Ronnie Earl

One of the finest blues guitarists to emerge from the 1980s, Ronnie Earl's emotionally rich, technically dazzling playing style crisscrosses the genre's history and often incorporates elements from jazz, soul, and rock. Solo and with longtime band the Broadcasters, he has released dozens of albums resulting in multiple "Guitar Player of the Year" prizes. Influenced by spiritual themes, Earl's instrumental acumen has fueled celebrated recordings including 1993's Still River and 1996's Language of the Soul. After 2000's The Colour of Love cracked the Top 200, he signed with Canada's powerhouse independent Stony Plain for 2004's I Feel Like Goin' On. 2009's Healing Time charted internationally, while 2016's Maxwell Street delivered a raucous tribute to Chicago blues. 2019's Beyond the Blue Door was a star-studded collection of blues, R&B, and rock covers. He followed it with 2020's socially conscious Rise Up, and 2022's hope-inducing Mercy Me.