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Al Jarreau
Editor's
note: At Artistic Lemonade, we often profile artists who have overcome
great struggles through art. Sometimes, though, we have the privilege
of profiling an artist like Al Jarreau who embraces the many gifts of
his own life and finds joy in touching the lives of others and helping
them make Artistic Lemonade through his music. As you read the following
profile of Jarreau's work, please think of the positive influence it has
had on the millions who appreciate his music. The world came to know of him and has been entranced by his rich, soothing vocals since 1975. Long before that, though, the spark had been ignited in one of America's most tantalizing soulful vocal jazz artists: Al Jarreau. He began singing early in life, and by the age of four was already performing for awe struck audiences within his hometown of Milwaukee WI. Music, while playing an important role in his upbringing, did not become the driving force or passion in Jarreau’s life until much further down the road. His educational endeavors set Jarreau out on a path seemingly headed for a career in rehabilitation counseling. Though that path eventually led him to San Francisco California, it was there that Jarreau found himself drawn back into the world of music, as he began performing with a trio headed by George Duke at a local hole in the wall Jazz club. Here is where it became overwhelmingly clear that music was to be the mark that Al would leave on this earth. Performing at such esteemed venues as Dino's and Bitter End West, Jarreau then set his sights on New York City. After gaining national television exposure from such hosts as Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin, he then went on to perform at the famed Improv comedy club, serving as the intermittent entertainment between such acts as Bette Midler, John Belushi and Jimmie Walker. Jarreau to released his first full album, We Got By, in 1975; this critically acclaimed debut spread far and wide, and later that year earned a German Grammy award. This set the stage for Al to embark on a 1977 whirlwind world tour, and earned him his first US Grammy for best Jazz vocal performance, followed up by a second US Grammy for the same, in 1978. He didn't stop there, though; with his 1980 album release of Breakin’ Away, Jarreau found the door opened to a much broader audience, earning him two more Grammys. After more time spent touring the globe, Jarreau headed back to the studio and went on to create Heaven and Earth in 1992 with the help of Narada Michael Walden. This album not only earned him his fifth Grammy (this time for best R&B vocal performance) but also put Jarreau into the rare category of having won Grammys in three separate categories of music: R&B, jazz, and pop. From here he went on to release 3 more albums, appear on several televisions shows, and even had a stint on Broadway in the hit musical Grease! In 2001, he received his own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame: literally cementing Al Jarreau into history as one of the greatest Jazz performers of our time.
This
Lemonade Profile was written by Joey
Perry,
The photograph featured with this article was taken at a US Department of Education book drive event held in 2004. The photo was taken by a US federal government employee and the image is in the public domain.
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"I
don't know where we got the notion that God wants us to suffer. Every
living thing tends toward the good or we would have been gone a long time
ago."