The Persuasions

About the Artist

Since those long ago days in 1962, The Persuasions have gone on to sing in noted concert halls and clubs, performed around the world, and have released 19 albums. Over the years, The Persuasions have opened for Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, Ray Charles, Bill Cosby, and Richard Pryor to name a few. Acts such as Roseanne Barr and Bruce Springsteen once opened for The Persuasions.
Dubbed the Kings of A Cappella, they have been together for over forty years with the original and founding members. The Persuasions came together in Brooklyn. Jerry Lawson is originally from Florida. North Carolina is the birthplace of "Sweet" Joe Russell. Jimmy Hayes was born in Virginia, and Jayotis Washington is a Detroit native. Herbert "Tuobo" Rhodes, an original Persuasion, passed away in 1988 while on tour with the group. All the original Persuasions have a strong history and deep background in church music. Their singing, style, and repertoire have always included the influences of gospel, soul, and pop.

The Persuasions moved from street corners to parties to performances during the 1960s. The group worked with Robert F. Kennedy in Project Restoration and actively participated in many other programs and initiatives designed to aid African-Americans living in the inner cities.

Legendary musician Frank Zappa and his wife Gail discovered The Persuasions in 1968. At the urging and encouragement of friend David Dashev, who eventually became the group’s producer and manager, Zappa listened to a tape of The Persuasions and shortly after signed the group to their label. The Persuasions debut album Straight was a mix of studio and live recordings released during the fall of 1970. The Persuasions then signed with Capitol Records and have since gone on to release a string of commercially successful and critically acclaimed recordings on labels such as MCA, A&M Records, Elektra Records, Flying Fish, Rounder and Rounder/ Bullseye Blues, Music For Little People, Earthbeat!/Rhino, Grateful Dead Records/ Arista, and Chesky Records. The group’s first recording specifically for children, On The Good Ship Lollipop, was released in 1999. In March, 2000, The Persuasions released an album in tribute to their friend, Frank Zappa, titled Frankly A Cappella: The Persuasions Sing Zappa. The Persuasions recorded a tribute album to The Grateful Dead, Might As Well: The Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead, released in October 2000. In 2002, The Persuasions moved on to Chesky Records where they recorded the critically acclaimed The Persuasions Sing The Beatles.

The Persuasions have continued to keep the art form of a cappella alive, recording and performed songs ranging from Frank Sinatra to Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Rogers and Hammerstein. They have taken standards and children's classics and infused them with their own unique style and substance. Through their dedication, staying power, and perseverance, The Persuasions have paved the way for groups like Boyz To Men, Take 6, and Rockapella. During the mid 1990's, director and producer Fred Parnes developed the documentary Spread the Word: The Persuasions Sing A Cappella. What started out humbly in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn is now a global phenomenon. The Persuasions have performed for fans in Alaska, Israel, throughout Europe, and in Australia, performing and recording with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Liza Minelli, Van Morrison, Lou Reed, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Nancy Wilson, The Neville Brothers, Country Joe McDonald, B.B. King, and Paul Simon. The sounds of The Persuasions have been featured in films including Joe Versus the Volcano, The Heartbreak Kid, Streets of Gold, and E.T. Their documentary Spread the Word has been broadcast on PBS. Spike Lee's Do It A Cappella presented The Persuasions as "the godfathers of a cappella" and has also been broadcast on PBS. The group has performed on Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O' Brien, and Saturday Night Live.