As the son of a vicar, he had his first singing experiences in a church choir. He attended Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962. He went on to earn a master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, and worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco before joining a small jazz club trio headed by George Duke and deciding that he would make professional singing his life in 1968
He appeared in such Los Angeles hot spots as Dino's, the Troubador and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and David Frost, while he expanded his nightclub appearances to include performing at the Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi, among others.
He was spotted by Warner Bros. in 1975 and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him into international fame and garnered him a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy would follow with the release of his second album, Glow.
One of Jarreau's most commercially and artistically successful albums is Breakin' Away (1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together." He wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show Moonlighting. Among other things, he is well-known for his scat singing and the ability to perfectly imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We are the World" and sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
He has toured and performed with such greats as Joe Sample, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Rick Braun. He also performed the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease. On March 6, 2001 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
Mornin'
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mornin' little Cheerios
Mornin' sister Oriole
Did I tell you everything is fine
In my mind?
Mornin' Mr. Shoe Shine Man
Shine 'em bright in white and tan
Need I tell you that
Everything here is just fine
In my mind
'Scuse me if I sing
My heart has found its wings
Searchin' high and low
And now at last I know
Mornin' Mr. Golden Gate
I should walk but I can't wait
I can't wait to set it straight
I was shakin' but now I am
Makin' it fine
Here in my mind
My heart will soar
With love that's rare and real
My smiling face will feel every cloud
Then higher still
Beyond the blue until
I know I can
Like any man
Reach out my hand
And touch the face of God
'Scuse me if I sing
My heart has found its wings
Searchin' high and low
And now at last I know
Mornin' Mr. Radio
Mornin' little Cheerios
Mornin' sister Oriole
Did I tell you everything is fine
Woo, in my mind?
So, won't you get up Oriole?
So, won't you get up Cheerios?
Wake up Mr. Radio
It's fine
Here in my mind
Singin' 'bout mornin' little radio
Mornin' little Cheerios
The song "Mornin'" by Al Jarreau opens with the line "Mornin' Mr. Radio," which is a reference to the way millions of people start their day listening to the radio. The song is about waking up in the morning and feeling a sense of peace and contentment. This is evident from lyrics like "Did I tell you everything is fine in my mind?" and "My baby said she loves me and need I tell you that everything here is just fine in my mind." The imagery that Jarreau uses in this song is also highly evocative, with lines like "Mornin' sister Oriole" and "Mornin' Mr. Golden Gate." These lines conjure up a sense of tranquility and beauty that perfectly captures the feeling of waking up to a new day.
Line by Line Meaning
Mornin' Mr. Radio
Addressing the radio, the start of a new day.
Mornin' little Cheerios
Addressing the Cheerios cereal, wishing it a good morning.
Mornin' sister Oriole
Addressing the bird Oriole, wishing it a good morning.
Did I tell you everything is fine
In my mind?
Asking if previously expressed the fact that he is feeling great inside his head.
Mornin' Mr. Shoe Shine Man
Shine 'em bright in white and tan
My baby said she loves me and
Need I tell you that
Everything here is just fine
In my mind
Addressing the shoe shine man, telling him to make his shoes gleam, and explaining that his lover has declared her love for him, causing him to feel content.
'Scuse me if I sing
My heart has found its wings
Searchin' high and low
And now at last I know
Acknowledging that his singing may be bothersome, but his heart feels uplifted and he's been searching for serenity and finally found it
Mornin' Mr. Golden Gate
I should walk but I can't wait
I can't wait to set it straight
I was shakin' but now I am
Makin' it fine
Here in my mind
Addressing the Golden Gate Bridge, wanting to hurry there to put things right, and explaining that he was trembling before but now making improvements in his state of mind.
My heart will soar
With love that's rare and real
My smiling face will feel every cloud
Then higher still
Beyond the blue until
I know I can
Like any man
Reach out my hand
And touch the face of God
Outlining how his love will give him the power to overcome any hardship, and he feels grateful enough to see a connection with a higher power.
'Scuse me if I sing
My heart has found its wings
Searchin' high and low
And now at last I know
Addressing any potential naysayers he may have already talked about, but he knows he has found happiness.
Mornin' Mr. Radio
Mornin' little Cheerios
Mornin' sister Oriole
Did I tell you everything is fine
Woo, in my mind?
Starting the chorus over again, expressing how the radio, the cereal, and the bird are all doing this fine morning, and asking them if he said previously that everything is great within his mind.
So, won't you get up Oriole?
So, won't you get up Cheerios?
Wake up Mr. Radio
It's fine
Here in my mind
Asking the Oriole and Cheerios to wake up, and to turn on the radio as everything is becoming alright in his mind.
Singin' 'bout mornin' little radio
Mornin' little Cheerios
Singing about the radio and Cherrios, rejoicing in the morning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GARDEN RAKE MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: David Foster, Jay Joseph Graydon, Al Jarreau
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-pq2il3bj3f
Whose here is listening in 2024 ?
@JeffC-fq1be
Dumb comment.
@coonagh1
Me.😊
@user-ch6op1xe3h
me 🤡
@thomasbrinkmann1017
Me too 👍
@user-ch6op1xe3h
magst du ? @@thomasbrinkmann1017
@Alexandra-K9
My son was singing this song at age 3, his little voice rising at " touch the face of God". Next month he turns 44 and I'm going to send him this video, it will mean so much to him as it does me. Thank you Al, you gave us a priceless gift ❤R.I.P❤
@marlahill9720
When he hits that high note - "touch the face of God" - I just shiver. Just beautiful!
@marjorieackerman2253
Oh me too!!!
@b-wise6801
Those harmonic layers of power... I totally agree. I always wait in anticipation for that part (although I love the rest of the song too 😄)