Folks, April 28 is finally here, which means that Just a Mortal Man is finally out!
This is Jerry Lawson’s masterpiece, the album of a lifetime that he has been crafting over the past two years with Grammy-nominated producer Eric Brace. And now it’s here.
As you all know, Jerry spent more then 40 years as lead singer of The Persuasions, arranging and producing 22 albums of incomparable a cappella music that has inspired everyone from Boyz II Men to the cast of “The Sing Off.”
The one thing Jerry has never done is record as a solo artist with a band. Just a Mortal Man is that record.
Here’s an excellent Q&A with Jerry (and a splendid review) by Henry Carrigan on the No Depression site: http://nodepression.com/article/jerry-lawson-brings-it-home
Here’s some of what Henry wrote: “Although 2015 is still young, Jerry Lawson’s new album Just a Mortal Man already wins the award for top soul album of the year. Lawson possesses a genius for understanding the heart of a song’s lyrics and singing them straight to the hearts and souls of his listeners.”
With elegance, heart, and soul, Jerry makes the thirteen songs on Just a Mortal Man his own, songs from a diverse group of writers including Paul Simon, Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, Ayo, Phil Lee, Peter Cooper, and producer Eric Brace. And he pays tribute to two of his heroes, recording tunes originally done by The Temptations’ David Ruffin and Bobby “Blue” Bland.
While guest musicians like Jim Lauderdale and The McCrary Sisters also make appearances on Just a Mortal Man, the album is about Jerry, singing with a sweet and smoky voice that’s only grown richer throughout his 71 years.”
If you’d like to watch a short film on the making of Just a Mortal Man, you can click here.