His 1981 album Breakin' Away spent two years on the Billboard 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R&B sound.

[2] Jarreau was student council president and Badger Boys State delegate for Lincoln High School.

Jarreau also worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco, and moonlighted with a jazz trio headed by George Duke.

Television exposure came from Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, and David Frost.

He expanded his nightclub appearances, performing at The Improv between the acts of such rising stars as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi.

Soon he released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him to international fame and won an Echo Award (the German equivalent of the Grammys in the United States).

On Valentine's Day 1976, he sang on the 13th episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live, that week hosted by Peter Boyle.

In 1984 the album received four Grammy Award nominations, including for Jay Graydon as Producer of the Year (Non-Classical).

He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We Are the World" in which he sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."

Another charitable media event, HBO's Comic Relief, featured him in a duet with Natalie Cole singing the song "Mr. President", written by Joe Sterling, Mike Loveless, and Ray Reach.

In 2009, children's author Carmen Rubin published the story Ashti Meets Birdman Al, inspired by Jarreau's music.

Susan provided photography for several of Jarreau's albums, including Glow, All Fly Home, This Time, and Breakin' Away.

It was reported in July 2010 that Jarreau was critically ill at a hospital in France, after performing in Barcelonnette, and was being treated for respiratory problems and cardiac arrhythmias.

[28][29] Jarreau died of respiratory failure, at the age of 76 on February 12, just two days after announcing his retirement, and one month before his 77th birthday.

His headstone features lyrics from his song "Mornin'": "I know I can / Like any man / Reach out my hand / And touch the face of God.