Alwin Lopez Jarreau was born on the 12th March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA, and was a Grammy Award-winning singer and musician, best known for his album entitled “Breakin’ Away” (1981), and for singing the theme song for the television series “Moonlighting” (1985-1989). Jarreau’s career started in 1967, and ended in 2017 when he passed away.
Have you ever wondered how rich Al Jarreau was at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Jarreau’s net worth was as high as $16 million, earned largely through his successful career as a singer. He recorded more than 15 studio albums, and also made numerous compilation and live albums which improved his wealth.
Al Jarreau Net Worth $16 Million
Al Jarreau was born the fifth of six children; their father who was a Seventh-day Adventist Church minister, a nd motherwas a church pianist. He grew up in Wisconsin and went to Lincoln High School, and then studied at Ripon College, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology in 1962. After getting his master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa in 1964, Jarreau started working at a night club called Gatsby’s, along with acoustic guitarist Julio Martinez.
They spent several years together, earning money thanks to gigs at various clubs, then in 1975, Jarreau released his debut studio album – “We Got By”. In 1977, Al recorded “Look to the Rainbow”, which peaked at No. 49 on Billboard 200, No. 5 on Jazz Albums, and No. 19 on the R&B Albums chart. It also earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, which was repeated with his next album, “All Fly Home” (1978). In 1981, Al received his third Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children – “In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record (1980)” – while a year later, he earned two more Grammy’s for albums entitled “Breakin’ Away” (1981) and song “(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo à la Turk” (1981). His net worth was certainly well set.
In 1983, Al recorded the album “Jarreau”, which reached No. 13 on Billboard 200, No. 4 on R&B Albums, and topped the Billboard Jazz chart, achieving platinum status in the process. A year after, he released “High Crime”, while in 1992, Jarreau received another Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, for “Heaven and Earth (1992)”. In 2001, Al received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. His final Grammy came in 2007, thanks to a collaboration with George Benson, when they and Jill Scott got the award for “God Bless the Child” (2006) for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. Lastly, Jarreau released “My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke” in 2014.
Regarding his personal life, Al Jarreau was married to Phyllis Hall from 1964 to 1968, and then he married Susan Elaine Player in 1977 and stayed with her until his death in 2017; Al had a son with Susan. He had serious cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory problems in 2010 and later was diagnosed with pneumonia in 2012. In February 2017, he was hospitalized in Los Angeles, and only a few days later, he died of respiratory failure on the 12th February 2017.
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album, We're in Th...
Nominations
Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song – Main Title and Promo, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, We're in ...
Movies
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
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Quote
1
Music keeps you young, and because you want to do the music you stay young. They play into each other's hands. There's something in the creative process - making music or anything where there was nothing a moment ago, because you expressed yourself. It is a refreshing, invigorating experience I encourage everyone to have. It doesn't have to be something that we consider an art form. Rearrange your furniture, plant some seeds and watch your work become a flower. That's the creative experience.
2
[on developing his unique vocal style] I found this guitar player, Julio Martinez, and he and I became a duo. Brazilian rhythms have a backbeat and you could turn R&B-ish in Brazilian music. They cross paths - one has the backbeat and the other has brilliant syncopation. That became my thumbprint and signature.
3
[on an unusual recording experience with a 53 piece orchestra in the Nerherlands] As you can imagine, strings change everything. You have this typical symphony orchestra , and sitting inside there is a rhythm section composed of a jazz piano player, a jazz player, a jazzy guitar player and a drummer!
4
It becomes something else when people join in and get involved in the music. Find something that they can sing with you. I love that kind of communication, and talking to people in the audience and feeling it together. You sing the song differently. That changes the musicians and how they play. I'm inspired by that. Something happens when that occurs.
5
At age twelve I was singing harmonies on the street corner while walking to school in the morning. We were singing doo-wop before there was doo-wop. Singing was part of living and breathing.
6
"I won't apologize because the instruments on this stage are real and the music is not synthetic." (At a 2000 concert.)
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Fact
1
Steadily touring all over Europe, Asia and the U.S.; was the literacy spokesperson for Verizon; received yet another Grammy nomination in 2005 for his latest CD, "Accentuate the Positive." [May 2005]
2
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
3
Has won five Grammy Awards and is the only singer on the planet to have won a Grammy in the Pop, Jazz and R&B categories.
4
Has a Masters in Psychology and was a counselor before deciding to try his hand at singing professionally. He started out in small clubs and eventually went on to win a German Grammy.
5
Has one son, Ryan
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Moonlighting
1985-1989
TV Series singer - 60 episodes
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hollywood in Vienna 2012
2012
TV Special performer: "That Night", "We're in this Love Together"
Funny People
2009
performer: "I Will Be Here for You"
Against the Ropes
2004
"All I've Got" / performer: "All I've Got"
Tavis Smiley
2004
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Fighting Temptations
2003
"Roof Garden"
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue
1998
Video performer: "My Life And My Love" End Title
People: A Musical Celebration
1995
TV Movie performer: "The Body Song"
Designing Women
1992
TV Series 1 episode
Glengarry Glen Ross
1992
performer: "Blue Skies"
Bébé's Kids
1992
"Oh No!" / performer: "Oh No!"
The Magic Voyage
1992
performer: "Heaven Is" / writer: "Heaven Is"
Dick Tracy
1990
performer: "Rompin' & Stompin'"
Do the Right Thing
1989
performer: "Never Explain Love"
Moonlighting
TV Series lyrics - 7 episodes, 1985 - 1989 performer - 7 episodes, 1985
Out of Africa
1985
performer: "The Music of Goodbye"
We Are The World: The Story Behind The Song
1985
TV Movie documentary "We Are the World", uncredited
City Heat
1984
performer: "I Found a Million Dollar Baby in a Five and Ten Cent Store"
Breakin'
1984
performer: "Boogie Down"
Hot Dog... The Movie
1984
performer: "I Will Be Here For You"
Better Late Than Never
1983
lyrics: "A TIME TO CARE" / performer: "A TIME TO CARE"
Night Shift
1982
performer: "Girls Know How"
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Night of the Proms
2013
TV Series
Singer
Lord Help Us
2007
Video
Brother Jarreau - Choir Director
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue
1998
Video
The Balladeer (voice, uncredited)
Promised Land
1997
TV Series
Rev. Gentry Hall
Touched by an Angel
1996-1997
TV Series
Rev. Gentry Hall / Al Jarreau
The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour
1982
TV Series
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Die Höhle Von Eppendorf - Das Legendäre Onkel Pö
2016
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Jazz at the White House
2016
TV Special
Himself - Performer
Al Jarreau l'enchanteur
2016
Documentary
Himself
LiveXLive Presents Rock in Rio
2015
TV Movie
Himself
Nathan East: For the Record
2014
Documentary
Himself
Tavis Smiley
2004-2014
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
The Soul Man
2014
TV Series
Himself
Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park
2013
TV Mini-Series
Himself
International Jazz Day: Live in Istanbul
2013
Video
Himself
Hollywood in Vienna 2012
2012
TV Special
Singer
Unsung
2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
I'm Rick James
2009
Documentary
Himself
The Spirit of Christmas
2008
TV Movie
Himself
Star Academy
2008
TV Series
Himself
Christmas Glory: In the Key of Love
2007
TV Special
An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Aretha Franklin
2007
TV Special
Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2004-2006
TV Series
Himself
Celebrity Duets
2006
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
American Idol
2006
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis: Showcase
2006
TV Movie
Himself
Wisconsin Born & Bred: The Entertainers
2004
Documentary
Himself - Interviewee
Hollywood Squares
2003
TV Series
Himself
Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
2003
TV Series
Himself
2003 Trumpet Awards
2003
TV Special
Himself
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
2001
TV Special documentary
Himself
Later... With Jools Holland
2000
TV Series
Himself
Millionär gesucht! - Die SKL Show
2000
TV Series
Himself
A Celebration of America's Music
1998
TV Special
Himself
We Are the World: A 10th Anniversary Tribute
1995
TV Special
New York Undercover
1995
TV Series
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1994
TV Series
Himself
The 35th Annual Grammy Awards
1993
TV Special
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
TV Series
Himself
Soul Train
1986-1992
TV Series documentary
Himself
Schmidteinander
1992
TV Series
Himself
The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
1991
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
Voices that Care
1991
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Choir Member
Jon Hendricks: The Freddie Sessions
1990
Documentary short
Himself
Comic Relief IV
1990
TV Special documentary
Himself
Saturday Night Live
1976-1990
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
22nd NAACP Image Awards
1990
TV Special
Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show
1989
TV Series
Himself
20th NAACP Image Awards
1988
TV Special
Himself - Performer
Ebony/Jet Showcase
1987
TV Series
Himself
Showtime at the Apollo
1987
TV Series
Himself - Guest Host
The 1st Annual Soul Train Music Awards
1987
TV Special
Himself - Performer
Top of the Pops
1987
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1977-1986
TV Series
Himself
The 28th Annual Grammy Awards
1986
TV Special
Himself
Solid Gold
1985
TV Series
Himself
We Are The World: The Story Behind The Song
1985
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Rock in Rio
1985
TV Series
Himself
The 26th Annual Grammy Awards
1984
TV Special
Himself
Sheena Easton... Act One
1983
TV Movie
Himself
The 24th Annual Grammy Awards
1982
TV Special
Himself
Fridays
1980-1981
TV Series
Himself
SCTV Network
1981
TV Series
Himself
Numéro 1
1977-1981
TV Series
Himself
Música Para Sempre
1980
Documentary
Himself
WWF Club
1980
TV Series
Himself (1983)
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars
1980
TV Series
Himself
Les rendez-vous du dimanche
1976-1980
TV Series
Himself
Hollywood's Diamond Jubilee
1978
TV Special
Himself - Performer
The Peter Marshall Variety Show
1976
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1976
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist
Dinah!
1975-1976
TV Series
Himself
The David Frost Show
1969
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The '80s: The Decade That Made Us
2013
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Jazz Album
Album: "My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke"
2001
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Recording
Awarded on March 6, 2001 at 7083 Hollywood Blvd.
1988
BMI TV Music Award
BMI Film & TV Awards
Moonlighting (1985)
1987
BMI TV Music Award
BMI Film & TV Awards
Moonlighting (1985)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2007
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Original Song - Children's/Animated
ToddWorld (2004)
1988
Grammy
Grammy Awards
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television