Al Jarreau, vocalist extraordinaire, supported himself mainly working as a social worker in San Francisco in the 1960s and ‘70s. His inspiration to become a full-time singer came from seeing the reaction to his work with a trio led by pianist George Duke. Jazz fans were filling rock clubs with enthused listeners. Those two remained close over the years, and Duke is featured on the singer’s 1988 album Heart’s Horizon. In the interview done that year, Jarreau discusses his earliest influences, how he picks musicians for each track he records, and his struggles at stifling jazz tendencies when singing “a good old R&B song” like Heart’s Horizon’s “All Or Nothing At All.”

1. Al Jarreau discusses his influences. “We Got By” from Look To The Rainbow, Warner Brothers (1977)
2. Al Jarreau talks picking musicians. “We Got By” from Look To The Rainbow, Warner Brothers (1977)
3. Al Jarreau’s jazz tendencies. “All Or Nothing At All” from Heart’s Horizon, Reprise (1988)