Ronnie Earl has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the crowded universe of blues guitarists: Video

10.03. – Happy Birthday !!! 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.

2010 and Mr. earl is continuing his prolific output with “Spread the Love,” proving that the Blues is alive and kicking.