Al Jarreau —AFP
LOS ANGELES—Grammy-winning jazz singer Al Jarreau, who transcended genres over a 50-year career, died at a Los Angeles hospital on Sunday, just days after announcing his retirement from touring because of exhaustion.
His official Twitter account says he died surrounded by his wife, son and a few other family members and friends. He was 76.
Jarreau was hospitalized earlier in the week and was said to have been improving slowly. The cause of his death was not revealed, but he had experienced a number of respiratory and cardiac issues in recent years.
The Milwaukee native won seven Grammys over the course of his half-century in music. His biggest single was 1981’s “We’re in This Love Together” from the album “Breakin’ Away.”
Jarreau was also a vocalist on the all-star 1985 track, “We Are the World,” and sang the theme to TV’s “Moonlighting.”
He was one of the few artists to have won Grammys in three separate categories—jazz, pop and R&B. Time Magazine once called him the “greatest jazz singer alive.”
News of Jarreau’s death came as the Grammy Awards were kicking off in Los Angeles.
“He was really one of the most creative vocalists who ever lived,” jazz singer Tierney Sutton told The Associated Press (AP) on the red carpet. “His voice was like an instrument.”
Tributes poured in on social media in remembrance of Jarreau as well. Director Ava DuVernay tweeted that her mom used to play Jarreau’s vinyl and that his voice made her happy.
Music wasn’t always Jarreau’s focus, however—he didn’t even record his first album until he was 35. —AP