Al Jarreau
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Alwyn Lopez Jarreau (born March 12, 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin), known popularly as Al Jarreau, is an American, Grammy Award–winning jazz singer. Versatile in his singing style, Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy-winning vocalist and the only vocalist in history to win a Grammy Award in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B.
As the son of a vicar, he had his first singing experiences in a church choir. He attended Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962. 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 before joining a small jazz club trio headed by George Duke and deciding that he would make professional singing his life.
He 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.
He was spotted by Warner Bros. Records in 1975 and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him into 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 perfectly imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We are the World" and sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
He has toured and performed with such greats as 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.
Al Jarreau will co-headline with George Benson on an international tour to promote their 2006 album "Givin' It Up" where they will perform in S.Africa, Australia and New Zealand (March 18-April 5.)
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The Masquerade Is Over - 1973, Reprise
- We Got By - 1975, Warner Bros. Records
- Glow - 1976, Waner Bro. (Pop # 132, R&B # 30, Jazz # 9)
- Look To The Rainbow - 1977, Waner Bro. (Pop # 49, R&B # 19, Jazz # 5)
- All Fly Home - 1978, Waner Bro. (Pop # 78, R&B # 27, Jazz # 2)
- This Time - 1980, Waner Bro. (Pop # 27, R&B # 6, Jazz # 1)
- Breakin' Away - 1981, Waner Bro. (Pop # 9, R&B # 1, Jazz # 1, UK # 60)
- Jarreau - 1983, Waner Bro. (Pop # 13, R&B # 4, Jazz # 1, UK # 39)
- High Crime - 1984, Waner Bro. (Pop # 49, R&B # 12, Jazz # 2, UK # 81)
- Live In London - 1985, Waner Bro. (Pop # 125, R&B # 55, Jazz # 10)
- L Is For Lover - 1986, Waner Bro. (Pop # 81, R&B # 30, Jazz # 9, UK # 45)
- Heart's Horizon - 1988, Waner Bro. (Pop # 75, R&B # 10, Jazz # 1)
- Heaven and Earth - 1992, Waner Bro. (Pop # 105, R&B # 30, Jazz # 2)
- Tenderness - 1994, Waner Bro. (Pop # 114, R&B # 25, Jazz # 2)
- Best of Al Jarreau - 1996, Waner Bro.
- Tomorrow Today - 2000, GRP (Pop # 137, R&B # 43, Jazz # 1)
- All I Got - 2002, GRP (Pop # 137, R&B # 43, Jazz # 3)
- Accentuate the Positive - 2004, GRP (Jazz # 2)
- Givin' It Up (with George Benson) - 2006, Concord (Pop # 58, R&B # 14, Jazz # 1)
[edit] Session
- "Since I Feel For You" from Double Vision/Bob James & David Sanborn - 1986, Waner Bro.
- "Girl from Ipanema" & "Waters of March" from A Twist of Jobim/Lee Ritenour - 1997, GRP
[edit] Grammy Award 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
[edit] Grammy Award nominations
- 1981 - Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, "Never Givin' Up"
- 1982 - Album of the Year, Breakin' Away
- 1985 - 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
[edit] Samples
- Download sample of "One Note Samba"
