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Al Jarreau

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Biography

BLP sources|date=September 2009Infobox musical artist|name = Al Jarreau|image = Al Jarreau Molde.jpg|image_size =|caption =|landscape = yes|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Alwin Lopez Jarreau|birth_date = Birth date and age|1940|3|12|origin = Milwaukee , Wisconsin , United States |genre = Jazz , pop music|Pop , Soul music|Soul , Funk |instrument= Vocals , Percussion |occupation = Singer |years_active = 1960s–present|label = Reprise Records|Reprise , Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , GRP Records|GRP , Concord Records|Concord , Rhino Entertainment|Rhino |website = http://www.aljarreau.com/ www.aljarreau.com Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau (born March 12, 1940) is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.cite web |url= http://www.aljarreau.com/about |title=Brief official bio |publisher=aljarreau.com

Background


Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. 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 in benefits, and he and his mother performed at Parent-Teacher Association|PTA meetings. Contemporary Authors Online , Gale, 2009. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center , Farmington Hills, Mich: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.

He was student council president and Badger Boys State delegate for Lincoln High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)|Lincoln High School , going on to Ripon College (Wisconsin)|Ripon College , where he also sang with a group called the Indigos. Jarreau graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. He went on to earn a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa , 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. 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.

Going full-time


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 (Los Angeles)|The Troubadour , and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Johnny Carson , Mike Douglas , Merv Griffin , Dinah Shore , and David Frost (broadcaster)|David Frost . He expanded his nightclub appearances performing at The Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as Bette Midler , Jimmie Walker , and John Belushi . During this period, he became involved with the United Church of Religious Science and the Church of Scientology , but he is no longer affiliated with Scientology. Also, roughly at the same time, he began writing his own lyrics, finding that his Christian spirituality began to impact 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 successful albums is '' Breakin' Away (album)|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 (TV series)|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 .

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& #33; 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."See http://www.jazzreview.com/articledetails.cfm? ID=1037. Retrieved 5 March 2011.

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.

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 theatre|Broadway production of Grease (musical)|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 .

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 .

In 2010, Al Jarreau is a guest on the new Eumir Deodato album, with the song "double face" written by Al Jarreau Deodato and Nicolosi production team. The song is produced by Nicolosi productions.Italy

Personal life


Jarreau has been married twice. His first marriage, to Phyllis Hall, lasted from 1964 to 1968. His second wife was model Susan Player whom he married in 1977. Jarreau and Player have one adult son together, Ryan.

It was reported on July 23, 2010 that Jarreau was critically ill at a hospital in France, while in the area to perform a concert at nearby Barcelonnette , and was being treated for respiratory problems and cardiac arrhythmia s.cite web|author=(AFP) & ndash; 1 hour ago |url= http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVnn2WJi88h65KKZk9Z0S4w29MBw |title=AFP: US jazz singer Al Jarreau critically ill in France |publisher=Google.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-23 He was taken to the intensive care unit at Gap, Hautes-Alpes|Gap late on July 22, 2010.cite web |url= http://www.france24.com/en/20100723-us-jazz-singer-al-jarreau-critically-ill-hospital-france |title=US jazz singer Al Jarreau critically ill in hospital Jarreau was conscious, in stable condition and in the cardiology unit of La Timone hospital in Marseille, the Marseille Hospital Authority said. He was expected to remain there for about a week for tests.cite news |url= http://www.billboard.com/news/al-jarreau-stable-changes-hospitals-in-france-1004106013.story#/news/al-jarreau-stable-changes-hospitals-in-france-1004106013.story |title=Al Jarreau Stable, Changes Hospitals in France |date=24 July 2010 |pu |publisher= Associated Press |accessdate=6 December 2010

Since then, Jarreau has made a full recovery and continues to tour extensively.cite web |url= http://jazztimes.com/articles/26408-al-jarreau-feelin-pretty-good |date=08/15/10 |title=Al Jarreau: Feelin' Pretty Good Singer set for performances at Wolf Trap and other venues in U.S. and Japan |first=Lee |last=Mergner |accessdate=6 December 2010

In 2009 Children's author, Carmen Rubin wrote and released the story, Ashti Meets Birdman Al, inspired by the music of Al Jarreau. He has written the foreword for that book and reads it across the world. Both Al and Carmen both work together to promote literacy and the importance of keeping music alive in children. Books are available on Itunes and www.carmenrubin.com

Discography


Albums


  • 1975: We Got By ( Reprise Records|Reprise ) US# 209

  • 1976: Glow (Reprise) - US# 132, R& B #30, Jazz# 9

  • 1978: All Fly Home (Warner Bros.) - US# 78, R& B# 27, Jazz# 2

  • 1980: This Time (Al Jarreau album)|This Time (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 27, R& B# 6, Jazz# 1

  • 1981: '' Breakin' Away (album)|Breakin' Away (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 9, R& B# 1, Jazz# 1, UK Albums Chart|UK # 60

  • 1983: Jarreau (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 13, R& B# 4, Jazz# 1, UK# 39

  • 1984: High Crime (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 49, R& B# 12, Jazz# 2, UK# 81

  • 1986: L is for Lover (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 81, R& B# 30, Jazz# 9, UK# 45

  • 1988: '' Heart's Horizon (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 75, R& B# 10, Jazz# 1

  • 1992: Heaven and Earth (Al Jarreau album)|Heaven and Earth (Warner Bros.) - US# 105, R& B# 30, Jazz# 2

  • 2000: Tomorrow Today ( GRP Records|GRP ) - US# 137, R& B# 43, Jazz# 1

  • 2002: All I Got (GRP) - US# 137, R& B# 43, Jazz# 3

  • 2004: Accentuate the Positive (album)|Accentuate the Positive ( GRP Records )

  • 2006: '' Givin' It Up (with George Benson ) ( Concord Records|Concord ) - US# 58, R& B# 14, Jazz# 1

  • 2008: Christmas (Rhino)cite book

    • | first= David
    | last= Roberts
    | year= 2006
    | title= British Hit Singles & Albums
    | edition= 19th
    | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
    | location= London
    | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
    | page= 280

    Live albums


  • 1977: Look to the Rainbow ( Warner Bros. Records ) - US# 49, R& B# 19, Jazz# 5

  • 1985: In London (Warner Bros. Records) - US# 125, R& B# 55, Jazz# 10. Sometimes titled "Live in London".

  • 1994: Tenderness (Warner Bros. Records) US# 114, R& B# 25, Jazz# 2. Recorded live in a studio in front of an invited audience.


    • Compilations


    Recorded after 1975


  • 1996: Best of Al Jarreau (Warner Bros. Records) - Jazz #8

  • 2008: Love Songs ( Rhino Entertainment|Rhino )

  • 2009: The Very Best Of Al Jarreau: An Excellent Adventure (Rhino)cite web|url= http://www.aljarreau.com/ |title=Welcome to AlJarreau.com - The Official Site For Al Jarreau - 7 Time Grammy Award Winning Jazz / Crossover Legend& #33; |publisher=Aljarreau.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-23 (This compilation holds one previously unreleased track: "Excellent Adventure")


    • Recorded before 1974


    After Jarreau's breakthrough in 1975 an almost unaccountable number of compilations of earlier recordings from 1965 to 1973 have emerged, including some or all of the following songs:

    Songs by Bill Withers

  • Ain't No Sunshine (2:03)

  • Lean on Me (4:18)

  • Use Me (3:31)

  • Kissing My Love (3:38)

  • Grandma's Hands (7:15)

  • You (3:31)

  • Lonely Town, Lonely Street (3:11)

  • The Same Love That Made Me Laugh (3:20)


    • Songs by Al Green

  • Living for You (2:43)

  • Call Me (2:32)

  • Here I Am (3:59

  • Let's Get Married (3:30)

  • Let's Stay Together (3:22)

  • You Ought to Be With Me (3:12)

  • Love and Happiness (3:10)

  • Tired of Being Alone (2:36)

  • Look What You've Done for Me (2:51)

  • I'm Still in Love With You (2:51)


    • Songs by various composers

  • My Favorite Things (5:02, Hammerstein, Rodgers)

  • Stockholm Sweetnin' (5:50, Jones)

  • A Sleepin' Bee (5:52, Arlen, Capote)

  • The Masquerade Is Over (6:34, Magidson, Wrubel)

  • Sophisticated Lady (4:14, Ellington, Mills, Parish)

  • Joey, Joey, Joey (3:42, Loesser)

  • Come Rain or Come Shine (6:56, Arlen, Mercer)

  • One Note Samba (4:24, Hendricks, Jobim, Mendonca)


    • Compilations (recordings before 1974)

    Following list is a sampling of compilations, composed of the songs recorded before 1974.
  • 1965 or 1981: 1965 (Bainbridge). Unclear whether the album was released the same year it was recorded (1965) or in 1981. Allmusic.com dates it 1965, but the reviewer on Allmusic says 1981. All available (and previously sold) vinyls from Bainbridge dates 1981, and some foreign releases on the labels Disc'Az and Ducale dates 1983 (Discogs.com).

  • 1983: The Masquerade Is Over (Magnum)

  • 1984: Al Jarreau (Forever Gold)

  • 1985: You (Lifetime)

  • 1985: ''Ain't No Sunshine (Prestige)

  • 1985: Sings Bill Withers (Blue Moon)

  • 1995: Living for You (Synergie Omp). Songs by Al Green.

  • 1998: Tribute to Bill Withers (Culture Press)

  • 1998: Improvisations (Blue Moon, 2-discs). Also released the same year by Synergie on 2 separate discs named Improvisations Album One and Improvisations Album Two . These albums contain all the songs recorded before 1974, as listet above.

  • 2001: ''This One's for You (Hallmark)

  • 2001: ''Ain't No Sunshine (SRI)

  • 2002: One Note Samba (Traditional Line)

  • 2003: Best of Al Jarreau (Tyrostar)

  • 2005: My Favorite Things (Golden Stars, 3-discs)

  • 2009: Tribute to Al Green (K-tel)

  • 2010: Tribute to Al Green (Platinum Records)

    • Several of the compilations listed above have different titles and/or year of release, even though they contain the same songs, e.g.:
  • 1965 (1981, Bainbridge) = The Masquerade Is Over (1983, Magnum) = One Note Samba (2002, Traditional Line).

  • You (1985, Lifetime) = ''Ain't No Sunshine (1985, Prestige) = Sings Bill Withers (1985, Blue Moon) = Tribute to Bill Withers (1998, Culture Press) = This One's for You (2001, Hallmark) = Ain't No Sunshine (2001, SRI).

  • Living for You (1995, Synergie Omp) = Tribute to Al Green (2009 K-tel, 2010 Platinum Records).


    • 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 Singles Chart|UK #55

  • 1982: "Breakin' Away" - US #43, R& B #25

  • 1982: "Teach Me Tonight" - US #70, R& B #51

  • 1982: "Your Precious Love" Duet with Randy Crawford - 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

  • 1986: "The Music Of Goodbye" (From Out Of Africa) Duet with Melissa Manchester - AC #16

  • 1987: "Moonlighting" (from Moonlighting) - US #23, R& B #32 UK #8 (#1 Adult Contemporary)

  • 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 (film)|Night Shift (Warner Bros)

  • 1984: "Moonlighting" and "Since I Fell For You" / American television show Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting (Universal)

  • 1984: "Boogie Down" / American movie '' Breakin' (Warner Bros)

  • 1986: "The Music Of Goodbye" Duet with Melissa Manchester / American movie Out of Africa (MCA Records)

  • 1989: "Never Explain Love" / American movie Do The Right Thing (Motown)


    • Guest appearances


  • 1978: "Hot News Blues" from "Secret Agent"/ Chick Corea & mdash; (Polydor)

  • 1979: "Little Sunflower" from " The Love Connection "/ Freddie Hubbard ; (Columbia)

  • 1985: " We Are the World " / USA for Africa (Columbia)

  • 1986: "Since I Fell For You" from Double Vision / Bob James (musician)|Bob James & David Sanborn & mdash; (Waner Bros.)

  • 1997: " Girl from Ipanema " and " Waters of March " from A Twist of Jobim / Lee Ritenour & mdash; (GRP)

  • 2010: " Whisper Not " from " New Time, New Tet "/ Benny Golson ; (Conord Jazz)


    • Grammy Awards


    Wins


  • Grammy Awards of 1978|1978 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album|Best Jazz Vocal Performance , Look To The Rainbow

  • Grammy Awards of 1979|1979 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album|Best Jazz Vocal Performance , All Fly Home

  • Grammy Awards of 1981|1981 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Album for Children|Best Album for Children , In Harmony A Sesame Street Record , together with other artists

  • Grammy Awards of 1982|1982 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance , '' Breakin' Away (album)|Breakin' Away

  • * & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male|Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male , "(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk"

  • Grammy Awards of 1993|1993 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , Heaven and Earth (Al Jarreau album)|Heaven and Earth

  • Grammy Awards of 2007|2007 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Traditional R& B Vocal Performance|Best Traditional R& B Vocal Performance , "God Bless The Child", together with George Benson and Jill Scott


    • Nominations


  • Grammy Awards of 1981|1981 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , "Never Givin' Up"

  • Grammy Awards of 1982|1982 & mdash; Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year , '' Breakin' Away (album)|Breakin' Away

  • Grammy Awards of 1984|1984 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) , "Step by Step" , together with Tom Canning, Jay Graydon and Jerry Hey

  • Grammy Awards of 1985|1985 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals , "Edgartown Groove" , together with Kashif (musician)|Kashif

  • Grammy Awards of 1986|1986 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , High Crime

  • Grammy Awards of 1987|1987 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , "Since I Fell For You"

  • Grammy Awards of 1988|1988 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance , "Moonlighting (Theme)"

  • * & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media , "Moonlighting (Theme)", together with Lee Holdridge

  • Grammy Awards of 1990|1990 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , ''Heart's Horizon

  • Grammy Awards of 1995|1995 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Best Male R& B Vocal Performance , "Wait For The Magic"

  • Grammy Awards of 2005|2005 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album|Best Jazz Vocal Album , Accentuate the Positive (album)|Accentuate the Positive

  • Grammy Awards of 2007|2007 & mdash; Grammy Award for Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R& B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals , "Breezin'" , together with George Benson


    • References


    Reflist

    External links


  • http://www.aljarreau.com/ Official website

  • http://www.rhino.com/aljarreau Al Jarreau's Rhino Artist Page

  • http://openvault.wgbh.org/saybrother/MLA000927/index.html: "Al Jarreau performs 'You Don't See Me'" on the WGBH series, Say Brother

  • http://sidewalkstv.com/webclips/j/al-george.html Al Jarreau 2006 Interview with George Benson on Sidewalks Entertainment

  • http://www.smoothviews.com/interviews/jarreau1106.htm Al Jarreau 2006 Smoothviews.com Interview


    • Persondata | NAME = Jarreau, Al
    | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
    | SHORT DESCRIPTION =
    | DATE OF BIRTH = March 12, 1940
    | PLACE OF BIRTH =
    | DATE OF DEATH =
    | PLACE OF DEATH =
    DEFAULTSORT:Jarreau, Al Category:1940 births
    Category:Living people
    Category:African American musicians
    Category:African American singers
    Category:Grammy Award winners
    Category:Vocal jazz musicians
    Category:University of Iowa alumni
    Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Category:Rhythm and blues singers
    Category:Smooth jazz singers
    Category:Crossover jazz singers
    Category:Former Scientologists
    Category:American jazz singers
    Category:Ripon College (Wisconsin) alumni

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    Copyright Citations

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