(March 12, 2026) Legendary singer Eloise Laws is definitely an artist whose immense talent has outstripped her public notoriety. So we were happy to hear that she sat down for an exclusive interview with the Soul Discovery show and host Mick O’Donnell. Check it out below.
Born into one of Houston’s most musically gifted families, Eloise Laws built a versatile career that has spanned soul, jazz, pop, and Broadway. The fourth of eight children of Miola Luverta Donahue and Hubert Laws, Sr., Eloise Laverne Laws grew up surrounded by music. Her siblings include renowned flutist Hubert Laws, saxophonist Ronnie Laws, and vocalist Debra Laws, all of whom would go on to notable careers of their own.
Laws studied music at Texas Southern University, and her professional journey took a major step forward in 1965 when she won a national talent contest sponsored by CBS. The prize fellowship brought her to New York, where she studied music, dance, and acting while appearing on several CBS television programs, and even a recording contract offer from legendary executive Clive Davis.
In the early 1970s, Harry Belafonte discovered Laws and invited her to tour with him for more than a year. Later, while performing on the Playboy club circuit, she was recruited by the management of The 5th Dimension to replace Marilyn McCoo for a period.
Laws ultimately began her recording career with Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Music Merchant and Invictus labels, releasing her debut album Ain’t It Good Feeling Good in 1977. Although the label soon folded, she followed that project with Eloise later the same year and Eloise Laws in 1980, both featuring the songwriting and production talents of Linda Creed. She also appeared as a backing vocalist on Ronnie Laws’ 1980 album Every Generation and worked with artists including Harvey Mason, Lee Oskar, Aquarian Dream, and Ahmad Jamal.
After the Capitol release All in Time, Laws shifted much of her focus to the stage, eventually starring in — and co-writing — the Tony-nominated Broadway musical It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues. During a break from Broadway, she returned to recording with the independently released album Secrets, continuing a career defined by musical range and deep roots in soul and jazz.
