MILWAUKEE, Wis. — This fall, music professor and author Kurt Dietrich shares the inspiring life story of legendary singer, Al Jarreau, in the first authorized biography of the Grammy-winning star, Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau. Dietrich’s music-centered biography traces Jarreau’s singing career from humble beginnings in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wis., to international fame. Featuring 54 photos, “Never Givin’ Up” follows Jarreau from his studies at Ripon College and the University of Iowa to his start in nightspots in Milwaukee, the Twin Cities, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and on through the ups and downs of his career.
From his earliest days singing in the 1940s until his death in 2017, Jarreau defied categorization. While his biggest hit, “We’re In This Love Together,” is pure pop, he smashed music industry stereotypes as the first artist to win Grammy Awards in three genres: jazz, pop, and R&B. Dietrich gathered fascinating stories from Jarreau’s life and music, conducting dozens of friends, fellow musicians, professional associates, and family members—most notably Al’s sister, Rose Marie Freeman. The biography also includes stories about Jarreau’s performances and hits, including “Never Givin’ Up”, from which the book title is derived, and sidebars on each of his albums .
ABOUT THE BOOK: “Never Givin’ Up” is published by The Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Hardcover: $28.95 / 978-1-9766-0019-7, 396 pages, 54 b&w photos, August 2023. An e-book edition is also available.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kurt Dietrich is professor emeritus of music at Ripon College, where he was Barbara Baldwin DeFrees Chair in the Performing Arts. He has written many articles and three books on jazz, including Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Profiles from the Heartland from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. He earned degrees from Lawrence University, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
