School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Al Jarreau

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Al Jarreau was an American singer from Milwaukee, where he was born in 1940. His father was a preacher and singer, his mother played piano in church, and the whole family sang together at church concerts. Jarreau studied psychology and first worked as a counsellor for people with disabilities in San Francisco. In the evenings he sang in a jazz trio led by pianist George Duke. With guitarist Julio Martinez he became the big draw of a small club in Sausalito, and in 1968 he chose music for good.

Music and breakthrough

In 1975 his debut album We Got By came out, followed by Glow (1976). He won Grammys for both jazz and pop vocals, ten in total. His best-known album is Breakin' Away (1981), with We're in This Love Together and Roof Garden. That album is seen as one of the best examples of the smooth pop and R&B from Los Angeles of that time. Later he sang the title song of the TV series Moonlighting and a line in We Are the World.

Influence

Jarreau was nicknamed the acrobat of scat. He used his voice as an instrument: he sang fast lines without words, imitated drums and percussion with clicks and breath sounds, and leapt effortlessly from low to high. In this way he brought the technique of jazz singers to a large pop audience. He collaborated with Chick Corea, George Benson and Miles Davis, among others. He died in 2017.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Roof Garden from 1981. Notice the passages in which Jarreau sings without words and makes percussive sounds with his voice, as if he himself were an instrument in the band.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: ArtistsSmooth jazz