Al Jarreau
WWW.ALJARREAU.COM
Al Jarreau's voice is a world-class instrument that's been making beautiful music for over four decades. A quintessential crossover artist, Al Jarreau is the only singer ever to win GRAMMY Awards in three different genres - R&B, pop, and jazz. Al Jarreau began singing at the age of four, harmonizing with his brothers and performing solo at a variety of local events in his hometown of Milwaukee. Music, however, was not always the major force in his life. He excelled in sports and was an above-average student throughout high school and college.
It was in the Bay Area where Al's natural musical gifts began to shape his future. He found himself performing at a small jazz club with a trio headed by George Duke, and by the late 60's, he knew without a doubt that he would make singing his life. Relocating to Los Angeles, he began his apprenticeship in such famed nightspots as Dino's, the Troubador and the Bitter End West. Shortly thereafter, he branched out to New York City as well, where he gained national network television exposure with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, David Frost and Mike Douglas as he teamed with guitarist Julio Martinez to "spell" up-and-coming comics John Belushi, Bette Midler, Robert Klein, David Brenner, Jimmie Walker and others at the famed comedy venue, The Improv.
In 1975, following an extended stint at the Bla Bla Cafe in Los Angeles, he was spotted by Warner Bros. Records talent scouts and was signed to a recording contract. His debut album for the label, We Got By, was released to unanimous acclaim. It was a reception that spread across the continent and over the Atlantic when Jarreau was awarded a German GRAMMY for Best New International Soloist that same year. A second German GRAMMY came his way with the release of his follow-up album, Glow. And so began the recording career of one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time.
Jarreau has released many highly acclaimed recordings, including the Grammy-winning Look to the Rainbow (1977), All Fly Home (1978), Breakin' Away (1981) and Heaven and Earth (1992). Breakin' Away earned him two Grammys, one for best male pop vocal performance and one for best male jazz vocal performance; and his fifth Grammy (best male rhythm and blues performance, for Heaven and Earth) completed the triumvirate by placing Jarreau in the rarefied position of winning Grammys in three categories: jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues.
Jarreau also racked up Grammy nominations for 1980's This Time, 1987's Moonlighting (the theme song for the hit television series of the same name), and 1988's Heart's Horizon. Later recordings included Tenderness (1994) and his first compilation album, Best of Al Jarreau (1996). Along the way the singer found time to branch out into acting, with a stint on Broadway in Grease! and guest appearances on such television programs as New York Undercover and Touched By An Angel.
