Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreauis an American jazz singer...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionJazz Singer
Date of Birth12 March 1940
CityMilwaukee, WI
CountryUnited States of America
practical sing song
My mother and father come from that post-Depression, middle-of-World-War -I kind of thinking that says, 'Find a practical job. You know what I mean, Mr. Big Shot? So, you can sing a song ...'
beers drinking feet fourteen frankie great growing heard kid people singing slept tavern time
I slept fourteen feet from a polka tavern as a kid growing up. I heard polkas all night long, people singing and drinking beers and having a great time. I know more polkas than Frankie Yancovic!
coming good gospel singer singers using
Every good gospel singer you can hear is a scat singer; they're just using different syllables. There are a lot of jazz singers out there, and more coming out of the churches.
athlete thinking singers
I think a singer is an athlete. I've always tried to stay fit. Until my knee said, "Uh-uh," I was jogging. Then I started walking. They don't like walking a lot, but I'll push them.
heart soul singing
I would still be singing, because it's part of my heart and my soul, and it lifts me up. Find something you would do for free.
craft feeling great growing jazz learning players singer
I was really learning my craft as a jazz singer and working with some great players and all, really growing and feeling my wings.
bring experience feelings kinds pick related rest singing various
Learn it well in your head, know it well, pick things you know and bring the old you and all the experience you have from singing these various kinds of feelings that are still related to what I have done in the rest of my career.
audience beyond body communication constantly experience members music people playing sing
What I try to get beyond is playing music at people and, instead, to play music with people because audience members are constantly part of the experience. What they say in their body language, what they say in their eyes, what they sing with me... it's an 'us,' and there's a communication that's like... it's like church, man.
audiences feeling finding jamming might music people shirt stage wonderful
There's a wonderful tradition of jazz people getting on stage and jamming and finding some feeling for music with audiences who may be fresh. For others, it might be just like a comfortable shirt they've been wearing.
difficulty feeling hard jazz pop radio recording records since stations understand urban
Since the beginning of my recording career in 1975, I have had a little difficulty because the pop stations think I'm a jazzer who doesn't have a feeling for pop, so it's hard to get my records played. Similarly, black urban radio doesn't understand that with my R&B roots, I am more than a jazz singer. So I get pigeonholed.
anywhere concerts giving great near ohio people performing perhaps relationship spend state time
I'm a Buckeye at heart. I spend more time giving concerts in Ohio than I do in any other state - perhaps more time than I spend performing anywhere else in the world. I have a great relationship with the people of Ohio, and it's great to be near the OSU when I come to Columbus.
becoming corner four guys inside music rolling stuff
I was singing doo-wop on the corner under the streetlight with four other guys when it wasn't called doo-wop. We just got together and sang, so that music is inside of me. It's a lot of stuff that has been rolling around in here and becoming this compost and has made me who I am as a singer.
bass drum internet interview louder sandwich shout sign tour
I tour a lot and interview a lot. I'm on the Internet and doing stuff. I go out and promote. I've got a bass drum and a sandwich sign and a washboard. You just have to shout louder and louder that you're still alive.
good mind people time
I say what's on my mind and have a good time. I try to give people a show. It's all about giving people a good time once you get out under those lights.