Grammy Winner Al Jarreau Appears for One Very Special Peformance at The McCallum Tonight

The McCallum Theatre and Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum present Al Jarreau tonight, November 21, at 8:00pm. Al Jarreau's innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy® Awards, scores of international music awards and accolades worldwide.

Al began singing at the age of four, harmonizing with his brothers and performing solo at events in his hometown of Milwaukee. Music, however, was not always the major force in his life. He excelled in sports and was an above-average student throughout high school and college. Enrolling at Ripon College in Wisconsin, Al continued singing for fun, performing locally with a group called The Indigos during weekends and holidays, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. After earning a Master's Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, he relocated to San Francisco to begin a career in rehabilitation counseling.

In San Francisco, Al's musical gifts began to shape his future. He performed at a small jazz club with a trio headed by George Duke, and by the late 60s, he knew he would make singing his life. Moving to Los Angeles, he began his apprenticeship in such famed nightspots as Dino's, the Troubadour and the Bitter End West. Shortly thereafter, he branched out to New York City as well where he gained national television exposure with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, David Frost and Mike Douglas. Al teamed with guitarist Julio Martinez to "spell" up-and-coming comics John Belushi, Bette Midler, Robert Klein, David Brenner, Jimmie Walker and others at the comedy venue The Improv.

In 1975, following an extended stint at the Bla Bla Cafe in Los Angeles, Warner Bros. talent scouts spotted Al and signed him to a recording contract. His debut album for the label, We Got By, was released to unanimous acclaim. It was a reception that spread across the Atlantic and he was awarded a German Grammy for Best New International Soloist. A second German Grammy came his way with the release of his follow-up album Glow.

Al's breakthrough came in 1977 with Look to the Rainbow, his live double album from his first world tour and he earned his first Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. His fourth album, All Fly Home (1978) earned a second Grammy. It was followed by a string of innovative offerings, includingThis Time (1980) and Breakin' Away (1981) which brought two more Grammy Awards. In 1983,Jarreau was released, followed by High Crime (1984); Al Jarreau - Live in London (1985) and L is for Lover (1986). With hardly time to take a breath, he launched into the recording of Heart's Horizon(1988). After touring the globe for nearly two years, he returned to the studio to record 1992'sHeaven and Earth which earned his fifth Grammy. With this, Al became one the rare artists to have won Grammy Awards in the three categories of jazz, pop, and R&B.

Al added a new chapter to his recording career with Tomorrow Today (2001). He spent the remainder of 2001 touring in the U.S. and abroad and working on All I Got (2002), followed byAccentuate the Positive (2004). Al's 30th year in the music business saw another landmark, pairing with George Benson for Givin' It Up. Recorded in 2006 and winning two Grammy Awards, the album featured guest artists including Herbie Hancock, Sir Paul McCartney, Jill Scott, Chris Botti and Patti Austin. Al continued to release hit albums including Love Songs (2008) with his favorite romantic tunes spanning three decades and his first holiday album, Christmas (2008). In 2009, Al took a 6-week European tour and also found time to put together The Very Best of Al Jarreau: An Excellent Adventure.

Al's career extends beyond his acclaimed albums. He sang the Grammy-nominated theme song for the hit television series "Moonlighting." In 1996, Al accepted a three-month stint on Broadway playing the role of the Teen Angel in Grease! Other acting credits include guest appearances on "New York Undercover," "Touched by an Angel" and a national McDonald's commercial. In 1999, Al teamed with symphony orchestras throughout the U.S. and Europe performing his hits as well as favorites from Broadway and the classics. Al continues to perform symphony shows on a regular basis.

Al tours extensively worldwide with his sextet and symphony shows and released his latest CD, My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke in 2014.

The McCallum Theatre and Fitz's Jazz Café series at the McCallum present Al Jarreau on Saturday, November 21, at 8:00pm. This performance is sponsored by Desert Lexus, United American Mortgage and CBS TV2. Tickets are $77, $67, $47 and $37 and are available at the Theatre's web site at www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre box office at (760) 340-ARTS.

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