Alwin Lopez “Al” Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was originally from Milwaukee.  In 1970 he briefly moved to Minneapolis and formed the band Jarreau.

Jarreau, 1970: Dik Hedlund, Rich Dworsky, Bobby Schnitzer, Julio Martinez, Al Jarreau, Dick Bortolussi. Photo courtesy Rich Dworsky

The band made appearances in town during 1970, including:

The Depot in August

Supporting act for Poco at the Labor Temple, October 11, 1970.

The photo below is from an appearance with Bill Carlson, some time in 1970:

The band also opened for acts like Canned Heat and Steppenwolf in Canada.

It wasn’t long until Al (and a 17-year-old Dworsky) set off for Los Angeles and launched his very successful career.  He received a total of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more. Jarreau is perhaps best known for his 1981 album Breakin’ Away. He also sang the theme song of the late-1980s television series Moonlighting, and was among the performers on “We Are the World.”

Rich Dworsky, of course, became the pianist, bandleader, and music director of Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band on A Prairie Home Companion.

Rich Dworsky, 2015 – photo courtesy Wikipedia