Good Sunday Morning POU!
h/t to Conlakappa on the talented Laws family: Ronnie, Eloise, Hubert and Debra.
The Laws family of musicians hail from Houston, Texas. Miola Luverta Donahue and Hubert Laws, Sr. had eight children and all displayed an interest in music.
The family home was directly across the street from an honest-to-goodness honky-tonk, Miss Mary’s Place, which still sits on the same spot in Houston’s Studewood section. Their grandfather played the harmonica and often entertained as a one-man band. Miola, played gospel music on piano.
Hubert Jr. grew up playing rhythm and blues and gospel at dances in the neighborhood. Brother Ronnie and sisters, Eloise and Debra, have all made their mark in the music industry, while sister Blanche has devoted her talent to gospel singing and brother Johnnie has contributed his voice on Hubert’s recordings. It’s fitting that Hubert’s fourth album for Columbia was entitled Family, featuring almost the entire Laws clan.
Hubert Jr. began playing flute in high school after volunteering to substitute for the school orchestra’s regular flutist. At age 15, he was a member of the early Jazz Crusaders while in Texas (1954–60), and also played classical music during those years.
Winning a scholarship to New York’s Juilliard School of Music in 1960, he studied music both in the classroom and with master flutist Julius Baker, and played with both the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (member) and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, 1969–72. His first love of Jazz though, is where he’s made his most indelible mark.
Fire and Rain
Ronnie plays both the saxophone and flute and is also a vocalist.
Laws attended Stephen F. Austin State University for two years. In 1972, Laws joined the fledgling group Earth, Wind and Fire, playing saxophone and flute on their album Last Days and Time.
In 1975, he began his solo career with the album Pressure Sensitive, which yielded his most famous instrumental song, “Always There.” The song became an instant jazz-funk classic, covered by numerous artists.
Every Generation (now this is a THROWBACK! I’d forgotten about this song!)
Always There
Eloise is a vocalist and sang backup on Ronnie’s “Next Generation” recording.
Both Ronnie and Hubert play on her recording “You’re Incredible”.
Debra’s professional career started in 1977 when she was featured on her brother Ronnie’s album entitled Friends and Strangers. In 1979, she was a lead vocalist on her brother Hubert’s album, Land of Passion.
Laws made her debut as a solo recording artist in 1981 with the release of her album Very Special on Elektra Records. This album, produced by her two brothers sold in excess of 385,000 copies, while the two singles, “Very Special” and “Be Yourself” sold combined totals in excess of 260,000 copies.
The family musical gene has been passed on to the next generation.
Hubert’s daughter, Kay Cola, is a grammy nominated songwriter and debuted her own album last year.
Check out more of all of the Laws music as you go about your Sunday!