Ronnie Foster

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.

Early life
Foster was born in Buffalo, New York, on May 12, 1950. 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. The only formal musical instruction he received was a month of accordion lessons. 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.

Later life and career
Foster initially performed with other local musicians. He moved to New York City with his own band, and acquired a publishing company. Foster has performed as a sideman with a wide range of musicians. He frequently worked with guitarist George Benson, including playing on the guitarist's album Breezin'. Foster has also played organ with Grant Green, Grover Washington, Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Roberta Flack, Earl Klugh, Harvey Mason, Jimmy Smith, and Stevie Wonder. He is also a record producer. 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.

As sideman
With George Benson
 * Good King Bad (CTI, 1976) – rec. 1975
 * In Concert-Carnegie Hall (CTI, 1976) – live rec. 1975
 * Breezin' (Warner Bros., 1976)
 * In Flight (Warner Bros., 1977)
 * Weekend in L.A. (Warner Bros., 1978) – live rec. 1977
 * Livin' Inside Your Love (Warner Bros., 1979)

With Chayanne
 * Chayanne (CBS, 1987)
 * Chayanne (CBS, 1988)

With Grant Green
 * Alive! (Blue Note, 1970) – live
 * Live at Club Mozambique (Blue Note, 2006) – rec. 1971

With others
 * Chet Atkins, Street Dreams (Columbia, 1986)
 * The Jacksons, Triumph (Epic, 1980)
 * Robbie Robertson, Storyville (Geffen, 1991)
 * Stanley Turrentine, Wonderland (Blue Note, 1987) – rec. 1986
 * Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla, 1976)
 * Grover Washington Jr., Time Out of Mind (Columbia, 1989)