I came along with that crowd of singer-songwriters who were able to make their own statements in such a personal way that it changed the industry: Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Sly and the Family Stone. Al Jarreau More Quotes by Al Jarreau More Quotes From Al Jarreau Once you discover that you can, then you must. And it's not easy. You have to take direct steps. You really have to count your blessings and you have to make a decided effort to not get seduced by the blues. Al Jarreau effortblessingsteps These songs are old friends I have entertained myself with when I'm washing the dishes, driving to the store and walking down the aisles. The ones that you sing when you're driving in the car and as a singer you always go back to them. Al Jarreau carold-friendssong Once you discover that you can, then you must. Al Jarreau jazzmusic Before I get out of bed, I am saying thank you. I know how important it is to be thankful. Al Jarreau being-thankfulbedimportant I would still be singing, because it's part of my heart and my soul, and it lifts me up. Find something you would do for free. Al Jarreau singingsoulheart I don't know where we got the notion that God wants us to suffer. Every living thing tends toward the good or we would have been gone a long time ago. Al Jarreau sufferingwantlong It's all background experience and listening and exposure. That's why it's so important for people today and during any time to expose your children to lots of different kinds of things. Al Jarreau listeningchildrenpeople I sang do-wop on the street corner before it was called do-wop. Al Jarreau street-cornerscornersstreets To sing the ballad with a knowingness about what you are talking about. If it's somebody else's lyric, and the message is a little unusual for you, it requires that you learn that new message. Al Jarreau messageslittlestalking Every day is Thanksgiving.On this stage you're going to hear God and none of them other words, and I ain't going to touch my stuff. Al Jarreau stagestuff I know more polkas than Frankie Yankovic. I grew up next door to the Polka Tavern in Milwaukee. I can sing some polkas. And proud of that. Al Jarreau tavernsprouddoors Every day is Thanksgiving for me, man. Yeah, I still have an audience, and they ask the local promoter, "When is Al coming back?" Al Jarreau alsyeahmen I came here with something in me that I inherited from my folks. So I'm going to do something called life and times. Al Jarreau life-and-timefolks I sat on the piano bench next to my mother in church. Something happened before I set foot on this planet. I was crawling around inside of her. She was a church pianist. My dad was a brilliant singer. I was hearing it. Al Jarreau pianodadmother My dad graduated seminary there, and so did (sounds like) Mark Kimball's grandfather. They sang in a quartet together, my dad and Mark Kimball's grandfather. Al Jarreau dadgrandfathertogether That's the way I try to live. I think it's the only way for human beings at this point in our evolution as souls, where everyone in their lifetime is going through stuff. Al Jarreau soultryingthinking You have to make a decided effort to not get seduced by the Blues. Al Jarreau jazzeffortmusic I think a singer is an athlete. I've always tried to stay fit. Until my knee said, "Uh-uh," I was jogging. Then I started walking. They don't like walking a lot, but I'll push them. Al Jarreau joggingathletethinking I was age six or seven, and singing, "Jesus wants me for her son, beep, to shine for him," and people smiled and pinched my cheeks till the blood vessels broke, and I knew I was doing something right. Al Jarreau bloodsonjesus I did a concert at five years old in the garden of one of the church members, and we raised some money to buy a new piano in our little church. Al Jarreau pianogardenyears
