Al Jarreau
He turned his voice into a versatile instrument, mastering scat, soul, and pop to become one of music's most joyful and technically brilliant vocalists.
1940–2017 (age 77)·American singer·Birthday: March 12·The Silent Generation
Biography
Al Jarreau's journey began not on stage, but in a Milwaukee clinic where he worked as a rehabilitation counselor. Music was a weekend passion until, in his late twenties, he took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. There, his unique approach—treating his voice like a saxophone, weaving intricate scat solos with profound emotional warmth—caught fire. The 1981 album 'Breakin' Away' was his mainstream breakthrough, a sun-drenched fusion of jazz, R&B, and pop that showcased his impossible charm. Jarreau never fit a single genre; he was as comfortable singing the theme to 'Moonlighting' as he was performing with symphony orchestras. His career, built on sheer vocal innovation and an ever-present grin, made him a beloved figure who proved that technical mastery and heartfelt joy are not mutually exclusive.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Al was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2017Died at 77
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Won seven Grammy Awards across three distinct categories: jazz, pop, and R&B, a rare feat highlighting his versatility.
- His 1981 album 'Breakin' Away' spent a remarkable two years on the Billboard 200 chart and earned a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
- Performed the theme song for the hit television series 'Moonlighting,' bringing his voice into millions of living rooms.
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001, cementing his status in entertainment history.
Did You Know?
He earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa and worked as a counselor before pursuing music full-time.
Jarreau is the only vocalist to win Grammys in the jazz, pop, and R&B categories.
He was a frequent performer on the television show 'Sesame Street,' teaching children about jazz scat singing.
“I'm not a jazz singer. I'm a singer who does some jazz.”
