Ronnie Foster

Biography

Ronnie Foster, a native of Buffalo, New York, began playing piano at age 4 in a classical style but switched to Hammond organ by age 12, studying under jazz organ legend Jimmy Smith and drawing inspiration from players like Larry Young. As a teenager, he practiced diligently, renting studio time for 60 cents an hour, and started gigging locally at 14 before playing weekends with George Benson at 15 and joining the Billy Wooten Trio after high school. His big break came at 20 when he recorded with Grant Green on the 1970 Blue Note album Alive!, impressing label executive Dr. George Butler and securing his own contract.[1][2][3]

Foster's solo career peaked in the 1970s with six Blue Note albums including The Two-Headed Freap (1972), Sweet Revival (1972), Live at Montreux (1973), On the Avenue (1974), and Cheshire Cat (1975), followed by Love Satellite (1978) and Delight (1979) on Columbia, and The Racer on Pro Jazz. His funky soul-jazz style, favoring vamps over improvisation, drew criticism from purists but found cult success later through sampling in acid jazz and hip-hop. From the late 1970s, he focused on session work and production, contributing to classics by George Benson, Stevie Wonder, and Roberta Flack.[1][2][5]

Foster's legacy endures as a Hammond B3 master in jazz funk and soul jazz, with renewed Blue Note re-signing highlighting his place alongside Jimmy Smith and Larry Young. His sideman and production roles with artists like Stanley Turrentine, Stanley Clarke, and Brazilian acts, plus productions like Roger Smith's Both Sides (1998/9), underscore his versatility and influence across decades.[2][3][4]

Fun Facts

• Practiced organ in a Buffalo studio for 60 cents an hour as a teen, building skills before New York gigs.[1]
• His first professional gig was at age 14 in a supper club, marking an early start in tough local scenes.[5]
• Blue Note co-founder Francis Wolff heard him first on Grant Green's Alive! (1970), leading to his signing after Wolff's death.[3]
• Produced Brazilian artists for five years and had Stevie Wonder play harmonica on one of his early productions.[4]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jimmy Smith - Primary teacher and stylistic influence on Hammond organ (Studied from age 12; inspired Foster's switch to organ) [1960s]
• Joe Madison - Local Buffalo organist who provided advice (Early guidance in Buffalo scene) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
• Larry Young - Adventurous jazz organ influence after Jimmy Smith (Listening inspiration for advanced style) [1960s]

Key Collaborators

• George Benson - Frequent sideman and touring partner (Numerous 1970s records including Breezin' and Weekend in L.A.; started weekends at age 15) [1960s-1990s]
• Grant Green - Road and recording partner leading to Blue Note contract (Alive! (1970)) [Late 1960s-1970]
• Stanley Turrentine - Early gig and later production reunion (One gig at age 20; produced Turrentine album in 1980s/90s) [1970s-1990s]
• Stevie Wonder - Session musician and production guest (Records including harmonica on Foster production) [1970s-1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Acid jazz and hip-hop artists - Records sampled as source material (Blue Note albums like Mystic Brew used in tracks by A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Kendrick Lamar) [1990s-2010s]
• Roger Smith - Produced chart-topping smooth jazz album (Both Sides (#1 smooth jazz, 1998/9)) [1990s]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #jazz-funk, #soul-jazz