This week NBC is experimenting with a new show along the lines of American Idol only it's all A cappella! The "Sing-Off" will showcase A cappella groups competing for a $100,000 and a Sony Recording Contract. It will premiere Monday, December 14 on NBC at 8:00/7:00c. Additional episodes (all at 8:00/7:00c) will also air Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16 with the season finale on Monday, December 21. Each installment will run two hours. Nick Lachey is hosting and the performances will be critiqued by singer Ben Folds, Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockham, and a rotating guest judge who will be announced each night.

Naturally we hope it's a huge success so that the groups who paved the way will finally be acknowledged. The Persuasions' Jerry Lawson, Jimmy Hayes, Joe Russell, Jayotis Washington, Willie Daniels and Herbert "Toubo" Rhoad were out there carrying the A cappella torch alone for years. Then came Sweet Honey In the Rock, The Bobs & Rockapella. And then Take 6, an A cappella Gospel group actually wins a Grammy! They name the Persuasions as their inspiration.

To be able to see A cappella come to a major network and in prime time in our life time is a miracle. Although, A cappella has been disregarded by the music industry for the past 40 years it has survived, thrived and it's very alive!. It began on the street corners of Jersey City, New York City and other urban cities along the A cappella corridor that stretches from Boston to Philadelphia-Pittsburgh. A group of guys singing on a street corner 45 years ago has now gone global.

But here's the rub, the producers of the "Sing Off" showcase have overlooked the "Kings of A cappella" in favor of celebs with little knowledge of the art of A cappella to be the judges, as opposed to persons with actual expertise.. Did the producers do their homework and purposely ignore living legend Jerry Lawson or do they simply get an F in research? Lawson former lead singer, arranger and producer of the Persuasions, who against all odds put A cappella on the map is easily the most important figure in American A cappella of the last 40 years and would be a gift to their program. Leaving him out speaks volumes about their own knowledge of the black sheep genre of the music industry.

During Lawson's 40 years of dedication to keeping the dying art alive, A cappella was written off as simply a "novelty" a 22 albums were just a convenient tax write off while "bands" were issued 6 figure deals and international promotion.

In a way The Persuasions infectious, joyful and soulful music was banned never giving music lovers a chance to decide for themselves if this was music that moved them. What if museums prohibited Kahlo or libraries banned James Baldwin or The Boxing Commission kept Ali out of the ring? No PR and no radio play equals no exposure which equals no sales. But word of mouth and one show at a time Persuasions fanatics were born around the world.

Despite the music industry not taking them seriously the Persuasions remained dedicated to the art form. They taught the children what you could do without instruments. They took their shows to as many colleges, high schools and elementary schools as possible in-between touring the world and recording with Liza, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, The Neville Brothers and Joni Mitchell to name just a few. Springsteen was even their opening act for a time.

And today there is no shortage of Persuasions downloads available. Maybe if "Sing Off" is a success The Persuasions might finally be able to collect some 40 years of royalties due them along with a portion of the .99 cents of each internet sale. Yeah, right.The injustice of it all is hard to swallow.

Joel Gallen of Tenth Planet Productions and the producer of "Sing Off" never contacted Jerry Lawson to be a judge, vocal coach or even a consultant. The inside scoop is that Lawson called Gallen to offer his services. Gallen's assistant sent an email to Jerry's manager stating that he'd be in touch. As of this writing Lawson has not heard from Gallen. Maybe he's waiting to see if NBC renews the show. Coincidentally it is Gallen who called Jerry on behalf of Rod Stewart when Rod heard that Jerry was offering to donate his performance to raise funds for the survivors of the Katrina disaster and Rod wanted to sing A cappella with the living legend.

More coincidences? Though The Persuasions broke up in 2003 producer Rip Rense just released "The Persuasions Live at McCabe's" that he recorded 11 years ago. And it so happens, that our forth coming documentary on A cappella, "Street Corner Harmony" will be completed this week. Our documentary chronicles the beginning of how A cappella started and how it was coined in the early 60's. And then there is Keith Lewis who is about to release his documentary about the art of A cappella. Maybe it's an alignment of the planets or just the nature of oppression's cycle but it seems that this under appreciated art form may finally be coming into the light.

We have sent our film to the producers of "Sing Off" with the hope that they will understand how it all began 45 + years ago. We also asked the producers to acknowledge the key individuals who started and promoted this musical art form. If you haven't seen our trailer on you tube please do so, along with our book "Street Corner Harmony" a complete discography of all the A cappella groups that made commercial recordings in the 1960s.

Thank you for allowing us to "Speak Out" & feel free to pass this on.

In Perfect Harmony,

Abraham Santiago & Steve Dunham.

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