Al Jarreau
@ the Royal Festival Hall
3 Jully 2011

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Biography

Al Jarreau began singing and harmonising with his brothers from the tender age of 4. A young Jarreau would perform solo at many local events in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jarreau enrolled at Ripon College in Wisconsin and continued singing for fun. He performed at local gigs at weekends and during holidays with a group named The Indigos. Jarreau graduated with a Bachelor Of Science degree in Psychology and moved on to the University of Lowa. Here he earned is Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation. With qualifications in hand, Jarreau relocated to San Francisco to begin a career in rehabilitation counselling.

As well as working as rehabilitation counsellor during the 1960’s, Jarreau found time to sing at a small jazz club with a trio led by keyboard master George Duke. It would not be long before Jarreau’s voice began to win fans and gain attention from other musicians. He would also realise that singing would be ‘his life’.

After relocating to Los Angeles in the late 60’s, Jarreau performed in nightspots such as Dino’s, the Bitter End West and the Troubador. He gained national television exposure with celebrities such as Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, David Frost, Mike Douglas, among others.

In 1975, Jarreau signed to Warner Brothers after being spotted by talent scouts while performing at the Ba Bla Café in Los Angeles. His debut album “We Got By” was released the same year to critical acclaim. Jarreau was awarded a German Grammy for Best New International Soloist. A second German Grammy came his way with the release of his follow-up album “Glow” released in 1976.

1977 would see Jarreau embark on his first world tour. The double live album “Look To The Rainbow” featuring selected cuts from the tour was released. Jarreau would be awarded his first American Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance the same year.

In 1978, Jarreau’s fourth album “All Fly Home” was greeted with further acclaim, a wider audience and a second American Grammy for Best Jazz vocalist. This album also spawned the million selling “Breakin’ Away” and two Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocalist and Best Male vocalist. His follow up albums “Jarreau” and “High Crime” released in 1983 spawned a string of R&B and pop hits further cementing his international appeal at every level. By 1987 Jarreau’s vocals could be heard on a weekly basis with the theme song for the hit television series Moonlighting.

Jarreau further proved his versatility in the mid 90’s by accepting a three-month stint on Broadway playing the role of Teen Angel in the musical Grease. He also appeared on New York Undercover, Touched By An Angel and a national McDonald’s commercial with R&B songstress Vesta Williams.

On March 6, 2001 Jarreau was honoured with a star on the “Hollywood Walk Of Fame”.