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.
The One Note Samba
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Built upon a single note
Other notes are bound to follow
But the root is still that note
Now this new one is the consequence
Of the one we've just been through
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable
consequence of you
There's so many people who can
talk and talk and talk
And just say nothing
Or nearly nothing
I have used up all the scale I know
And at the end I've come to nothing
Or nearly nothing
So I came back to my first note
As I must come back to you
I will pour into that one note
All the love I feel for you
Anyone who wants the whole show
Re mi fa sol la si do
He will find himself with no show
Better play the note you know
The lyrics of Al Jarreau / Al Green's song One Note Samba explore the power and importance of simplicity and staying true to one's roots. The song is built around a single note, and while other notes naturally follow, the root note remains constant. The new notes are a consequence of what has come before, just as the singer is the unavoidable consequence of the person they are addressing.
Throughout the song, the singer contrasts their own approach with those who "talk and talk and talk" but have nothing meaningful to say. They confess to having used up all the musical scale they know, only to return to the first note, which represents the love they feel for the person they are addressing. They suggest that anyone who wants the whole show should start with the note they know best, rather than trying to impress with complexity.
Overall, the lyrics emphasize the importance of simplicity, authenticity, and staying true to oneself, rather than trying to impress others or follow trends.
Line by Line Meaning
This is just a little samba
The song is a simple and small samba tune.
Built upon a single note
The song is based on one single note.
Other notes are bound to follow
More notes will naturally come after the first one.
But the root is still that note
However, the main focus of the song will always be that first note.
Now this new one is the consequence
Each successive note that follows is a result of the previous one.
Of the one we've just been through
The previous note played is the reason for the current one being played.
As I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you
Just as each note is a consequence of the previous, the singer is a consequence of the person they are singing to.
There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
Many people are capable of talking a lot.
And just say nothing
However, often what they say is pointless or insignificant.
Or nearly nothing
At best, what they say is just barely substantial.
I have used up all the scale I know
The singer has exhausted all the musical options they know.
And at the end I've come to nothing
Despite trying out many notes, they have not found anything significant or impressive.
Or nearly nothing
Their attempts have resulted in only a small amount of success.
So I came back to my first note
The singer decides to return to the very first note of the song.
As I must come back to you
Just as the singer returns to the first note, they must also return to the person they are singing to.
I will pour into that one note
The singer plans to put all their emotions and love into the first note of the song.
All the love I feel for you
The singer is expressing their love for the person they are singing to.
Anyone who wants the whole show
For those who want the entire experience of the song...
Re mi fa sol la si do
...they will find themselves disappointed, as these notes do not fully encapsulate the song.
He will find himself with no show
Trying to get the entire experience will ultimately lead to disappointment.
Better play the note you know
Instead, it is better to stick with the simple notes and truly appreciate the foundation of the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DORIVAL SEN CAYMMI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@laviecellis1216
This is just a little samba built upon one single note.
Other notes are sure to follow but the root is still that note.
Now this new note is the consequence of the one we've just been through
as I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you.
There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
and just say nothing or nearly nothing.
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end
I've come to nothing, or nearly nothing.
So I come back to this one note as I must come back to you.
I will pour into that one note all the love I feel for you.
Any one who wants the whole show re-mi-fa-so-la-si-do
he will find himself with no show, better play the note you know.
There's so many people who can talk and talk and talk
and just say nothing or nearly nothing.
I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I've come
to nothing I mean nothing.
So I come back to my first note as I must come back to you.
I will pour into that one note all the love I feel for you.
Any one who wants the whole show re-mi-fa-so-la-si-do
he will find himself with no show, better play the note you know.
@laraoneal7284
Love this so much. His voice is so pure and smooth. God bless u Al we all loved u so much. Touch the face of God.
@musmy3858
RIP....YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER IN YOUR GREAT SONGS
@vfiles1
Lovely performance of this Bossa Nova classic. ❤️
@laraoneal7284
You are so missed already. Love love love u Mr Al Jarreau.
@restiti
I used to listen this song from original version sung by Astrud Gilberto for many years, but this one is also marvelous. Al Jarreau !! thanks for posting the video. greetings
@kathyisberg4319
Just luscious...what an amazing talent Mr. Jarreau had! I can't believe he's gone!
@gretamar7651
einfach wunderbar. Poesie der Töne.
@cliftonboyz1959
rest easy my friend...thank you for enriching our lives with your talents!
@tiffanydouglas2686
We love you and we miss you, Al Jarreau! R.I.P.
@caddxprt
@pmtown you're welcome pmtown. I used to borrow my friends cassete in the early 80's. I was so happy when I found it on Columbia house CD Club!