Eloise Laws

Born in Houston, Texas, in 1949, Eloise Laws grew up as the sister of flutist Hubert, saxophonist Ronnie, and vocalist Debra. Her recording career opened with a pair of singles on Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Music Merchant imprint—“Tighten Him Up” in 1972 and “Love Factory” the following year. When that venture closed, the songwriting team moved her to Invictus, where she issued several 45s and her debut album, Ain’t It Good Feeling Good, in 1977. Mismanagement shuttered Invictus, prompting a swift transfer to ABC, which delivered the self-titled Eloise later the same year.

Linda Creed, who shared production duties on that project, also helmed the 1980 follow-up Eloise Laws for Liberty. Two years after that came All in Time on Capitol. Throughout this stretch she added her voice to contemporary sessions, among them Harvey Mason’s Funk in a Mason Jar, Aquarian Dream’s Fantasy, Lee Oskar’s Before the Rain, Ahmad Jamal’s One, and multiple projects by her siblings.

Laws stepped away from solo work until the late 1990s, returning with The Key in 1999 and Secrets in 2003, both issued on Hubert’s Scepterstein label. She devoted part of the intervening period to theater, co-writing and originating the lead role in the Tony-nominated production It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. While her recorded output has received less acclaim than it merits, her stage achievements have earned a more commensurate share of nominations and awards.