Ronnie Laws

 Ronnie Laws, the younger brother of jazz luminary Hubert Laws (interviewed in 2018), exudes a soulful resonance on the tenor saxophone, yet his musical journey has predominantly traversed the realms of R&B rather than jazz. With a career starting in the early 1970s and graced by collaborations with Quincy Jones; his brother Hubert; Ramsey Lewis; and Earth, Wind & Fire, Ronnie has carved his niche as an R&B virtuoso. He delved into music at an early age, self-taught on the alto saxophone by 11. Following a detour from dreams of professional baseball due to an eye injury, Laws fervently embraced his musical calling. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1970, he immersed himself in the vibrant jazz scene, collaborating with legends like The Jazz Crusaders and Hugh Masekela before embarking on a solo voyage. Guided by the immortal Donald Byrd, Laws’ Blue Note debut, "Pressure Sensitive," sparked acclaim and controversy, challenging jazz orthodoxy while garnering crossover success in R&B and pop realms — and earning him accolades for his innovative fusion style.