Al Jarreau

Lore & Background

Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His father was a Seventh-day Adventist minister and singer, and his mother was a church pianist. He sang with his family in church concerts and benefits. He attended Ripon College, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, and earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa in 1964. He worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco and moonlighted with a jazz trio led by Tom Canning. In 1967, he joined forces with guitarist Julio Martinez, becoming the star attraction at Gatsby's nightclub in Sausalito, which led him to pursue professional singing full-time.

In 1975, Jarreau was spotted by Warner Bros. Records while working with pianist Tom Canning. His debut album *We Got By* earned critical acclaim and international fame, though he would win an Echo Award later for other works.

Reader's Guide

Al Jarreau's significance lies in his distinctive vocal technique, particularly his mastery of scat singing, which earned him the nickname 'Acrobat of Scat.' He successfully bridged jazz, pop, and R&B, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. His album *Breakin' Away* is regarded as a landmark of the Los Angeles pop and R&B sound. Over his career, he won ten Grammy Awards and received 19 additional nominations, reflecting his sustained impact. He also contributed to major cultural moments, such as the *Moonlighting* theme and 'We Are the World.' His legacy includes influencing later vocalists and demonstrating the viability of jazz-influenced pop in the mainstream.

Did You Know?

• Jarreau earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa in 1964.
• He sang the theme song for the 1980s television series *Moonlighting* and wrote the lyrics.
• Jarreau was a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's 'We Are the World,' singing the line '...and so we all must lend a helping hand.'
• His headstone features lyrics from his song 'Mornin'': 'Like any man / I can reach out my hand / And touch the face of God.'

Roots in Faith and Family

Alwin Lopez Jarreau was born in Milwaukee on March 12, 1940, the fifth of six children in a household where music was inseparable from daily life. His father, Emile Alphonse Jarreau, was a Seventh-day Adventist minister and singer; his mother, Pearl Walker Jarreau, played piano in the same congregation. The family performed together at church concerts and benefits, and young Alwin often shared the stage with his mother at PTA meetings. At Lincoln High School he served as student council president and was elected governor while representing the school at Badger Boys State. He then attended Ripon College, singing with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In 1964 he earned a master's in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa and took a position as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco. It was there that music began to claim him. He moonlighted with a jazz trio led by George Duke, and in 1967 he joined forces with acoustic guitarist Julio Martinez. The duo became the headline act at Gatsby's, a small Sausalito nightclub, and that local success convinced Jarreau to make professional singing his full-time vocation.

Breakthrough and the Golden Years

In 1968 Jarreau made jazz his primary profession, and by 1969 he was headlining at Los Angeles venues such as Dino's, The Troubadour, and Bitter End West. Television spots on programs hosted by Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, and David Frost expanded his reach, while his sets at The Improv placed him alongside rising names like Bette Midler and John Belushi. The commercial breakthrough arrived in 1975, when Warner Bros. Records discovered him while he worked with pianist Tom Canning. His debut, We Got By, earned critical praise, international fame, and an Echo Award. A second Echo followed with Glow, and in 1978 he won his first American Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for Look to the Rainbow. The early 1980s represented his commercial summit. Breakin' Away (1981) spent two years on the Billboard 200 and won the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. His 1983 self-titled record became his third straight number-one on the Billboard Jazz chart, also reaching number four on the R&B chart and number thirteen on the Billboard 200, and produced three hit singles. Over his entire career Jarreau accumulated ten Grammy Awards and nineteen further nominations.

The Acrobat of Scat

Jarreau's vocal technique set him apart from virtually every other singer of his era. He was renowned for his extensive use of scat singing and vocal percussion, a combination that earned him the nickname "Acrobat of Scat." His ability to turn the human voice into a percussive, melodic instrument gave his performances a physical, almost athletic quality that audiences found thrilling. His creative output was deeply personal. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Jarreau began writing his own lyrics, drawing on the Christian spirituality that had shaped his upbringing. He was involved with the United Church of Religious Science and the Church of Scientology during this period, and that spiritual dimension seeped into his songwriting. On stage and in the studio, Jarreau gravitated toward musicians who pushed boundaries. He performed alongside Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, George Duke, David Sanborn, Rick Braun, and George Benson. In 2003 he partnered with conductor Larry Baird to present symphonic shows across the United States, with Baird arranging additional orchestral material for the performances. He also brought his theatrical instincts to the stage, taking on the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease.

Philanthropy, Recognition, and Later Years

Jarreau's generosity extended beyond the stage. He contributed his voice to USA for Africa's 1985 charity single "We Are the World," singing the line "and so we all must lend a helping hand." He also appeared in a duet with Natalie Cole on HBO's Comic Relief, performing "Mr. President." In the 1980s he wrote the lyrics for the Moonlighting television theme, earning a Grammy nomination. Recognition continued to flow. On March 6, 2001, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2006 he shared the stage with American Idol finalist Paris Bennett and sang with actor Cheech Marin on Celebrity Duets. In 2009, author Carmen Rubin published Ashti Meets Birdman Al, inspired by Jarreau's music. Even in later years, Jarreau remained active, guesting on Eumir Deodato's 2010 album and performing with the Italian group Matia Bazar at the Festival di Sanremo in 2012. He had taken an extended break from recording in the 1990s but continued touring and developing symphony shows. Jarreau was married twice—first to Phyllis Hall from 1964 to 1968, then to Susan Elaine Player in 1977, with whom he had a son, Ryan. He died on February 12, 2017.