- Bobby McFerrin
Infobox musical artist
Name = Bobby McFerrin
Img_capt = Bobby McFerrin in concert (2007)
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Robert McFerrin, Jr.
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1950|3|11|f=y
Died =
Origin =New York
Instrument = Vocals,piano
Voice_type =
Genre =Jazz , pop,pop rock
Occupation =Singer-songwriter ,musician , conductor, producer
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts =Chick Corea Herbie Hancock
URL =
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Notable_instruments =Robert "Bobby" McFerrin Jr. (born in Manhattan,
New York , onMarch 11 ,1950 ) is a ten-timeGrammy Award -winningjazz -influenceda cappella vocal performer and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy ".Life
McFerrin is the son of the late operatic
baritone Robert McFerrin , who was the first African American to be a regular with New York'sMetropolitan Opera . The elder McFerrin also provided the vocals forSidney Poitier in the motion picture version of "Porgy and Bess ".Bobby McFerrin married Debbie Green in 1975. They have three children. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568858/bio]
Vocal technique
McFerrin is known for his singing technique. Using his unusually large
vocal range of fouroctave s, in many performances he switches rapidly fluidly between normal andfalsetto registers to createpolyphonic effects, effectively performing both the mainmelody and the accompanying parts of songs. He makes use ofvocal percussion created both with his mouth and by tapping on his chest. McFerrin is also capable ofthroat singing Fact|date=September 2008 — a practice common in central Asian regions such asTuva andTibet — in which the singer excites the naturalovertones from the fundamental vocal pitch, producing a two-or three-part chord of notes from one voice.A notable document of McFerrin's approach to singing is his 1984 album "The Voice", the first solo vocal jazz album recorded with no accompaniment or overdubbing. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfuxqwgld0e]
Career
McFerrin's song "
Don't Worry, Be Happy " was a #1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won Song of the Year and Record of the Year honors. McFerrin has also worked in collaboration with instrumental performers including pianistsChick Corea ,Herbie Hancock , andJoe Zawinul , drummerTony Williams , and cellistYo-Yo Ma .In 1987, he sang the theme tune to "
The Cosby Show " and soon after also provided the music for aCadburys chocolate commercial.In 1989, he composed and performed the music for the
Pixar short film "Knick Knack ". The rough cut to which McFerrin recorded his vocals had the words "blah blah blah" in place of the end credits (meant to indicate that he shouldimprovise ). McFerrin spontaneously decided to sing "blah blah blah" as lyrics, and the final version of the short film includes these lyrics during the end credits.Also in 1989, he formed a ten-person 'Voicestra' which he featured on both his 1990 album "Medicine Music" and in the score to the 1989 Oscar-winning documentary "". The song 'Common Threads' has frequently reappeared in some public service advertisements for AIDS.
In 1993, he also sang Henry Mancini's Pink Panther theme tune for the movie "
Son of the Pink Panther ".In addition to his vocal performing career, Mr. McFerrin was appointed in 1994 as creative chair of the
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra . He makes regular tours as a guest conductor for symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Canada, including theSan Francisco Symphony (on his fortieth birthday), theNew York Philharmonic , the Chicago Symphony, theCleveland Orchestra , thePhiladelphia Orchestra , theLos Angeles Philharmonic , the London Philharmonic and many others. In his concert appearances, he combines serious conducting of classical pieces with his own unique vocal improvisations, often with participation from the audience and the orchestra. For example, his concerts often end with McFerrin conducting the orchestra in an a capella rendition of the "William Tell Overture ," in which the orchestra members sing their musical parts
McFerrin also participates in various music education programs, and makes volunteer appearances as a guest music teacher and lecturer at public schools throughout the U.S. McFerrin has a son, Taylor, and father and son have collaborated on various musical ventures. Taylor has recently been singing, rapping, and playing minimal keyboard accompaniment with
Discography
olo
*"Bobby McFerrin" (1982)
*"The Voice" (1984)
*"Spontaneous Inventions" (1985)
*"Elephant's Child" (1987)
*"
*"Don't Worry, Be Happy" (1988)
*"How the Rhino Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump" (1990)
*"Medicine Music" (1990) (features the songs "Baby", which had a music video that used to be occasionally played on the
*"Many Faces of Bird" (1991)
*"Sorrow Is Not Forever" (1994)
*"Paper Music" (1995)
*"Bang! Zoom" (1997)
*"Circlesongs" (1997)
*"Mouth Music" (2001)
*"Beyond Words" (2003) - featuring Chick Corea,
Collaborations
* "The Just So Stories", with
* "Play", with Chick Corea, 1990
* "Hush", with Yo-Yo Ma, 1991
* "
Guest Appearances
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* Various Artists, "The Young Lions", 1983
* Charles Lloyd Quartet, "A Night in Copenhagen", 1984
* Various Artists, "A Tribute to Thelonius Monk", 1984
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* Bobby McFerrin, "
Grammys
* 1985, "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male", "Another Night In Tunisia" with
* 1985, "Best Vocal Arrangement for two or more voices", "Another Night In Tunisia" with
* 1986, "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male", "Round Midnight"
* 1987, "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male", "What Is This Thing Called Love"
* 1987, "Best Recording for Children", "The Elephant's Child" with
* 1988, "Song of the year", "Best Pop Vocal Performance, male", "Record of the year", "
* 1988, "Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male", "Brothers"
* 1992, "Best Jazz Vocal Performance", "Round Midnight"
External links
* [http://www.bobbymcferrin.com Official Site]
* [http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/mcferrin.htm Snopes.com on the suicide rumour]
*allmusicguide|id=11:5q6wtr89klkx|name=Bobby McFerrin
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