A native of Houston, Texas, RONNIE LAWS was born October 3, 1950, the third in a line of four musicians that include his flutist brother, Hubert, and his vocalist sisters, Eloise and Debra. Laws taught himself to play alto saxophone at the age of eleven, and after an eye injury sidelined early dreams of a career in professional baseball, his instrument became his all-consuming passion.

In 1970 he moved to Los Angeles, where he found work with such legendary talents as The Jazz Crusaders and Hugh Masakela. He was a member of the much-revered soul group Earth, Wind and Fire, where he played tenor and soprano sax for a two-year stint before finally venturing out to pursue a solo career. Assisted by immortal jazz great Donald Byrd, Laws soon signed his first recording contract with Blue Note records, resulting in the debut album Pressure Sensitive. Controversy quickly erupted around him, with so-called jazz “purists” criticizing Laws’ inventive, nontraditional fusion style. Laws promptly answered his critics by also scoring unprecedented crossover success in R&B and pop in addition to jazz, and receiving multiple awards for originality in the process.

RONNIE LAWS

Ronnie Laws, saxophone, vocals

Debra Laws, Eloise Laws, vocals

Jamin Laws, saxophone

Michele Laws, vocals

Craig T. Cooper, guitar, musical director

Cory Mason, drums

Vernell Brown, Jr., keyboards

Nate Phillips, bass

Mayuto, percussion