Al Jarreau was one of the great singers of the latter 20th and early 21st century, but his roots come from Wisconsin (including attending Ripon College).
Visit History at Home to learn about Al Jarreau from Kurt Dietrich, a local author of a new book on the musician.
Dietrich be talking about "Never Givin' Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau."
Born (in 1940) and raised in central Milwaukee, by the age of four Jarreau was singing in public, and was soon performing concerts in Milwaukee with his parents and five siblings. At Lincoln High School he starred in the annual Follies shows, while playing basketball, running cross country and becoming an all-city baseball player. Al attended Ripon College and the University of Iowa before heading to the West Coast, where eventually he won six Grammy awards, in three different categories, and became one of the most revered musicians of his generation. This lecture follows Jarreau’s life, career and music, complete with musical examples.
Presenter Bio: Kurt Dietrich is professor emeritus of music at Ripon College, where he held the Barbara Baldwin DeFrees Chair in the Performing Arts. He has written many articles and three previous books on jazz, including "Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Profiles from the Heartland" from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. He earned degrees from Lawrence University, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He plays trombone with various groups around Wisconsin.
History at Home programs focus on stories about the area's past every month. Programs are held on the second Thursday of every month at 6 pm in the McLane Room.
The programs are free. Many History at Home programs are captured on video and shared on the library's YouTube channel. That link can be found at fdlpl.org/miss-program.
