Ronnie Earl

Career

Growing up, Ronnie Earl collected blues, jazz, rock, and soul records. He studied American History at C.W. Post College on Long Island for a year and a half, then moved to Boston to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and Education at Boston University, graduating in 1975. He spent a short time teaching handicapped children. During college, he attended a Muddy Waters concert at the Jazz Workshop in Boston, which sparked a serious interest in the guitar, an instrument he had first picked up in 1973.

His first job was as a rhythm guitarist at The Speakeasy, a blues club in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He traveled twice by Greyhound Bus to Chicago, where Koko Taylor introduced him to the Chicago blues scene. Later, he traveled to New Orleans and Austin, Texas, spending time with Kim Wilson, Jimmie Vaughan, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1979, he joined Roomful of Blues as lead guitarist.

He began performing solo in 1986, alongside his work with Roomful of Blues, releasing his first solo album on Black Top Records with a quartet focused on blues instrumentals. After leaving Roomful of Blues, he collaborated with Ron Levy, Jerry Portnoy, Earl King, Jimmy Rogers, and Jimmy Witherspoon. In 1984, Earl formed The Broadcasters. The first lineup included Darrell Nulisch (vocals), Jerry Portnoy (harmonica), Steve Gomes (bass), and Per Hanson (drums).

Their first album, Soul Searchin, was released in 1988, followed by Peace of Mind in 1990. The 1994 album Language of the Soul featured Bruce Katz (keyboards), Per Hanson (drums), and 'Rocket' Rod Carey (bass). The Colour of Love featured Marc Quinones (percussion) and Gregg Allman (keyboards), which led to Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters opening for the Allman Brothers Band at Great Woods, and Warren Haynes sitting in with them at Johnnie D's in Somerville.

In 2000, Earl was diagnosed with several medical ailments and scaled back his touring. In 2002, he gathered a new group of Broadcasters: Jim Mouradian (bass), Dave Limina (piano, Hammond B3), and Lorne Entress (drums). In 2014, Diane Blue became the first female Broadcaster. In August 2016, Lorne Entress left; in January 2017, Jim Mouradian died suddenly after a show.

The current group (2018) includes Dave Limina, Diane Blue, Forrest Padgett (drums), and Paul Kochanski (bass). In 2017, they released The Luckiest Man, his eleventh release from Stony Plain Records.

In October 2018, they celebrated thirty years as a band. In early 2004, Earl's 'Hey Jose' was named Best Blues/R&B Song at the third annual Independent Music Awards. In February 2022, they released Mercy Me, their 26th studio album and 14th with Stony Plain Records.