MUSIC / THE PERSUASIONS : A Labor of Love : This a cappella group is in it for the long run--they’ve been touring for 30 years. And they don’t plan to quit anytime soon.

The drummers’ union isn’t crazy about these guys. And guitarists, bass players and keyboard players can only wonder: What if? The Persuasions don’t need any help from anybody; they use their voices to make exquisite music.

A cappella may be the ultimate in low budget music, and no one gets a hernia carrying all that heavy equipment around. But with the orchestra being the voices themselves, it’s tough to hide any weak members. The Persuasions have no weak members. Group leader Jerry Lawson sings lead; Jimmy Hayes sings bass and Sweet Joe Russell and Jayotis Washington fill in everything else. Original member Herbert Toubo Rhoad passed away a few years ago.

The Persuasions do mostly cover songs, but oh, how they do them. The group does everything from gospel to vintage doo-wop songs by artists such as the Drifters, but also music by such divergent talents as Paul Simon and Frank Zappa.

So upbeat is Lawson that he almost makes Tommy Lasorda and Mr. Rogers seem like a couple of pessimists. Currently without a record label, yet continuously on tour, the Persuasions won’t likely be opening for Ice-T. Lawson discussed the life and times of his favorite singing group in a recent phone interview.

Is this current tour really just one really long tour?

We’ve been on tour for over 30 years. We’ll be on tour for the rest of our lives. It’s like a dream. We never thought this thing would turn into something like this--we’re going on 31 years now. We’re year-round.

How many Persuasions albums are there?

We have 14 albums, plus a new one, “Spreading the Word,” which is ready, but we’re looking for a label. Yes, 14 albums and we still ain’t got no band. A long time ago we would play basketball in the park back in New York and afterward, we’d sing. Anyway, the Lord picked five guys and said, “I want you to do my work.” Jimmy had the Bible one day and said Jesus had to persuade the people to follow the religion. And we’re persuading the world--there’s a cappella groups all over the world 30 years later.

So when you perform, there’s no soundman, no amps and no mikes?

We have mikes, four mikes, that’s it. We tell the soundman, “Turn the thing up, and get away from the board.” Our shortest sound check was seven seconds. (He sings the first four words of Sam Cooke’s 1960 biggie, “Chain Gang.”) “. . . Well, don’t you know . . . “

Who are some of the people the Persuasions have performed with?

Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, B. B. King, the list goes on and on. I was really impressed with that African group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Their music is their religion. When we play, mothers and fathers bring their grandfathers, and they bring the grandchildren. You got to love everybody--black, white, red or green. We’re all God’s gift to the world. I can’t understand all this “kill the police” stuff. I want people to love; I don’t want them to hate. There’s enough hate in the world already.

What’s the coolest thing about being in the Persuasions?

The love we have for each other, and the love we give to the people. When we sing, we can see the smiles on their faces. The other day, we got out of a $50,000 limousine and got onto a Greyhound bus. In a little bit, we had everyone on the bus singing “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore.” The bus driver was singing too.

Tell me about one of your favorite Persuasions gigs.

About eight years ago, we played at Wayne State Penitentiary in Detroit. The men were on one side, the women on the other. Pretty soon, we had everybody singing, even the guards. Another time, about 10 years ago, we were in Israel singing for some soldiers. They didn’t know the words, but they were helping us sing “In the Still of the Night,” and they just wouldn’t stop. When we were ready to leave, the car had a flat tire. A bunch of those soldiers, still singing, picked up the car--just lifted it right up--and changed the tire.

How would you describe Persuasions music?

We start from way back and bring the music to the present. Our music is from the heart and soul. We’ve been doing this so long, we’re like a football team. We look into the audience and call signals to each other with a nod.

Do you still do that Roy Hamilton song, “You Can Have Her”?

We sure do. Roy passed away several years ago as still a young man, in his 50s. He used to smoke cigarettes. Back then everybody smoked--Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis.

Can a cappella music be a hit in the ‘90s?

It’s getting bigger all the time. We did the theme from that television show, “Roc,” a commercial for the phone company, and we’re working on a movie right now. The blues guys tell us the blues are dying, but I see a cappella as a tall tree and all the flowers are blooming.

Is there anything that you wish you could change about your career?

Everything has been fine, and it’s getting better. The whole thing is in His hands. And, you know, there’s but one Persuasions. There’s Drifters over here, Drifters over there--East Coast Drifters, West Coast Drifters, but only one Persuasions.

So what’s next for the Persuasions?

We really want to get this album out. I think the song, “Spread the Word,” is really needed now. This is a song He wanted us to do. Bush, what’s that other guy’s name--Clinton--I’m not political. It’s not even the money; it’s the message.

* WHERE AND WHEN

The Persuasions tonight at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara. Show time at 8 p.m., adults: $16.50, children, $12.50. For more information, call 963-0761.