Al Jarreau retires from music

Vocal jazz legend Al Jarreau has been forced to retire after over fifty years of recording and touring. A statement from his management reads “Al Jarreau is in hospital in Los Angeles, due to exhaustion. He is receiving excellent medical care, responding to treatments, and improving slowly. The medical team has instructed that he cannot perform any of his remaining 2017 concert dates. Therefore, with complete sorrow, Al Jarreau must retire from touring. He is thankful for his years of travelling the world in ministry through music, and for everyone who shared this with him - his faithful audience, the dedicated musicians, and so many others who supported his effort.”

Any ticket holders for shows have been asked to contact their venues.

Jarreau is 76 years old and is widely regarded as one of the great living vocal jazz giants. He has won 7 Grammy’s and been nominated for a further 18. A dedicated Christian, he first started singing with his family in church services in his home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He turned professional in 1968 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1975. Over the course of his career, Jarreau has worked with dozens of high profile artists including George Benson, George Duke, Miles Davis, Natalie Cole, Chick Corea and many more.

His recent ill health has prevented extensive tours, but he has found time to perform his acclaimed vocal masterclass sessions around the world, and to promote jazz with UNESCO and Herbie Hancock’s International Jazz Day (annually celebrated on April 30th).

A video of his 2016 performance of ‘Take Five’ at The White House is below…