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Ronnie Foster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ronnie Foster
Born (1950-05-12) May 12, 1950 (age 74)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • arranger
  • producer
Instruments
  • Organ
  • electric piano
  • acoustic piano
  • synthesizer
Years active1970–present
Labels

Ronnie Foster (born May 12, 1950) is an American funk and soul jazz organist, and record producer. His albums recorded for Blue Note Records in the 1970s have gained a cult following after the emergence of acid jazz.[1]

Early life

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Foster was born in Buffalo, New York, on May 12, 1950.[1] He attended Public School 8, Woodlawn Jr. High for a year, McKinley Vocational High School for two years, and then spent his final year at Lafayette High School.[2] The only formal musical instruction he received was a month of accordion lessons.[2] He was attracted to music at the age of four, took it more seriously from his early teens, and had his first professional gig aged fifteen, playing in a strip club.[2]

Later life and career

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Foster initially performed with other local musicians.[2] He moved to New York City with his own band, and acquired a publishing company.[2] Foster has performed as a sideman with a wide range of musicians.[1] He frequently worked with guitarist George Benson,[1] including playing on the guitarist's album Breezin'.[3] Foster has also played organ with Grant Green, Grover Washington, Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Roberta Flack, Earl Klugh, Harvey Mason, Jimmy Smith, and Stevie Wonder.[1] He is also a record producer.[1] Ronnie Foster's song "Mystic Brew" was sampled in Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest as well as later in J. Cole's song Forbidden Fruit. Later in 2016, J. Cole confirmed that the song "Mystic Brew" was reversed, pitched, and slowed down in the song Neighbors as well as the instrumental of Forbidden Fruit.

Discography

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As leader

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Recording date Title Label Year released Notes
1972-01 Two Headed Freap Blue Note 1972
1972-12 Sweet Revival Blue Note 1973
1973-07 Live at Montreux Blue Note 1974 Live
1974-04,
1974-05
On the Avenue Blue Note 1974
1975-03 Cheshire Cat Blue Note 1975
1978? Love Satellite Columbia 1978
1979? Delight Columbia 1979
1985 The Racer Pro Jazz 1986
2022? Reboot Blue Note 2022

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ronnie Foster Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Osborn, John (December 1974). "Ronnie Foster". Buffalo Jazz Report. No. 10. pp. 1–2.
  3. ^ Mazzone, Tom (May 1976). "George Benson: Breezin' – Warner Bros. BS 2919". Buffalo Jazz Report. No. 27. p. 5.
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