By LAURA MURPHY – Talk about a Throwback Thursday! The Persuasions, a five-man a cappella group, performed at CHS for an assembly on Thursday, Oct. 30. The assembly itself had been announced earlier in the week and was on the school calendar, but the subject of the assembly wasn’t revealed to students until that Thursday’s morning announcements.

The Persuasions began singing together since 1960s. They began on the streets of Brooklyn and over the years have opened for several famous acts such as Frank Zappa and the Grateful Dead. Roseanne Barr and Bruce Springsteen even opened for them at one point.

“Fans ask, ‘Can you do that song?’ and we’re like uhh–” said Dave Revels, a member of the quintet. He said it’s easy to forget the songs his group has recorded, even when fans don’t.

Revels was joined by Jimmy Hayes, Raymond Sanders, Jayotis Washington and Cliff Dawson, singing each song unaccompanied by instruments in traditional a capella style.

The group sang a variety of songs ranging from a cover of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” to their original song, “Besame Mucho,” which went back and forth between Spanish and English. At the assembly, they dedicated this performance to spanish teacher Sabina Campbell.

Junior Christina Noll of Hazlet said she enjoyed the groups’ performance and thought it was fitting for the day’s “Throwback Thursday” theme.

“The band has been touring since the 60’s, and I think its cool for kids our age to experience their music because it’s so different from what we usually listen to,” Noll said.

Students recorded portions of performances on their phones. “Just another day at CHS,” one senior wrote along with a video of The Persuasions for his Snapchat Story that morning.

The Persuasions invited students to hear them sing again later that night at a free concert at the 10th Ave. Burrito Company in Belmar. The group will also be touring in Japan over the holidays.