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Al Jarreau

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Al Jarreau
Jarreau in 1997
Jarreau in 1997
Background information
Birth nameAlwin Lopez Jarreau
Born(1940-03-12)March 12, 1940
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedFebruary 12, 2017(2017-02-12) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active1961–2017
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter. His 1981 album Breakin' Away spent two years on the Billboard 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R&B sound. The album won Jarreau the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In all, he won ten Grammy Awards and was nominated nineteen other times during his career.

Jarreau also sang the theme song of the 1980s television series Moonlighting and was among the performers on the 1985 charity song "We Are the World".

Early life and career

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Al Jarreau during a concert (in West Germany) in early 1981

Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 12, 1940,[1] the fifth of six children. His father Emile Alphonse Jarreau was a Seventh-day Adventist Church minister and singer, and his mother Pearl (Walker) Jarreau was a church pianist. Jarreau and his family sang together in church concerts and in benefits, and Jarreau and his mother performed at PTA meetings.[2]

Jarreau was student council president and Badger Boys State delegate for Lincoln High School. At Boys State, he was elected governor.[3] Jarreau went on to attend Ripon College, where he also sang with a group called the Indigos. He graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.[1] Two years later, in 1964, he earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa. Jarreau also worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco, and moonlighted with a jazz trio headed by George Duke. In 1967, he joined forces with acoustic guitarist Julio Martinez.[4] 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 full-time career.[5]

Career

[edit]
1986: Jarreau in concert in West Berlin
1996: Jarreau performing at the Molde International Jazz Festival
2006: Jarreau in Wrocław
2008: Jarreau in Kyiv

In 1968, Jarreau made jazz his primary occupation. In 1969, he and Martinez headed south, where Jarreau appeared at Dino's, The Troubadour, and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, and David Frost. He expanded his nightclub appearances, performing at The Improv between the acts of such rising stars as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi.[6] During this period, 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 Christian spirituality began to influence his work.[2]

In 1975, Jarreau was working with pianist Tom Canning when he was spotted by Warner Bros. Records. Soon he released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him to international fame and won an Echo Award (the German equivalent of the Grammys in the United States). On Valentine's Day 1976, he sang on the 13th episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live, that week hosted by Peter Boyle.[7] A second Echo Award would follow with the release of his second album, Glow.[8] In 1978, he won his first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for his album, Look to the Rainbow.[9]

One of Jarreau's most commercially successful albums is Breakin' Away (1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together". He won the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Breakin' Away.[10] In 1983 he released Jarreau. It was his third consecutive #1 album on the Billboard Jazz charts, while also placing at #4 on the R&B album charts and #13 on the Billboard 200. The album contained three hit singles: "Mornin'" (U.S. Pop #21, AC #2 for three weeks), "Boogie Down" (U.S. Pop #77) and "Trouble in Paradise" (U.S. Pop #63, AC #10). In 1984 the album received four Grammy Award nominations, including for Jay Graydon as Producer of the Year (Non-Classical).

In 1984, his single "After All" reached 69 on the US Hot 100 chart and number 26 on the R&B chart. His last big hit was the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show Moonlighting, for which he wrote the lyrics. Among other things, he was well known for his extensive use of scat singing (for which he was called "Acrobat of Scat"[11]), and vocal percussion. 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 him in a duet with Natalie Cole singing the song "Mr. President", written by Joe Sterling, Mike Loveless, and Ray Reach.[12]

Jarreau took an extended break from recording in the 1990s. As he explained in an interview with Jazz Review: "I was still touring, in fact, I toured more than I ever had in the past, so I kept in touch with my audience. I got my symphony program under way, which included my music and that of other people too, and I performed on the Broadway production of Grease. I was busier than ever! For the most part, I was doing what I have always done... perform live. I was shopping for a record deal and was letting people know that there is a new album coming. I was just waiting for the right label (Verve), but I toured more than ever."[13] In 2003, Jarreau and conductor Larry Baird collaborated on symphony shows around the United States, with Baird arranging additional orchestral material for Jarreau's shows.[14][15][16]

Jarreau toured and performed with Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, George Duke, David Sanborn[17] 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, at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.[18] In 2006, 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. In 2009, children's author Carmen Rubin published the story Ashti Meets Birdman Al, inspired by Jarreau's music.[19] In 2010, Jarreau was a guest on a Eumir Deodato album, with the song "Double Face" written by Jarreau, Deodato, and Nicolosi. The song was produced by the Italian company Nicolosi Productions. On February 16, 2012, Jarreau was invited to the famous Italian Festival di Sanremo to sing with the Italian group Matia Bazar.

Personal life

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Jarreau was married twice. Jarreau and Phyllis Hall were married from 1964 until their divorce in 1968.[5][11] Jarreau married his second wife Susan Elaine Player [it] in 1977. Jarreau and Player had a son, Ryan Jarreau.[20] Ryan and Susan Jarreau appear as background vocalists on Tomorrow Today. Susan provided photography for several of Jarreau's albums, including Glow, All Fly Home, This Time, and Breakin' Away. She is the subject of "Susan's Song", track no. 3 on We Got By.

Illness and death

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It was reported in July 2010 that Jarreau was critically ill at a hospital in France, after performing in Barcelonnette, and was being treated for respiratory problems and cardiac arrhythmias.[21][22] He was conscious, in a stable condition and in the cardiology unit of La Timone hospital in Marseille, the Marseille Hospital Authority said, and he remained there for about a week for tests.[23]

In June 2012, Jarreau was diagnosed with pneumonia, which caused him to cancel several concerts in France.[24] Jarreau made a full recovery and continued to tour extensively for the next five years until February 2017.[25][26]

In February 2017, after being hospitalized for exhaustion in Los Angeles, Jarreau canceled his remaining 2017 tour dates.[27] On that date, the Montreux Jazz Academy, part of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, announced that Jarreau would not return as a mentor to ten young artists, as he had done in 2015.[28][29]

Jarreau died of respiratory failure, at the age of 76 on February 12, just two days after announcing his retirement, and one month before his 77th birthday.[11][30][31]

He is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills). His headstone features lyrics from his song "Mornin'": "I know I can / Like any man/ Reach out my hand / And touch the face of God."[32]

Discography

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Main article: Al Jarreau discography

Awards and nominations

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Grammy Awards

[edit]
Year Awarded Nominee/work Category Result Ref.
1978 Look to the Rainbow Best Jazz Vocal Performance Won [33][34][35]
1979 All Fly Home Won [36][37]
1981 "Never Givin' Up" Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Nominated [38][39][40][41]
In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record (featuring various artists) Best Recording for Children Won
1982 Breakin' Away Album of the Year (shared with Jay Graydon) Nominated [42][43][44]
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Won
"(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo à la Turk" Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male Won
1984 Jarreau Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) (for Jay Graydon) Nominated [45][46][47]
Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical (for Ian Eales, Jay Graydon & Eric Prestis) Nominated
"Mornin'" Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) (for David Foster, Jay Graydon & Jeremy Lubbock) Nominated
"Step by Step" Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) (shared with Tom Canning, Jay Graydon & Jerry Hey) Nominated
1985 "Edgartown Groove" (featuring Kashif) Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated [48][49][50]
1986 We Are the World (as a part of USA for Africa featuring various artists) Album of the Year (shared with Quincy Jones) Nominated [51][52][53]
"We Are the World" (as a part of USA for Africa) Record of the Year (shared with Quincy Jones) Won
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals (shared with Quincy Jones) Won
Best Music Video, Short Form (shared with Quincy Jones & Tom Trbovich) Won
High Crime Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Nominated
1987 "Since I Fell for You" Nominated [54][55]
1988 "Moonlighting (theme)" (from the TV series Moonlighting) Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Nominated [56][57]
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television (shared with Lee Holdridge) Nominated
1990 Heart's Horizon Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Nominated [58][59]
1993 Heaven and Earth Won [60][61]
1995 "Wait for the Magic" Nominated [62][63]
2005 Accentuate the Positive Best Jazz Vocal Album Nominated [64][65]
2007 "Breezin'" (featuring George Benson) Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Nominated [66][67]
"God Bless the Child" (featuring George Benson & Jill Scott) Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance Won
2013 Live (featuring the Metropole Orkest) Best Jazz Vocal Album Nominated [68]
"Spain (I Can Recall)" Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) (for Vincent Mendoza) Nominated
JumpinJazz Kids – A Swinging Jungle Tale (featuring James Murray & various artists) Best Children's Album Nominated

Hall of Fame

[edit]
Year Awarded Category Ref.
2001 Hollywood Walk of Fame [69]
2012 SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com [70]

Honorary degrees

[edit]
Year Awarded Degree University Ref.
1991 Honorary Doctorate of Music Berklee College of Music [71]
2004 Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee [72]

Academic degrees

[edit]
Year Awarded Degree University Ref.
1962 Bachelor's degree in Psychology Ripon College [73]
1964 Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling University of Iowa [72]

Other honors

[edit]

On October 17, 1982, at the invitation of the Milwaukee Brewers, he sang the National Anthem at Game 5 of the 1982 World Series.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fox, Margalit (February 12, 2017). "Al Jarreau, Singer Who Spanned Jazz, Pop and R&B Worlds, Dies at 76". The New York Times. p. B5.
  2. ^ a b "Contemporary Authors Online: Biography Resource Center". Gale. Farmington Hills, Mich. 2009.
  3. ^ "Badger Boys State Governors". Badger Boys State. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "Al Jarreau Biography". aljarreau.com. August 7, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Fields-White, Monée (February 12, 2017). "Al Jarreau, a Unique Musical Stylist, Dead at 76". The Root.
  6. ^ "Al Jarreau Biography". Hollywood in Vienna. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  7. ^ "Saturday Night Live: Peter Boyle/Al Jarreau, The Shapiro Sisters". TV.com. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "Al Jarreau Vocals". Jazztage Dresden (in German). Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jarreau wins Jazz Grammy". Milwaukee Sentinel. February 24, 1978.
  10. ^ "Al Jarreau Breakin' Away Review". BBC. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c Schudel, Matt (February 12, 2017). "Al Jarreau, seven-time Grammy-winning singer, dies at 76". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ Yancy, Robert; Cole, Timolin; Cole, Casey (January 12, 2016). "Unforgettable Natalie Cole". Focus VI. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  13. ^ Jarreau, Al. "All I Got". Jazz Review (Interview). Interviewed by Ron Miller. Archived from the original on January 6, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2017.{{cite interview}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ "Al Jarreau joins the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Saturday February 27, 2016". 24–7 Press Release. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Kuznik, Frank (October 1, 2012). "Concert Review: Al Jarreau and the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall". Cleveland Scene. ISSN 1064-6116.
  16. ^ "Larry Baird Biography". Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  17. ^ "Box Score Top Grossing Concerts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 1, 1985. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ^ "Al Jarreau Honored With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame". Getty Images. June 22, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  19. ^ "Happy Birthday Al Jarreau". A Jazz Life. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  20. ^ Chandler, D. L. (February 12, 2017). "Little Known Black History Fact: Al Jarreau". Black America Web.
  21. ^ (AFP) –. "AFP: US jazz singer Al Jarreau critically ill in France". Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
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  26. ^ DeVore, Sheryl (February 8, 2017). "Singer Al Jarreau cancels Genesee Theatre concert, retires from touring". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  27. ^ "Al Jarreau Forced to Retire". Aljarreau.com. February 7, 2017.
  28. ^ Rodriguez-Bloch, Laila (February 9, 2017). "Al Jarreau retires from touring, cancels Montreux Jazz Academy participation in Switzerland". All About Geneva. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  29. ^ "Academy 2015". Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  30. ^ "Al Jarreau, Grammy-winning jazz, pop and R&B singer, dies at 76". The Guardian. February 12, 2017.
  31. ^ Villarreal, Yvonne (February 12, 2017). "Influential jazz artist Al Jarreau, singer of 'We're in This Love Together,' dead at 76". Los Angeles Times.
  32. ^ Photo at [1] Alamy.
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  34. ^ "Al Jarreau – Artist". Grammy Award. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  35. ^ "Grammy Awards 1978". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  42. ^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1982 - Grammy Award Winners 1982". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
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  44. ^ "Grammy Awards 1982". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  46. ^ "Jay Graydon – Artist". Grammy Award. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  47. ^ "Grammy Awards 1984". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  52. ^ ""World" gets four Grammys". The Milwaukee Sentinel. February 26, 1986. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  53. ^ "Grammy Awards 1986". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  55. ^ "Grammy Awards 1987". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  57. ^ "Grammy Awards 1988". Awards & shows. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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  68. ^ List of 2013 nominees Archived February 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  69. ^ "Al Jarreau – Inducted to the Walk of Fame on March 6, 2001 with 1 star". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  70. ^ "THE SOULMUSIC HALL OF FAME: MALE ARTIST (Inductees)". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  71. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  72. ^ a b Levy, Piet (February 12, 2017). "Al Jarreau, celebrated vocalist, Milwaukee native, dies at 76". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  73. ^ Damm, Ric. "Acclaimed Ripon alumnus Al Jarreau '62 dead at age 76". Ripon College. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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