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Recent News February 07, 2011
LEGENDARY SOUL / A CAPELLA PIONEER JERRY LAWSON & TALK OF THE TOWN JOIN “THE ENTOURAGE”
Entourage Talent is excited to announce the signing of Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town. Coming off their recent success on the NBC hit series, “The Sing Off,” Jerry and the guys are no strangers to world of popular music. For thirty plus years Jerry was the lead singer, arranger and producer of the Persuasions, widely credited as the founders of modern a capella music. Over that time they released over twenty records including a capella tributes to The Beatles, Frank Zappa, U2 and the Grateful Dead. Jerry has since moved on from the Persuasions and has gained success with his latest group, Talk of the Town, reaching the final episode of “The Sing Off.” For more on Jerry and Talk of the Town visit jerrylawsontalkofthetown.com
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 Entourage Talent Associates is honored to welcome Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town to the roster. The group has been jettisoned into the national spotlight after their highly acclaimed appearance on the NBC primetime series “The Sing Off,” and recent appearances on the Ellen Degeneres Show and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jerry Lawson, soul singer extraordinaire, is a national vocal treasure. Lawson is to A Cappella music what Elvis was to rock 'n' roll: the king, with the power to break or lift your heart at will. As music writer Rip Rense put it, "By any fair measure, Lawson is really one of the best singers of the last 50 years---up there with Sam Cooke, Brook Benton, Jerry Butler & Nat King Cole. As the former lead singer, arranger and producer of The Persuasions, Lawson’s fans and collaborators have included Frank Zappa, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, the Grateful Dead, Liza Minnelli and four generations of vocal groups. Through it all, the Persuasions’ sound was defined by Lawson’s sweet and smoky baritone, his effortlessly organic vocal arrangements and his electrifying stage charisma. Groups such as Take 6, Rockapella, The Nylons and Boyz II Men have cited Jerry Lawson as a major influence. Jerry started on his path to becoming a legend in Brooklyn, NY, where he and the other four original Persuasions began a 40-year career together. In 1969 Frank Zappa heard The Persuasions singing live over the phone in a New Jersey record shop, picked his jaw up off the ground and promptly flew the group to Los Angeles to record their first album “A Cappella”. Thus began a 22 album recording career that covered R&B, Soul, Country, Gospel & Pop but also included full album tributes to Frank Zappa, The Grateful Dead and The Beatles, and even an acclaimed children’s album. After leaving the Persuasions in 2003, Lawson announced that he was absolutely through with A Cappella forever. Jazz combos and big bands beckoned. But on his way to Russia to record a solo album with the Moscow Philharmonic, fate revealed other plans. Along came Talk of the Town, an A Cappella group that had been waiting for Lawson for 35 years. They had been studying and performing Jerry’s arrangements all around San Francisco for decades. They said they knew they had great harmony but wished they had a great lead singer like Jerry Lawson. And now they do. So remarkable was the chance meeting of Lawson and his new group that it was all filmed for a forthcoming documentary. Working with Talk of the Town has clearly invigorated and energized Jerry. He continues to amaze listeners with what can be done with no instruments other than the human voice. He considers his debut CD with Talk of the Town the masterpiece of his A Cappella career creating harmonies he long dreamed of but could never realize. Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town features 20 stunning tracks (recorded on good ol', warm analog) and a few wonderful guests. They cover R&B, Soul, Gospel, Country and Standards. Together they have created one of the most eclectic and astounding albums you're going to hear for a long time. There is music by The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Sam Cooke, Randy Newman, The Pointer Sisters, Billy Joel, Marvin Gaye, Dolly Parton, Louis Armstrong & many more. The liner notes for this CD are really an added bonus - filled with comments by Jerry, his version of how he and Talk of the Town came together, and individual performance notes on each song. Beautifully packaged, it's sure to become a collector's item. Lawson: from A Cappella to A Cappella. The odds of it all happening are almost as good as winning the lottery. Now available via iTunes and http://jerrylawsontalkofthetown.com Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town is: Jerry Lawson: Lead Paul Carrington: Baritone, Lead Carl Douglas: First Tenor, Lead Chase Ruffin: First & Second Tenor Stan Lockwood: Second Tenor, Lead Douglas Stepney: Bass In addition to performing with Talk of the Town Jerry is producing, arranging & collaborating with artists on a variety of projects and performing with orchestras, Jazz trios, R&B & Country bands. |
