Alwin Lopez “Al” Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. He acquired a complete of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen extra. Jarreau is maybe finest recognized for his 1981 album Breakin’ Away. He additionally sang the theme tune of the late-Nineteen Eighties tv collection Moonlighting, and was among the many performers on the 1985 charity tune “We Are the World.”
In 1968, Jarreau made jazz his major occupation. In 1969, Jarreau and Martinez headed south, the place Jarreau appeared at Dino’s, The Troubadour, and Bitter Finish West. Tv publicity got here from Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, and David Frost. He expanded his nightclub appearances, acting at The Improv between the acts of such rising stars as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi. Throughout this era, he turned concerned with the United Church of Spiritual Science and the Church of Scientology. Additionally, roughly on the identical time, he started writing his personal lyrics, discovering that his Christian spirituality started to affect his work.
In 1975, Jarreau was working with pianist Tom Canning when he was noticed by Warner Bros. Information. On Valentine’s Day 1976 he sang on the thirteenth episode of NBC’s Saturday Evening Stay, that week hosted by Peter Boyle. Quickly he launched his critically acclaimed debut album, We Received By, which catapulted him to worldwide fame and gained an Echo Award (the German equal of the Grammys in america). A second Echo Award would observe with the discharge of his second album, Glow. In 1978, he gained his first Grammy Award for Finest Jazz Vocal Efficiency for his album, Look To The Rainbow.
One in all Jarreau’s most commercially profitable albums is Breakin’ Away (1981), which incorporates the hit tune “We’re in This Love Collectively”. He gained the 1982 Grammy Award for Finest Male Pop Vocal Efficiency for Breakin’ Away. In 1984, his single “After All” reached 69 on the US Sizzling 100 chart and quantity 26 on the R&B chart. It was particularly standard within the Philippines. His final massive hit was the Grammy-nominated theme to the Nineteen Eighties American tv present Moonlighting, for which he wrote the lyrics. Amongst different issues, he was well-known for his intensive use of scat singing (for which he was referred to as “Acrobat of Scat”), and vocal percussion. He was additionally a featured vocalist on USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” through which he sang the road, “…and so all of us should lend a serving to hand.” One other charitable media occasion, HBO’s Comedian Aid, featured him in a duet with Natalie Colesinging the tune “Mr. President”, written by Joe Sterling, Mike Loveless, and Ray Attain.[12]
Jarreau took an prolonged break from recording within the Nineteen Nineties. As he defined in an interview with Jazz Evaluate: “I used to be nonetheless touring, actually, I toured greater than I ever had prior to now, so I stored in contact with my viewers. I acquired my symphony program underneath method, which included my music and that of different folks too, and I carried out on the Broadway manufacturing of Grease. I used to be busier than ever! For essentially the most half, I used to be doing what I’ve at all times performed…carry out dwell. I used to be looking for a report deal and was letting folks know that there’s a new album coming. I used to be simply ready for the precise label (Verve), however I toured greater than ever.”
In 2003, Jarreau and conductor Larry Baird collaborated on symphony exhibits round america, with Baird arranging extra orchestral materials for Jarreau’s exhibits.
Jarreau toured and carried out with Joe Pattern, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Gregor Praecht, Miles Davis, George Duke, David Sanborn, Rick Braun, and George Benson. He additionally carried out the position of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway manufacturing of Grease. On March 6, 2001, he acquired a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the nook of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. In 2006, Jarreau appeared in a duet with American Idolfinalist Paris Bennett through the Season 5 finale and on Celeb Duets singing with actor Cheech Marin. In 2010, Jarreau was a visitor on a Eumir Deodato album, with the tune “Double Face” written by Jarreau, Deodato, and Nicolosi. The tune was produced by the Italian firm Nicolosi Productions. On February 16, 2012, he was invited to the well-known Italian Competition di Sanremo to sing with the Italian group Matia Bazar.
In 1968, Jarreau made jazz his major occupation. In 1969, Jarreau and Martinez headed south, the place Jarreau appeared at Dino’s, The Troubadour, and Bitter Finish West. Tv publicity got here from Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, and David Frost. He expanded his nightclub appearances, acting at The Improv between the acts of such rising stars as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi. Throughout this era, he turned concerned with the United Church of Spiritual Science and the Church of Scientology. Additionally, roughly on the identical time, he started writing his personal lyrics, discovering that his Christian spirituality started to affect his work.
In 1975, Jarreau was working with pianist Tom Canning when he was noticed by Warner Bros. Information. On Valentine’s Day 1976 he sang on the thirteenth episode of NBC’s Saturday Evening Stay, that week hosted by Peter Boyle. Quickly he launched his critically acclaimed debut album, We Received By, which catapulted him to worldwide fame and gained an Echo Award (the German equal of the Grammys in america). A second Echo Award would observe with the discharge of his second album, Glow. In 1978, he gained his first Grammy Award for Finest Jazz Vocal Efficiency for his album, Look To The Rainbow.
One in all Jarreau’s most commercially profitable albums is Breakin’ Away (1981), which incorporates the hit tune “We’re in This Love Collectively”. He gained the 1982 Grammy Award for Finest Male Pop Vocal Efficiency for Breakin’ Away. In 1984, his single “After All” reached 69 on the US Sizzling 100 chart and quantity 26 on the R&B chart. It was particularly standard within the Philippines. His final massive hit was the Grammy-nominated theme to the Nineteen Eighties American tv present Moonlighting, for which he wrote the lyrics. Amongst different issues, he was well-known for his intensive use of scat singing (for which he was referred to as “Acrobat of Scat”), and vocal percussion. He was additionally a featured vocalist on USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” through which he sang the road, “…and so all of us should lend a serving to hand.” One other charitable media occasion, HBO’s Comedian Aid, featured him in a duet with Natalie Colesinging the tune “Mr. President”, written by Joe Sterling, Mike Loveless, and Ray Attain.
Jarreau took an prolonged break from recording within the Nineteen Nineties. As he defined in an interview with Jazz Evaluate: “I used to be nonetheless touring, actually, I toured greater than I ever had prior to now, so I stored in contact with my viewers. I acquired my symphony program underneath method, which included my music and that of different folks too, and I carried out on the Broadway manufacturing of Grease. I used to be busier than ever! For essentially the most half, I used to be doing what I’ve at all times performed…carry out dwell. I used to be looking for a report deal and was letting folks know that there’s a new album coming. I used to be simply ready for the precise label (Verve), however I toured greater than ever.” In 2003, Jarreau and conductor Larry Baird collaborated on symphony exhibits round america, with Baird arranging extra orchestral materials for Jarreau’s exhibits.
Jarreau toured and carried out with Joe Pattern, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Gregor Praecht, Miles Davis, George Duke, David Sanborn, Rick Braun, and George Benson. He additionally carried out the position of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway manufacturing of Grease. On March 6, 2001, he acquired a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the nook of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. In 2006, Jarreau appeared in a duet with American Idolfinalist Paris Bennett through the Season 5 finale and on Celeb Duets singing with actor Cheech Marin. In 2010, Jarreau was a visitor on a Eumir Deodato album, with the tune “Double Face” written by Jarreau, Deodato, and Nicolosi. The tune was produced by the Italian firm Nicolosi Productions. On February 16, 2012, he was invited to the well-known Italian Competition di Sanremo to sing with the Italian group Matia Bazar.
On February 12, 2017, Jarreau died of respiratory failure, on the age of 76, simply two days after saying his retirement.
He’s interred within the Forest Garden Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
