A brilliant singer who started out in jazz, had great success in R&B, and can sing just about anything, Al Jarreau has been popular since the mid-1970s. Born in Milwaukee in 1940, Jarreau began singing when he was 4. He did not plan originally to become a singer and instead earned a psychology degree from Ripon College and a Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa. He did sing on the side for the fun of it during his college years, but it was not until he moved to San Francisco that he pursued it seriously, working at a jazz club with the George Duke Trio. Jarreau worked on television variety shows, was often an opening act for show business personalities and freelanced in clubs. In 1975 he was discovered and signed to Warner Bros. His debut for the label, We Got By, put his name on the map and after he recorded Glow, Look to the Rainbow and All Fly Home, he achieved fame in the music world. Jarreau has not slowed down since, performing constantly in many countries, acting on Broadway in the role of the Teen Angel in the musical Grease, sometimes being featured with symphony orchestras, and in 2006 co-leading a CD with George Benson, Giving’ It Up. Jarreau still sings jazz (particularly Chick Corea’s “Spain” and Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo a La Turk”) but also includes his many R&B hits and soul ballads in his colorful shows.

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