As news continues to spread regarding today’s passing of jazz/R&B great Al Jarreau, his family has just released a statement and a request of his millions of fans:

JARREAU FAMILY STATEMENT

It is with the deepest of sadness to inform you Al Jarreau passed away this morning, at about 600am LA time. He was in the hospital, kept comfortable by his wife, son, and a few of his family and friends. A small, private service is planned, for immediate family only. No public service is planned yet this time.

The family asks that no flowers or gifts are sent. Instead, please consider a contribution to the @Wisconsin Foundation for School Music, a wonderful organization which supports music opportunities, teachers, and scholarships for students in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin. A donation page is here: http://foundation4schoolmusic.org/lifetime-achievement-a…/…/ Even if you do not plan to contribute, please visit that page and give yourself a few minutes to watch a beautiful tribute video that Wisconsin Public Television produced to honor Al when he received his lifetime achievement award from the Foundation October.

Many of us are still trying come to terms with Al Jarreau’s death, because the last time we checked, he was ‘recovering’ from a recent stint in the hospital due to ‘exhaustion.’ His passing is especially more surprising after reading the updates the family had been providing ever since January 28th, when Jarreau had to announce he was canceling his upcoming 2017 shows for now. See a quick timeline of the health updates from the family over the past couple weeks>>>