By Ken Paulson
It was a long time coming, but Jerry Lawson’s show at the Station Inn in Nashville June 5 was a spirited and often inspiring evening.
Lawson, the 71-year-old lead singer for the Persuasions, was there to celebrate the release of Just a Mortal Man, his first solo album. His voice broke a bit as he explained that the album’s title hit home for him shortly after he finished recording it. He said he understood just how mortal he was when a torn esophagus led to a life-threatening medical emergency.
Jerry Lawson and Eric Brace on stage at the Station Inn
Red Beet Records founder and artist Eric Brace explained that he had connected with Lawson years earlier when he wrote a piece for the Washington Post saluting his talents. After years of correspondence, the two ended up on stage together in Phoenix, leading to Brace saying “We should make a record together.” In time, they did.
Lawson’s mobility was limited because he’s recovering from knee replacement surgery, but his voice was in fine shape, opening with “Kiddio” and then moving on to perform much of the album. Highlights included Paul Simon’s “Peace Like a River,” Brace’s “Time and Water” and Peter Cooper’s cautionary “Wine,” which Lawson insists could have been written for him.