Philadelphia, PA--

Our staff had the rare and pleasant opportunity to speak last Wednesday, via telephone, to the legendary Al Jarreau. Al provided us an afternoon of information that left us with an idea of why his music is so touching.

The intentions of this interview, was to ask the mainstream questions, but Jarreau, much to my delight, decided to take to another level.

Jarreau, gave us one of the most in detailed interviews we have done in the history of the magazine. He touched on every subject, from politics, parenting, love, life, spirituality and to loving what you do as an artist. He was candid about waking up in the morning and thanking God that you were able to so much just by being real.

Many know Jarreau as a passionate and sensitive person. His love for life is astonishing. His in-depth soul, his virtues and his realness personally touched me. I did not speak just to an artist, I spoke to a real person, who feels, who thinks and is touched by everyday happenings.

Al loves to make people smile and does so through his music. Al wants everyone to know there is always a message in his music. He loves to teach through his music. He is a man with a heartfelt desire to make this world a better place to wake up to each and everyday. He loves his wife, children, loves life to the fullest, and he makes it his purpose to live each and every moment to the highest degree.

In our conversation you could almost feel Al’s warm and approachable vibe. He even gave me a few of my own personal lyrics on the phone, which made my heart leap! My interview was invigoration, but was also a learning experience I could never have had if I did not speak with him. Al should be an author. He is so knowledgeable about everything. Most fans know Al’s music, but few know how he took a complete 360 degree turn in life, starting as Rehabilitation Counselor.

What is Al cares more about than his music is the wellness of all people. His concerns have deep roots. He talked about young people fighting for their country and coming home wounded and sometimes not getting the proper medical care they so deserve. He spoke to me about children not getting the proper education in this great country, some not even being about read at an elementary school level.

“Our children are being glamorized by the tough guys, the bling –bling and viewing images via the media, movies, and magazines that sometimes gives children false connotations. Where are the programs for those children who do well in school, and succeed in life where are the videos, the honorable mentions, is this on the news as a highlighted story, the talk of the day? Where are the accolades for those children who graduated with parents who live in poverty and are just getting by but are proud to say my son or daughter graduated from school in some of the toughest neighborhoods in America,” said Jarreau.

While it seems Jarreau cares so much about the well being off all people, nothing showed it more when I spoke to him about my twelve year old son, Michael, who is afflicted with Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) and how he succeeded not only to be an avid reader but also was awarded the John Hopkins Award for being in the ninth percentile in the country. I explained that I read to my son while still in my womb and I personally feel this had a definite impact in my son’s award winning reading capabilities today.

Al stated that every child should have proper reading abilities as you can go so many places in your mind and learn so many things from reading a book. Al says if you can read a book, you can do anything. You can enhance your life spiritually, you can be anything or anyone in life, with reading you have so many choices.

Jarreau is also concerned with pro survival. He wants to do a little something everyday to better people’s lives. He feels if everyone just took a little time out of their busy day to help someone by being a big sister or big brother to someone, the world would be a different place. If each person took the time to listen to someone else’s problems, by looking someone in the eye and tell them it’s ok your going make it, or simply just give someone a smile, make them laugh their life would be so much happier. If each and every one of us did this everyday the world would be a better place,” said Jarreau.

The interview left me with happy tears. In the time we spoke, I was so inspired to be a better person to my family, my love, my business partner and to be more patient and emphatic towards people, STOP being selfish, live and love life. Al warmed my heart and I will strive to be a better person starting today.

Al continued with a small little praise for all of his fans. “If you help others and it makes others smile, you have already made a difference in someone’s life.”

Now for more the open questions we asked Jarreau.

PM: What are some things that inspired you to write music?

AJ: Everything from the slapstick of Charlie Chaplin, Jerry Lewis to the seriousness of the church and the spiritual experiences. I like to laugh and have a message in my music. I feel the best way to communicate this is through music. I am inspired by the moment. When I hear a melody pop in my head, I go with it, as opposed to the more standard approach a musician might have like studying progressive notes. I don’t write in this fashion. I like to write in my music about love, inspiring messages of pro survival, I want to say something to help people to survive, feel good about themselves, be happy to wake up in the morning, I want to tell them everything is fine in a happy song. Accentuate the Positive. I like to know what can I do as an artist to inspire others. This is my way of helping people.

PM: How Do You Accentuate the Positive?

AJ: We have to help each other as living creatures to survive. We are all connected through DNA, we are all related on this planet as one species. It’s everyone’s job in life to ask “have you helped someone along the way” or “did you rob him or her”. What did you do to help. There is no reason people should be homeless in this great country with all it has to offer, it is impossible to tolerate the ideal of being in Iraq. I am a doctor in my music, we are all part of that process to help everyone be ok and do better in life.

PM: How do you feel about the artist “Kem”?

AJ: Let’s do some music called “AlKemmy” (which mean Al Jarreau and Kem). I have musically brought something to the music industry that has touched other performers like Kem and Bobby McFerrin, I do vocal percussions in a way no other singer has done it before, I am the original. So whatever anyone else is doing they got it from me, and that’s inspiring to me.

PM: What Type of Lifestyle Do you Live?

AJ: I live a moderate modest lifestyle. My wife and I share a very nice family car and we own a couple of old cars that are classics that I like to fix-up. There are other things that motivate me in life, rather than material things, I praise god that I can get up every day and do what I love, I made a bargain if I could make a living doing this music I will or I would do it for free but I have been blessed to get paid for what I do. As long as I can give a message in my music and help someone that what it’s all about.

PM: How old are you?

AJ: I am proud to say that I am sixty-five years old.

PM: When You Are Having a Bad Day, What Does Al Do Lift Himself?

AJ: When I am feeling funky, I click the switch and write down the things that are good in my life, and that is what you should do. Think about your family and your accomplishments in life, how much you have over come. Do not let all that other stuff out go ahead and push against that wall of funk, and Accentuate the Positive.