Al Jarreau Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Al Jarreau was born on March 12, 1940, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Education

As a young adult, Al Jarreau attended Ripon College. There, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy. He later went on to pursue his master’s degree in Rehabilitation Therapy at the University of Iowa.

Musical Career

Throughout college, Al Jarreau often played jazz music at clubs. Once he was out of college, he continued to do this while also working as a social worker. While he was working, he realized that he would rather pursue a career in singing in the 1970’s.

In the mid-1970’s, Al Jarreau signed on with Reprise Records. He released his first album, We Got By, with this record label in 1975. His next album with this record company was released the next year. This album was called Glow. After this album, he switched record labels to work with Warner Bros. Records. His first album with this new company, All Fly Home, was released in 1978.

Al Jarreau continued to work with Warner Bros. Records throughout most of the 1980’s. He released five albums with this record company in this decade, including This Time, Breakin’ Away, Jarreau, High Crime, and L is for Lover. He also released two other albums in this decade with other record labels.

In the 1990’s, Al Jarreau only released one studio album, Heaven, and Earth, with Warner Bros. Records. In the 2000’s Jarreau released albums with Verve, Concord, and Rhino Records. These records include Tomorrow Today, All I Got, Accentuate the Positive, Givin’ It Up, and Christmas. Jarreau’s most recent, and last, studio album was released in 2014 with Concord Records: My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke. Throughout his long career, he also released several live albums and compilation albums.

Theater Acting Career

In 1994, Al Jarreau played the Teen Angel in Grease on Broadway.

Television And Film Career

Over the course of Al Jarreau’s career as a singer, he often appeared on television shows as a musical guest. Other than this, he also appeared as an actor on several television shows, beginning in the early 1982’s. The shows that he appeared on are listed below.

The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour
The Little and Large Show
Touched by an Angel
Promised Land
Night of the Proms

Awards And Accomplishments

Over the course of his career as an entertainer, Al Jarreau has won several awards, including several Grammy awards. Some of his most impressive awards are listed below.

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance (Look the Rainbow)
Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male (Heaven and Earth)
BMI Film & TV Award TV Music Award (Moonlighting)
Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album (My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke)

Al Jarreau is a member of the Soul Music Hall of Fame. He has honorary doctorate degrees from the Berklee College of Music and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Family Life

Al Jarreau first married Phyllis Hall in 1964. However, this couple later divorced in 1968. He later remarried to Susan Player in 1977. This couple has one son together: Ryan Jarreau.

Death

Al Jarreau died on February 12, 2017, Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 76 years old when he passed away.