1993; Hammer n' Nails)
• Toúbo's Song (1993; Hammer n' Nails)
• Ships at Sea, Sailors and Shoes [with Ned Sublette & Lawrence Weiner] (1993; Qbadisc/Excellent)
• Right Around The Corner (1994; Rounder/Bullseye Blues)
• Sincerely (1996; Rounder/Bullseye Blues)
• You're All I Want For Christmas (1997; Rounder/Bullseye Blues)
• Man, Oh Man: The Power of The Persuasions (1997; EMI [1970-72 Capitol masters compilation])
• On The Good Ship Lollipop (1999; Rhino/Kid Rhino/Music for Little People)
• Frankly A Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa (2000; Rhino/EarthBeat)
• Might As Well...The Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead (2000; Arista/Grateful Dead)
• Sunday Morning Soul (2000; Rounder/Bullseye Blues Basics)
• The Persuasions Sing The Beatles (2002; Chesky)
• A Cappella Dreams (2003; Chesky)
• The Persuasions Sing U2 their first release without Lawson (2005; Chesky)
• Collectables Classics (2006; Collectables [Box set containing all 1971, 1972, & 1977 releases])

NON-ALBUM SINGLES:

• "Party in the Woods"/"It's Better to Have Loved and Lost" [1968; Minit]
• "One Thing on My Mind"/"Darlin'" [1975; A&M]

The following various-artists recordings contain otherwise-unissued Persuasions recordings:

• Various Artists: Bread & Roses: Festival of Acoustic Music (1979; Fantasy)
• Various Artists: Spike & Co. Do It A Cappella [soundtrack] (1990; Elektra)
• Ned Sublette & Lawrence Weiner (with Kim Weston, Junior Mance, et al.): Monsters from the Deep (1997; Qbadisc/Excellent)