The world didn't just lose a singer when Al Jarreau passed away; it lost a human orchestra. If you ever saw him live, you know. He didn't just stand at a mic; he became the percussion, the flute, and the upright bass all at once. Honestly, it’s still hard to believe he’s gone.
The death of Al Jarreau on February 12, 2017, felt like a sudden curtain call for a man who seemed to have infinite energy. He was 76. Just days before he died at a hospital in Los Angeles, he had been forced to announce his retirement from touring. For a guy who had spent over half a century on the road, that was the first real sign that something was seriously wrong.
The Final Days in Los Angeles
It happened fast. One minute he’s scheduled for a string of dates, and the next, his team is releasing a statement about "exhaustion." We see that word a lot in the industry, but with Al, it was deeper. He had been battling respiratory and cardiac issues for a few years.
He was hospitalized in early February. Even then, the reports coming out were somewhat hopeful. His son, Ryan, even shared a story about Al singing the Moonlighting theme to one of the nurses just days before he passed. That’s just so... Al. Even when the body was failing, the music was right there at the surface.
The official cause of the death of Al Jarreau was respiratory failure. He died at about 6:00 AM, surrounded by his wife, Susan, and their son. It’s a small comfort, but he wasn’t alone. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, joining the ranks of so many other legends.
Why He Was "The Acrobat of Scat"
To understand why people took his passing so hard, you have to look at what he actually did with his voice. Most singers pick a lane. Al Jarreau? He owned the whole highway.
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He is famously the only artist to ever win Grammys in three separate categories: Jazz, Pop, and R&B. He didn't just dabble in them; he mastered them.
- Jazz: He won for Look to the Rainbow (1977).
- Pop: He took home the trophy for the massive hit Breakin' Away (1981).
- R&B: He won for Heaven and Earth (1992).
He was like a vocal gymnast. He’d do these clicking sounds with his tongue, throat singing, and complex rhythmic improvisations that made you wonder if he had a hidden drum machine in his chest. But beneath all the technical wizardry, there was this genuine, sunny warmth. He always looked like he was having the best time of his life on stage.
The Misconceptions About His Career
Some people think Al Jarreau was an overnight success with the Moonlighting theme or "We're in This Love Together." That's actually not true at all.
He was a "late bloomer" by industry standards. He didn't record his first real album until he was 35. Before he was a global superstar, he was a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco. He had a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa.
Think about that. He spent his early adulthood helping people with disabilities find work and regain their lives. That empathy and "counselor's heart" definitely bled into his music. He wasn't just singing notes; he was trying to lift the room.
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The Health Battles Nobody Saw
While the public saw a smiling man in a black beret, the last decade of his life was a quiet struggle with his health.
In 2010, he was airlifted to a hospital in France after collapsing. It was respiratory issues then, too. He fought back, though. He got back on stage because, as he often said, the music was his "oxygen."
By the time 2017 rolled around, the "exhaustion" was simply too much for his heart and lungs to overcome. It’s a reminder that even the most vibrant spirits are eventually limited by the "hardware."
A Legacy That Isn't Just "Smooth Jazz"
Calling Al Jarreau a "smooth jazz" artist is kinda insulting. It's too small a box. He was a pioneer of vocal fusion.
If you want to truly honor his memory, don't just stick to the hits. Go back and listen to his 1965 recordings with the George Duke Trio. Or his performance on "We Are the World"—he’s the one who sings the "and the choice we're making" line with that incredible, unmistakable vibrato.
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His impact is everywhere. You hear it in the way modern vocalists like Jacob Collier or Gregory Porter use their voices as instruments. He proved that you could be technically perfect and still soulful as hell.
What You Can Do to Keep the Music Alive
If you're feeling a bit nostalgic or just discovering him now, here is how to actually engage with his work beyond the surface level:
- Listen to the Live Albums: Jarreau was a studio pro, but he was a live beast. Look to the Rainbow is arguably one of the greatest live vocal albums ever recorded.
- Watch the 1976 SNL Performance: He was the musical guest on one of the very first episodes. It’s raw, it’s experimental, and it shows exactly why he blew everyone’s minds back then.
- Support Music Education: Al’s family requested that instead of flowers, people donate to the Wisconsin Foundation for School Music. He never forgot his roots in Milwaukee, and he believed every kid should have a chance to find their voice.
The death of Al Jarreau closed a chapter on a specific kind of vocal virtuosity. We don't really see "vocal acrobats" like him anymore—people who can bridge the gap between a smoky jazz club and a Top 40 radio station without losing an ounce of integrity. He left us with seven Grammys, dozens of hits, and a blueprint for how to be a truly versatile artist.
Take a moment today to put on "Roof Garden" or "After All." Turn it up loud. That’s exactly how he’d want to be remembered—not with a moment of silence, but with a whole lot of joyful noise.