Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau is an American jazz, pop and R&B singer-songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Born Alwin Lopez Jarreau in 1940, he dies in 2017 in Los Angeles. He is known for work across jazz, soul, funk, pop and R&B, and for a vocal style that moves easily between these forms.

Early life and education

Jarreau begins singing in a church choir, where he has his first vocal experience as the son of a vicar. He studies at Ripon College, where he sings non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduates in 1962. He later earns a master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa and works as a rehabilitation counsellor in San Francisco before turning fully to music.

Career

In 1968, Jarreau joins a small jazz club trio led by George Duke and decides to make professional singing his career. He performs in Los Angeles venues including Dino’s, the Troubador and Bitter End West, and appears on television with Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and David Frost. He also extends his club work to the Improv, performing between sets by comics such as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker and John Belushi.

Warner Bros. spots him in 1975, after which he releases his debut album, We Got By. The album brings him international attention and a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy follows for his next album, Glow. One of his best-known releases is Breakin’ Away from 1981, which includes the hit “We’re in This Love Together”.

Writing, awards and recognition

Jarreau is a twelve-time Grammy nominee and becomes the only vocalist to win Grammy Awards in three separate categories: jazz, pop and R&B. He writes and performs the theme to the television series Moonlighting, which is also Grammy-nominated. He receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001.

Collaborations and performances

He is known for scat singing and for imitating guitar, bass and percussion sounds with his voice. He appears as a featured vocalist on USA for Africa’s “We Are the World”, singing the line “...and so we all must lend a helping hand.” He tours and performs with Joe Sample, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Rick Braun.

Other work

Jarreau also performs the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease.