Al Jarreau Biography

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Biography Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau


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.

Biography

on August 25, 2004.]], Poland; June 25th, 2006]] 2008" festival]]Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fifth of six children. 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.Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2009. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center, Farmington Hills, Mich: Gale, 2009. http:galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.

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. http://www.aljarreau.com/about brief official bioHe 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) **THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 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 **THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1984: Al Jarreau (Forever Gold)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1985: In London (Warner Bros.) - US# 125, R&B# 55, Jazz# 10
  • 1985: Replay of Al Jarreau
  • 1985: You (Colliers)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1986: L Is For Lover (Warner Bros) - US# 81, R&B# 30, Jazz# 9, UK# 45
  • 1987: Sings Bill Withers (Blue Moon)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1988: Manifesto**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD'
  • 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)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1996: Best of Al Jarreau (Warner Bros.) - Jazz #8
  • 1996: Lean on Me (ITC Masters)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1998: Tribute to Bill Withers (Culture Press)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1998: Love & Happiness (Mastertone)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1998: Improvisations (Blue Moon)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 1999: Masters (Eagle Rock)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2000: Tomorrow Today (GRP) - US# 137, R&B# 43, Jazz# 1
  • 2000: Gold Collection (Fine Tune)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2000: Al Jarreau: Magic Collection (The Magic Collection)
  • 2000: Golden Legends (Direct Source)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2000: Come Rain or Shine (Jazz Time)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2000: Early Gold And New Spins (Cleopatra)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2001: This One's for You (Hallmark)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2001: Expressions (Prism)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2002: Free Spirit (Park South Records)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2002: Still In Love With You (Blue Moon)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2002: All I Got (GRP) - US# 137, R&B# 43, Jazz# 3
  • 2002: One Note Samba (Traditional Line)
  • 2003: Members Edition (United Multi License)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2004: Al and Lou (2 Camels)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2004: Master Classics (Master Classics)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2004: Accentuate the Positive (Verve) - Jazz# 2
  • 2005: The Great Al Jarreau (Goldies)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2005: My Favorite Things (Golden Stars)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2005: R&B Soul (Direct Source)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Most Famous Hits (Most Famous)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Al Jarreau/George Benson Super (MNT)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Improvisations Album One (Synergie)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Improvisations Album Two (Synergie)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Living for You (Synergie)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2006: Givin' It Up (with George Benson) (Concord) - US# 58, R&B# 14, Jazz# 1
  • 2007: R&B Soul: Live (Direct Source)**THIS IS NOT A JARREAU RECORD
  • 2008: Look To The Rainbow: Live in Europe
  • 2008: Love Songs (Rhino)
  • 2008: Christmas (Rhino)


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 UK #98
  • 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) UK #194


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 &mdash (Waner Bros.)
  • 1997: "Girl from Ipanema" and "Waters of March" from A Twist of Jobim/Lee Ritenour &mdash (GRP)
  • 1978: "Hot News Blues" from "Secret Agent"/Chick Corea &mdash (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, "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



External links



1940 birthsLiving peopleAfrican American musiciansAfrican American singersGrammy Award winnersVocal jazz musiciansUniversity of Iowa alumniPeople from Milwaukee, WisconsinRhythm and blues singersSmooth jazz singersCrossover jazz singersContemporary jazz singersFormer ScientologistsAmerican jazz singers

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al Jarreau
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