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Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws (born October 3, 1950 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2007 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles ....
) is an American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
, blues
Blues

Blues is a music genre based on the use of the blues chord progressions and the blue notes. Though several blues musical form s exist, the 12-bar blues chord progressions are the most frequently encountered....
 and funk
Funk

Funk is an United States Music genre that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music....
 saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist
Flautist

A flautist, flutist, or flute player is a musician who plays the flute....
 Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws

Hubert Laws is an United States flutist with a 30-year career in jazz, classical music, and other music genres. Laws is an extremely gifted musician, and is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, Pop music, and rhythm-and-blues genres; moving effortlessly from one repertory to another....
.

Biography
Laws is the fifth of eight children born to Hubert Laws, Sr. and Miola Luverta Donahue.

Laws attended Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F....
 in Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas

Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, Texas, in the United States. The United States Census, 2000 recorded the city's population to be 29,914, while in 2007 it was estimated to have reached 32,006....
 for two years. In 1972, Laws joined the fledgling group Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an United States R&B band led by Maurice White. Formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969, they are known for a number of hit singles, including "Shining Star " and "September ", for their fusion of Latin music, Funk, Soul Music, Jazz, Pop Music, rock music and other genres into one unique sound and the dynamic sound of their...
, playing saxophone
Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-Bore transposing instrument musical instrument considered a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and are played with a Single-reed instrument mouthpiece similar to the clarinet....
 and flute
Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike other woodwind instruments, a flute is a reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air against an edge....
 on their album Last Days And Time.






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Encyclopedia


Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws (born October 3, 1950 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2007 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles ....
) is an American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 jazz
Jazz

Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
, blues
Blues

Blues is a music genre based on the use of the blues chord progressions and the blue notes. Though several blues musical form s exist, the 12-bar blues chord progressions are the most frequently encountered....
 and funk
Funk

Funk is an United States Music genre that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music....
 saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist
Flautist

A flautist, flutist, or flute player is a musician who plays the flute....
 Hubert Laws
Hubert Laws

Hubert Laws is an United States flutist with a 30-year career in jazz, classical music, and other music genres. Laws is an extremely gifted musician, and is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, Pop music, and rhythm-and-blues genres; moving effortlessly from one repertory to another....
.

Biography


Laws is the fifth of eight children born to Hubert Laws, Sr. and Miola Luverta Donahue.

Laws attended Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F....
 in Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas

Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, Texas, in the United States. The United States Census, 2000 recorded the city's population to be 29,914, while in 2007 it was estimated to have reached 32,006....
 for two years. In 1972, Laws joined the fledgling group Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an United States R&B band led by Maurice White. Formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969, they are known for a number of hit singles, including "Shining Star " and "September ", for their fusion of Latin music, Funk, Soul Music, Jazz, Pop Music, rock music and other genres into one unique sound and the dynamic sound of their...
, playing saxophone
Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-Bore transposing instrument musical instrument considered a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and are played with a Single-reed instrument mouthpiece similar to the clarinet....
 and flute
Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike other woodwind instruments, a flute is a reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air against an edge....
 on their album Last Days And Time. He left the band soon afterwards, long before they achieved their huge commercial success.

In 1976, he began his solo career with the album Pressure Sensitive, on which his most famous instrumental song, "Always There", was included. It became an instant jazz-funk classic, covered by numerous artists.

In 1978 he released an album called Flame under United Artsts (UA) records and from it a 12" single was released called "All for you" with a strong vocal presence and additional tracks entitled "Let's Keep it Together" and "Nuthin' 'bout nuthin" from other previous albums. The 12" single was his first issued in the UK as well as the US and paved the way for this format to be used for promoting artists' work at the time without the need to own the full LP.

Apart from saxophones, Laws also included vocals into his songs. Notable vocal makings include "Every Generation" (1980), "Stay Awake" (1981, included on the album Solid Ground) and "Mr. Nice Guy" (1982).

Laws has also recorded with numerous other artists, including Arthur Adams, Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett

Howard Hewett is an United States R&B and gospel music singer and former singer of the R&B group Shalamar.Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles, California....
, Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an United States jazz icon, composer, pianist and radio personality. He has been referred to as "the great performer", a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training along with his love of jazz and other musical forms....
, Jeff Lorber
Jeff Lorber

Jeff Lorber is an United States Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz music genre in his solo career....
, Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, composer, and singer....
, Alphonse Mouzon
Alphonse Mouzon

Alphonse Mouzon is a well known jazz-fusion drummer and percussionist, and the Chairman/CEO of Tenacious Records. He also composes, arranges and produces, as well as acts....
, David Sea, and Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge

Sister Sledge is an United States musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge , Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge ....
.

In 1999 a tribute to Ronnie Laws' "Always There", mentioned earlier, was played by a group of musicians including Boney James
Boney James

James "Boney James" Oppenheim, is a saxophonist who popularized urban jazz .Boney James is a two-time Grammy nominee and a Soul Train Award winner....
, Rick Braun
Rick Braun

Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player.Before embarking on a solo career, Braun got his start by playing in several bands, including guitarist Jeff Golub's Avenue Blue....
, Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum

Kirk Whalum is an United States smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop music to R&B to smooth jazz....
 and Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton is an United States jazz fusion, Pop music, and rock music guitarist and a singer, dividing his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands....
 performing the number at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival

The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland, It is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva....
. This has been issued on DVD and is entitled Casino Lights '99.

More recently in June 2005 the album Every Generation from 1980 was at last, after continued demand, issued on CD format. The original tracks are "Young Child", "Never get back to Houston", "Every Generation", "Tomorrow", "O.T.B.A.", "Love's Victory", "Thoughts and Memories" and "As one".

Discography

Year Album title Publisher
1975 Pressure Sensitive Blue Note
Blue note

In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower Pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres....
1976 Fever Blue Note
Blue note

In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower Pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres....
1977 Friends and Strangers Blue Note
Blue note

In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower Pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres....
, United Artists
United Artists

United Artists Entertainment LLC is an United States film studio. The current United Artists was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., an MGM company....
1979 Flame United Artists
United Artists

United Artists Entertainment LLC is an United States film studio. The current United Artists was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., an MGM company....
1980 Every Generation Liberty
Liberty Records

Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer....
, United Artists
United Artists

United Artists Entertainment LLC is an United States film studio. The current United Artists was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., an MGM company....
1981 Solid Ground Liberty
Liberty Records

Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer....
1982 Mr. Nice Guy Liberty
Liberty Records

Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer....
, United Artists
United Artists

United Artists Entertainment LLC is an United States film studio. The current United Artists was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., an MGM company....
1984 Classic Masters Liberty
Liberty Records

Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer....
, United Artists
United Artists

United Artists Entertainment LLC is an United States film studio. The current United Artists was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between producer/actor Tom Cruise and his production partner, Paula Wagner, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., an MGM company....
1986 Mirror Town Columbia
Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label founded in 1888.Columbia is the oldest surviving brand name in pre-recorded sound, being the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders....
1987 All Day Rhythm Columbia
Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label founded in 1888.Columbia is the oldest surviving brand name in pre-recorded sound, being the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders....
1989 True Spirit Par
1990 Identity ARD
1992 Deep Soul Par
1995 Brotherhood Intuition
Intuition

Intuition has many related meanings, usually connected to the meaning "ability to sense or know immediately without reasoning", and is often regarded as a divine or prophetic power, including:...
1995 Pressure ARG
1995 Natural Laws Right Stuff
1996 Tribute to Legendary Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris

Eddie Harris was best known for playing tenor saxophone, though he was also fluent on the electric piano and Organ . His most well-known composition was "Freedom Jazz Dance", recorded and popularized by Miles Davis in the 1960s....
 		Blue Note
Blue note

In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower Pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres....
1998 Portrait of the The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers are a Grammy Award United States rhythm and blues/soul music group. They are one of the few groups to have long-running success on the Billboard charts placing a charted single in every decade since 1959 and as of 2006 was still charting successful albums performing under a repertoire of doo-wop, Rhythm and blues, rock...
: Harvest for... 		Blue Note
Blue note

In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower Pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres....
2000 Dream A Little HDH
HDH

HDH could refer to:* Dillingham Airfield, Hawaii, United States; IATA airport code HDH.* Haa Dhaalu Atoll* Hampstead Heath railway station, England; National Rail station code HDH....
2001 Ronnie Laws Live Scepterstein
2004 Everlasting HDH
HDH

HDH could refer to:* Dillingham Airfield, Hawaii, United States; IATA airport code HDH.* Haa Dhaalu Atoll* Hampstead Heath railway station, England; National Rail station code HDH....


External links

  • for the WGBH series, Say Brother