Bobby McFerrin

vocals, piano · 1950 · New York

Son of the baritone Robert McFerrin, the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, he practices a vocal improvisation that combines register changes, polyphony, scat, and vocal percussion. After the success of Don't Worry, Be Happy (1988), he founded the vocal ensemble Voicestra (1989) and in 1994 became associate artistic director of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

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Styles

• Vocal jazz, scat, vocalese

Landmark tracks

• Don't Worry, Be Happy (1988)

Sources

• Source

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