Died On This Date (February 12, 2017) Al Jarreau / American Jazz Singer

Al Jarreau
March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017

Al Jarreau was an internationally renowned jazz vocalist who, over the course of his career, earned seven Grammy’s while garnering over a dozen more nominations.  To this day, he’s the only vocalist to win a Grammy in three different categories – in his case, jazz, pop and R&B.  Born in Milwaukee, Jarreau spent much of youth singing at local church and school events.  He continued singing through high school and college where he performed with jazz trio which included George Duke.  By  the early ’70s, Jarreau was performing at top clubs in Los Angeles as well as  on TV shows like The Dinah Shore Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.  He signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1975 and went on to release 16 studio albums and several more live and compilation albums.  His debut, 1975’s We Got By was released to critical acclaim, and introduced him to new fans the world over.  1981 found Jarreau releasing what would become his best-selling album, Breakin’ Away.  Jarreau continued to record and tour through much of the rest of his life.  On February 8th, 2017, he cancelled his current tour and was hospitalized for exhaustion.  Four days later, February 12th, Al Jarreau, passed away at the hospital surrounded by this family and friends. He was 76. Cause of death was not immediately released.

What Y0u Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (April 6, 1999) Red Norvo / Jazz Vibraphonist

Kenneth “Red” Norvo
March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999

Red Norvo was a pioneering musician who helped introduce the xylophone and vibraphone into jazz.  Throughout a long and successful career that he launched in 1925, Norvo played with the likes of Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra.  He also recorded several albums of his own.  Throughout the late ’50s and early ’60s, Norvo was a frequent performing guest on Dinah Shore’s popular weekly variety television program.  During the mid ’80s, Norvo suffered a serious stroke which forced him into retirement.  He was 91 when he passed away on April 6, 1999.



Died On This Date (February 24, 1994) Dinah Shore / Star of Song & Television

Dinah Shore (Born Frances Shore)
February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994

Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Dinah Shore was a popular jazz and pop singer as well as a familiar face on television for decades.  During Shore’s singing career of the ’40s and ’50s, she was unique in that she performed as a solo artist rather than sing for bands like those fronted by Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and such.  During that time she released nearly 100 hits and was a popular attraction at USO shows for the military.  During the ’50s, Shore successfully transitioned over to television, hosting her own variety shows through the early ’90s.  Her Dinah! program of the ’70s played host to such rock figures as David Bowie and Iggy Pop as well as to a notorious appearance by Andy Kauffman’s alter ego, Tony Clifton.  Dinah Shore was 77 when she died of ovarian cancer on February 24, 1994.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Dinah Shore