Alwyn Lopez "Al" Jarreau
(born March 12, 1940) is an American singer. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, he is the only vocalist in history to win in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B. He won the aforementioned Grammys within a span of four consecutive decades — the '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s.
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AL JARREAU TICKETS
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Biography
Jarreau was born in
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc. the name of the street in Milwaukee he lived on. His father was a
Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and his mother was a church pianist. He and his family sang together in church concerts, and also performed in benefits. He and his mother performed at
PTA meetings as well.
[1]
He was the president of the student council at high school, going on to receive a scholarship to
Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor Of Science degree in Psychology.
[2] He went on to earn a
master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the
University of Iowa and worked as a rehabilitation counselor in
San Francisco while also performing evenings with a jazz trio headed by
George Duke.
In 1967, he joined forces with acoustic guitarist Julio Martinez. The duo became the star attraction at a small Sausalito night club called Gatsby's. This success contributed to Jarreau's decision to make professional singing his life and fulltime career.
In 1968, Jarreau made jazz his primary occupation. In 1969, Jarreau and Martinez headed south, where Jarreau appeared in such
Los Angeles hot spots as Dino's,
the Troubadour and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from
Johnny Carson,
Mike Douglas,
Merv Griffin and
David Frost, while he expanded his nightclub appearances to include performing at
The Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as
Bette Midler,
Jimmie Walker, and
John Belushi, among others. During this period, he underwent an emotional trauma which prompted him to rethink matters of life and death. He became involved with the United Church of Religious Science and the
Church of Scientology. Also, roughly at the same time, he began writing his own lyrics, finding that his spiritual tendencies began to impact and even shape his work.
In 1975, Jarreau was working with pianist Tom Canning when he was spotted by
Warner Bros. Records and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album,
We Got By
, which catapulted him to international fame and garnered him a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy would follow with the release of his second album,
Glow.
One of Jarreau's most commercially and artistically successful albums is
Breakin' Away
(1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together." He wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show
Moonlighting
. Among other things, he is well-known for his
scat singing and the ability to imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "
We Are the World" in which he sang the line,
"...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
Another charitable media event,
HBO's
Comic Relief, featured Al in a duet with
Natalie Cole singing the song "Mr. President," written by Joe Sterling, Mike Loveless and
Ray Reach.
In 2003 Jarreau and conductor Larry Baird collaborated together doing symphony shows around the United States, with Baird arranging additional orchestral material for Jarreau's shows.
He has toured and performed with numerous musicians, including
Joe Sample,
Kathleen Battle,
Miles Davis,
David Sanborn,
Rick Braun and
George Benson. He also performed the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996
Broadway production of
Grease.
On
March 6,
2001 he received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of
Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
Al Jarreau appeared in a duet with
American Idol
finalist
Paris Bennett during the Season 5 finale and on
Celebrity Duets
singing with actor
Cheech Marin.
Personal life
Jarreau has been married twice. His first marriage, to Phyllis Hall, lasted from 1964-1968. His second wife was model
Susan Player whom he married in 1977. Jarreau and Player have one adult son together, Ryan.
Discography
Albums
- 1965: 1965
(Bainbridge)
- 1975: We Got By
(Reprise)
- 1976: Glow
(Reprise) - US# 132, R&B #30, Jazz# 9
- 1977: Look to the Rainbow
(Warner Bros.) - US# 49, R&B# 19, Jazz# 5
- 1978: All Fly Home
(Warner Bros.) - US# 78, R&B# 27, Jazz# 2
- 1980: This Time
(Warner Bros.) - US# 27, R&B# 6, Jazz# 1
- 1981: Breakin' Away
(Warner Bros. Records) - US# 9, R&B# 1, Jazz# 1, UK# 60
- 1983: Jarreau
(Warner Bros. Records) - US# 13, R&B# 4, Jazz# 1, UK# 39
- 1983: The Masquerade Is Over
(Happy Bird)
- 1983: Ain't No Sunshine
(Magnum / Blue Moon)
- 1984: High Crime
(Warner Bros.) - US# 49, R&B# 12, Jazz# 2, UK# 81
- 1984: Spirits & Feelings
- 1984: Al Jarreau
(Forever Gold)
- 1985: In London
(Warner Bros.) - US# 125, R&B# 55, Jazz# 10
- 1985: Replay of Al Jarreau
- 1985: You
(Colliers)
- 1986: L Is For Lover
(Warner Bros) - US# 81, R&B# 30, Jazz# 9, UK# 45
- 1987: Sings Bill Withers
(Blue Moon)
- 1988: Manifesto
- 1988: Heart's Horizon
(Warner Bros.) - US# 75, R&B# 10, Jazz# 1
- 1992: Heaven and Earth
(Warner Bros.) - US# 105, R&B# 30, Jazz# 2
- 1994: Tenderness
(Warner Bros.) US# 114, R&B# 25, Jazz# 2
- 1995: Living For You
(Blue Moon)
- 1996: Best of Al Jarreau
(Warner Bros.) - Jazz #8
- 1996: Lean on Me
(ITC Masters)
- 1998: Tribute to Bill Withers
(Culture Press)
- 1998: Love & Happiness
(Mastertone)
- 1998: Improvisations
(Blue Moon)
- 1999: Masters
(Eagle Rock)
- 2000: Tomorrow Today
(GRP) - US# 137, R&B# 43, Jazz# 1
- 2000: Gold Collection
(Fine Tune)
- 2000: Al Jarreau: Magic Collection
(The Magic Collection)
- 2000: Golden Legends
(Direct Source)
- 2000: Come Rain or Shine
(Jazz Time)
- 2000: Early Gold And New Spins
(Cleopatra)
- 2001: This One's for You
(Hallmark)
- 2001: Expressions
(Prism)
- 2002: Free Spirit
(Park South Records)
- 2002: Still In Love With You
(Blue Moon)
- 2002: All I Got
(GRP) - US# 137, R&B# 43, Jazz# 3
- 2002: One Note Samba
(Traditional Line)
- 2003: Members Edition
(United Multi License)
- 2004: Al and Lou
(2 Camels)
- 2004: Master Classics
(Master Classics)
- 2004: Accentuate the Positive
(GRP Records)
- 2005: The Great Al Jarreau
(Goldies)
- 2005: My Favorite Things
(Golden Stars)
- 2005: R&B Soul
(Direct Source)
- 2006: Most Famous Hits
(Most Famous)
- 2006: Al Jarreau/George Benson Super
(MNT)
- 2006: Improvisations Album One
(Synergie)
- 2006: Improvisations Album Two
(Synergie)
- 2006: Living for You
(Synergie)
- 2006: Givin' It Up
(with George Benson
) (Concord) - US# 58, R&B# 14, Jazz# 1
- 2007: R&B Soul: Live
(Direct Source)
- 2008: Look To The Rainbow: Live in Europe
- 2008: Love Songs
(Rhino)
- 2008: Christmas
(Rhino) [3]
Singles
- 1976: "Rainbow In Your Eyes" - R&B #92
- 1977: "Take Five" - R&B #91
- 1978: "Thinkin' About It Too" - R&B #55
- 1980: "Distracted" - R&B #61
- 1980: "Gimme What You Got" - R&B #63
- 1980: "Never Givin' Up" - R&B #26
- 1981: "We're In This Love Together" - US #15, R&B #6 UK #55
- 1982: "Breakin' Away" - US #43, R&B #25
- 1982: "Teach Me Tonight" - US #70, R&B #51
- 1982: "Your Precious Love" - R&B #16
- 1983: "Boogie Down" - US #77, R&B #9 UK #63
- 1983: "Mornin'" - US #21, R&B #6 UK #28
- 1983: "Trouble In Paradise" - US #63, R&B #66 UK #36
- 1984: "After All" - US #69, R&B #26
- 1985: "Raging Waters" - R&B #42
- 1986: "L Is For Lover" - R&B #42
- 1986: "Tell Me What I Gotta Do" - R&B #37
- 1987: "Moonlighting" - US #23, R&B #32 UK #8
- 1988: "So Good" R&B #2
- 1989: "All of My Love" - R&B #69
- 1989: "All or Nothing At All" - R&B #59
- 1992: "Blue Angel" - R&B #74
- 1992: "It's Not Hard to Love You" - R&B #36
- 2001: "In My Music" (with Phife Dawg)
Soundtrack inclusions
- 1982: "Girls Know How" / American movie Night Shift
(Warner Bros)
- 1984: "Moonlighting" and "Since I Fell For You" / American television show Moonlighting
(Universal)
- 1989: "Never Explain Love" / American movie Do The Right Thing
(Motown)
Session
- 1985: "We Are the World" / USA for Africa (Columbia)
- 1986: "Since I Fell For You" from Double Vision
/Bob James & David Sanborn — (Waner Bros.)
- 1997: "Girl from Ipanema" and "Waters of March" from A Twist of Jobim
/Lee Ritenour — (GRP)
- 1978: "Hot News Blues" from "Secret Agent"/Chick Corea — (Polydor)
Grammy Awards
Wins
- 1978 — Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Look To The Rainbow
- 1979 — Best Jazz Vocal Performance, All Fly Home
- 1981 — Best Album for Children, In Harmony A Sesame Street Record
, together with other artists
- 1982 — Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Breakin' Away
- * — Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male, "(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk"
- 1993 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Heaven and Earth
- 2007 — Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, "God Bless The Child", together with George Benson and Jill Scott
Nominations
- 1981 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, "Never Givin' Up"
- 1982 — Album of the Year, Breakin' Away
- 1984 — Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "Step by Step" , together with Tom Canning, Jay Graydon and Jerry Hey
- 1985 — Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, "Edgartown Groove" , together with Kashif
- 1986 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, High Crime
- 1987 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, "Since I Fell For You"
- 1988 — Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Moonlighting (Theme)"
- * — Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, "Moonlighting (Theme)", together with Lee Holdridge
- 1990 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Heart's Horizon
- 1995 — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, "Wait For The Magic"
- 2005 — Best Jazz Vocal Album, Accentuate The Positive
- 2007 — Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, "Breezin'" , together with George Benson
References
- ''Contemporary Authors Online'', Gale, 2009. Reproduced in ''Biography Resource Center'', Farmington Hills, Mich: Gale, 2009. http:galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.
- http://www.aljarreau.com/about brief official bio
- British Hit Singles & Albums