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Ronnie Earl

Since his tenure as lead guitarist with Roomful of Blues in the 1980s, Ronnie Earl has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the crowded universe of blues guitarists. Influenced by old masters like T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam and Robert Lockwood Jr., Earl is a traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, merging old-school Chicago and Delta blues with more contemporary sensibilities.

Born Ronald Horvath in Queens, New York, in 1953, Ronnie Earl discovered the blues at a Muddy Waters performance in Boston in 1975. From that point forward, he was on a mission to absorb every note and nuance of the blues. After a few years in the Boston club scene, he replaced Roomful of Blues founding guitarist Duke Robillard in 1980 and remained with them for most of the decade.

He launched a solo career in 1988 forming his own band that he called The Broadcasters, named after the first Fender guitar which originally had been labeled The Broadcaster and was distributed in 1950.

With the release of “Still River” in 1993, the Broadcasters would become the first completely all instrumental blues group. They then embarked on a tour of Europe. It was during this time that the Broadcasters released some of their most critically acclaimed work, including “Language of the Soul” in 1994, “Blues Guitar Virtuoso �” Live in Europe” in 1995 and the 1996 release “Grateful Heart Blues and Ballads.”

In 1997 Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters released “The Colour of Love” on the Verve label which was produced by Tom Dowd. In 2000, the band released “Healing Time,” followed in 2001 by “Ronnie Earl & Friends” both for Telarc.

The current and gifted group of Broadcasters, Jimmy Mouradian (bass), Dave Limina (organ), and Lorne Entress (drums), began playing together prior to the 2003 release of “I Feel Like Going On” on the Stony Plain Record label and have now released a string of successful blues albums, including the 2007 release of “Hope Radio” and the 2008 DVD release of the “Hope Radio Sessions.”

In 2008 the group celebrated twenty years of distinguished Broadcaster music, which Ronnie feels has taken on new meaning from the time he became clean and believes that the purpose of the Broadcasters is to broadcast peace, hope, good vibrations .

Ronnie and the Broadcasters released “Living in the Light,” in 2009 a clear reflection of Ronnie's good health and a story of a life firmly grounded in love.

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15
Album Review

Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters: Good News

Read "Good News" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Ronnie Earl first gained national attention in 1979 when he replaced Duke Robillard as the lead guitarist for Roomful Of Blues. After spending eight years as the main axeman in that group, Earl decided it was finally time to completely branch out on his own. Though Earl had released his first solo disc, Smokin', in 1983 and followed it with They Call Me Mr. Earl in 1984 (both on Black Top Records), it wasn't until 1987 that he decided to ...

284
Album Review

Ronnie Earl: I Feel Like Goin' On

Read "I Feel Like Goin' On" reviewed by Charlie B. Dahan


On his newly released album, I Feel Like Goin’ On, Ronnie Earl accomplishes an amazing feat: he says so much without singing a lyric. Earl’s new album is ninety percent instrumental and it's easy not to notice--Earl’s guitar speaks volumes and clearer than any lyric. Earl does incorporate vocals on one track entitled “Mary Don’t You Weep,” but it isn’t Earl who sings. He brings in the heavenly vocals of the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers to put ...

186
Album Review

Ronnie Earl: Healing Time

Read "Healing Time" reviewed by Ed Kopp


Guitarist Ronnie Earl has evolved from late-blooming blues axeman (he didn’t take up the guitar until his early 20s) into that rare blues artist who’s widely esteemed by jazz critics. The Boston-based guitarist is an unlikely jazz hero -- he doesn’t read music and he isn’t a master technician. Still, the 48-year-old Earl is an inspired improviser and the composer of melodic blues-based instrumentals. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to feel every note he plays.Earl must have been ...

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215

Recording

Ronnie Earl - Spread the Love (2010)

Ronnie Earl - Spread the Love (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By Mark Saleski It was many years ago, in the early 1990's, that I had my first encounter with Ronnie Earl. He was playing at Raoul's Roadside Attraction in Portland, Maine. I had never heard of him before but a friend of mine was sure that a good time would follow. The start of the show was an eye-opener. Everybody is tuning up, seemingly in their own little worlds, and then Earl counts off with his foot and boom!, they're ...

113

Recording

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Spread the Love (Stony Plain, 2010)

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Spread the Love (Stony Plain, 2010)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Guitarist Ronnie Earl is a longtime fixture on the modern blues scene playing a classy brand of roots music with his band The Broadcasters. With this album they meld the blues with jazz to create a nice all-instrumental hybrid of the two great American musics. His backup band consists of David Limina on organ and piano, Jim Moradian on bass and Lorne Endress on drums. He covers a couple of well known jazz compositions, beginning with Kenny Burrell's “Chitlins Con ...

152

Recording

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters Release New Live in the Studio CD,

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters Release New Live in the Studio CD,

Source: Mark Pucci Media

EDMONTON, AB - Stony Plain Records announces a November 6th release date for Hope Radio, the new CD from the celebrated guitarist Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters. Recorded and filmed live (with a separate DVD forthcoming) in the studio before an audience at Wellspring Sound in Acton, Mass in April of this year, Hope Radio features 11 songs that showcase Ronnie Earl at his amazing best, backed by long-time members of The Broadcasters: Dave Limina - keyboards, Jim Mouradian - ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Good News

Stony Plain Records
2014

buy

I Feel Like Goin' On

Stony Plain Records
2003

buy

Healing Time

Telarc Records
2000

buy

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