Take Five

March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017

Singer and vocal percussionist Al Jarreau passed away last week.

Born Alwin Lopez Jarreau on March 12, 1940 in Milwaukee, his first exposure to music was through his mother and father, a church singer and pianist respectively.

Working as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco, he moonlighted with a jazz trio led by George Duke. A successful duo gig in 1967 In Sausalito convinced him to try to make his living in jazz.

Six Grammys and fifteen Grammy nominations later, it was a good decision.