State College residents will get the blues this weekend whether they like it or not. Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, a nationally-known blues outfit, is playing at 8 p.m. Sunday at Mr. C's.

Earl, a dean's list graduate of Boston College and former special education teacher, has been making waves in the guitar world since his 1979 debut in the jump-blues band Roomful of Blues. Guitar greats Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and B. B. King are among his most vocal supporters.

Darrell Nulisch, lead vocalist and harmonica player for the Broadcasters, also shares this admiration.

"Well, I've played with a lot of great guitar players over the years, but I think he's one of the best around --absolutely," he said. "He's really creative -- he doesn't do the same things night after night. After you tour with someone awhile, you usually get to see the seams in the wallpaper; not with Ronnie."

Nulisch, formerly of Anson & the Rockets, said he has been playing the blues professionally since 1975. Although he joined the Boston-based Broadcasters only two years ago, he and Earl planned to form a band together much earlier.

"Ronnie and I have known each other for about 10 years, I guess," he said, "and we knew the first time we jammed together that we wanted to play together. It took seven or eight years to make it possible, but when the opportunity came up we jumped a When asked about the current "blues revival" going on around the country, Nulisch is quietly enthusiastic.

"I think it's terrific, even though I've been hearing about it for 14 years now!" he said. "I think the blues is the type of thing that younger people need (exposure) to -- that (lack of exposure) is the only reason it's not more popular. I think it's definitely part of the American musical heritage."

The Dallas native fronted the band last year when they rocked Gatsby's. Nulisch said he remembers that show quite fondly and he's really looking forward to Sunday night.

"I remember that as being an exceptional night," he said. "It was a real good crowd, I liked the ambience of the place itself, and I really loved the opening band we had (Queen Bee & the Blue Hornet Band)!"

Michael Desmond, co-owner of Hotel State College and Company, is the man responsible for bringing Ronnie Earl back to town. He was impressed with the band last year, he said.

"They're the tightest-sounding band that we booked in our three years of operating Gatsby's," Desmond said. "There have been a lot of fans asking for his return. He's on tour now, so we're just fortunate that we could squeeze him in."

He credits Mark Ross of the Blue Hornet Band for recommending Earl and the Broadcasters the first time around.

"Mark's a real strong advocate of quality R & B," he said, "and we're thankful that he often brings different bands to our attention."

He said the show is also notable because "it's one of the first times we've brought bands to Mr. C's, and we'll be doing it (more) in the future."

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters will perform at Mr. C's at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $7 in advance and can be purchased at the Hotel State College desk or $9 at the door.