Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with five Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide.
In 1977, Jarreau embarked on his first world tour, from which the selections for Look To The Rainbow, his double live album, were culled. That same year, he won his first American Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. His fourth album, All Fly Home, was released in 1978 to further accolades and a second Grammy for Best Jazz Vocalist. It was followed by a string of innovative and original offerings, including 1980’s This Time, and the million-selling Breakin’ Away, which brought him a broader audience and two more Grammy’s with awards for Best Male Pop Vocalist and Best Male Jazz Vocalist.
The follow ups to Breakin’ Away, 1983’s Jarreau, and High Crime spawned a string of R&B and pop hits and further cemented him as an international superstar. Al Jarreau Live In London, recorded before an SRO crowd at Wembley Arena in 1985, continued to solidify Jarreau’s reputation as a world-class master of both studio and stage. Following the live album, Jarreau teamed with top producer Nile Rodgers for L Is For Lover, which brought some new styles and sounds to the singer’s repertoire. He soon launched into the recording of the Heart’s Horizon album, which contained the #2 R&B smash “So Good” and earned him another GRAMMY® nomination, this time for Best R&B Album. After touring the globe for nearly two years, he returned to the studio – this time with Narada Michael Walden – to fashion the sound that would launch him into his third decade of music-making. The result was 1992’s Heaven and Earth for which he received his fifth GRAMMY® for Best R&B Vocal Performance. With this, he became one the rare artists to have won GRAMMY’S® in the three categories of jazz, pop, and R&B.
Then, to commemorate 20 years of success, Jarreau released his first-ever compilation album, Best of Al Jarreau. The collection highlights 14 of Jarrreau’s best-known songs alongside two new tracks produced by Jarreau’s long-time friend, jazz giant George Duke.
Al recorded his first album for the GRP label, “Tomorrow Today”, released in the US on March 7, 2000. One of the highlights from the album was a duet with Vanessa Williams on the song, “God’s Gift to the World”.
GRP Records ia a label of The Verve Music Group, which is chaired by GRAMMY® winning producer Tommy LiPuma. The signing of Al to GRP reunites these old friends; LiPuma produced Jarreau’s Glow and Look to the Rainbow recordings.
Al was awarded a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame” commemorating his status as one of the best singers of his generation.
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