Ronnie Laws is an American saxophonist and composer born on October 3, 1950, in Houston, Texas. He comes from a family of musicians, including his older brother Hubert Laws, a renowned flutist. Ronnie Laws started playing the saxophone at an early age and later attended Texas Southern University.
Laws began his professional career as a member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire in the early 1970s. He then went on to pursue a solo career, releasing his first album “Pressure Sensitive” in 1975, which received critical acclaim and commercial success. The album’s title track became a hit single and is still considered a smooth jazz classic.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Laws continued to release successful albums, blending elements of jazz, R&B, and funk into his unique sound. He collaborated with other notable artists such as Quincy Jones, George Duke, and Alphonse Mouzon, among others. His album “Friends and Strangers” (1977) features his signature song “Always There,” which has been covered by numerous artists over the years.
Laws’ music has been a major influence on the smooth jazz genre, and he is recognized as one of the pioneers of the sound. He has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Jazz Fusion Performance for his album “Flame” in 1981.
Laws continues to perform and record music, and his contributions to jazz and smooth jazz are still celebrated by fans and fellow musicians alike. He remains an influential figure in the music industry, inspiring generations of saxophonists and other musicians with his innovative sound and style.
Page last updated 4/8/2023.
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