Al Jarreau Pneumonia, Apologizes for Canceled Concert
After suffering a bout of pneumonia, Al Jarreau has been forced to cancel an upcoming concert in Escondido, but he reassured fans he will be back.
The 7-time Grammy Award winner provided an explanation of his condition on his official website.
"Mr. Jarreau believes that his illness and fatigue resulted from a very busy week on tour, which included four concerts in Austria," read the statement. "He will spend a short time recovering at home before resuming his normal work schedule."
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Additionally, Jarreau offered an apology to the Escondido area and concert staff for having to cancel his appearance.
The 72-year-old singer is best known for his jazz sound on songs such as "Boogie Down," "Teach Me Tonight," and "Your Precious Love."
In 2007, Jarreau was honored for his performance of "God Bless the Child" with Jill Scott and George Benson.
The singer grew up with a musical background singing. Jarreau's father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer while his mother was a church pianist. He and his family sang in church concerts and benefits as well as at other meetings.
While earning a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, Jarreau moonlighted with a jazz trio. In 1967, he joined acoustic guitarist Julio Martinez. When the duo's popularity mounted, Jarreau decided to pursue his career in music full-time.
Jarreau has suffered from health problems before. In 2010, it was reported that the singer was critically ill at a hospital in France. He was treated for respiratory problems and cardiac arrhythmias. His full recovery led him back to touring.
Carmen Rubin, a child's book author, penned a story in 2009 inspired by Jarreau's music. Titled "Ashti Meets Birdman Al," the singer penned the forward in the book and reads it to children across the world as part of promoting literacy.
