Earl recalls adopting the name Earl "because when I used to sit in with Muddy and all those old guys, they couldn’t pronounce my last name".

He has listed his influences as Robert Lockwood, B.B. King, Magic Sam and T-Bone Walker, among others.

Earl quickly graduated to playing clubs around the Boston area, and also spent some time in Chicago and Texas, backing many touring blues artists. He replaced Duke Robillard in 'Roomful of Blues' and stayed with them for almost eight years. He left in the mid-1980’s to pursue a successful solo career.

Ronnie has become an in-demand session guitarist and in 1999 won the W.C. Handy Award for 'Best Blues Guitarist'.

Often referred to as 'Mr. Intensity', Earl is rated as one of the finest living blues guitarists.

Ronnie Earl’s debut recording on the Telarc Blues label, Healing Time was released in June 2000.

Healing Time contains mostly instrumental originals and is a tribute to his Saviour.