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Reminiscing on when I met American jazz-pop singer Al Jarreau #RIP


Al Jarreau

Dubbed as the acrobat of scat, spunky American singer and musician Al Jarreau passed away at the age of 76 on Sunday, 12 February 2017. He passed away in hospital with his wife by his side in Los Angeles. He died as a result of respiratory failure. Days before he passed away, he suffered from breathing complications and exhaustion, leading to him withdrawing from his music tour and retiring from music.
Born on 12 March 1940 in Wisconsin, Al Jarreau, a dynamic jazz-pop star is best known for hits such as Breaking Away and We In This Love Together. During his music career, he released a total of 20 chart-topping albums and won a total of seven Grammy awards. He performed with music heavyweights such as George Benson, Joe Sample and George Duke. Breakin Away is his most successful commercial album, which includes We Are In This Love Together, and saw him walking away with a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's We Are The World.
Capetonians will most likely remember him for his astounding performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in 2015. Being a old school music fanatic, meeting him was definitely a highlight of my career. He has exceptional charisma, charm and spunk. Instead of it being a conventional press conference, he joked with us and light up the room with inspirational quotes.

I had the privilege of meeting him in 2015 at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. 




 
 My favourite quotes by Al Jarreau at the 2015 Cape Town International Jazz Festival
“I took one of my first singing lessons a month ago. I am studying the voice now, because I did not learn some things about the proper way to sing.
Learning never stops.”
“Everybody can find something wonderful and musical inside of themselves.”
“Find something you love and do it for free. It will inspire your life.”
“I work and see things that are important to my heart and hope it reaches people and make them say I’m not alone.”
“Creativity is a very important gift. We have to foster it and offer it to young people. Give them the opportunity”
Celebs pay tribute on Twitter
 
Feb 12
Listening to Al Jarreau on the day of his transition. Rest In Peace brother.


George Benson ‏@GBguitar Feb 12
With a heavy heart I say goodbye to my good friend and brother, the great Al Jarreau.
 
  Feb 12
An honor and privilege to work and win a Grammy with this man. Soooo different. Soooo pure.


He is survived by his wife, Susan and son, Ryan.

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