Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is a virtuoso American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner. He is well known for his unique vocal techniques and singing styles.
As a vocalist, McFerrin often switches rapidly between modal and falsetto registers to create polyphonic effects, performing both the main melody and the accompanying parts of songs. He makes use of percussive effects created both with his mouth and by tapping on his chest. McFerrin is also capable of multiphonic singing, as observed in his song "Drive" from the 2005 DVD Live in Montreal.
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.
Discography
As leader
Bobby McFerrin (1982)
The Voice (1984)
Spontaneous Inventions (1987)
Elephant's Child (1987)
Simple Pleasures (1988)
Don't Worry, Be Happy (1988)
How the Rhino Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump (1990)
Medicine Music (1990)
Play, with Chick Corea, 1992
Hush, with Yo-Yo Ma, 1992
Many Faces of Bird (1991)
"The Siamese Cat Song" on Simply Mad About the Mouse (1991)
Sorrow Is Not Forever (1994)
Paper Music (1995, Doick with the St. Paul Chamber orchestra)
Bang! Zoom (1996)
The Mozart Sessions, with Chick Corea, 1996
Circlesongs (1997)
Mouth Music (2001)
Beyond Words (2002) – featuring Chick Corea, Cyro Baptista and Richard Bona
Konzert für Europa -The Schönbrunn Concert (2004)
VOCAbuLarieS (2010)
As sideman
Pharoah Sanders, Journey to the One, 1980
Grover Washington, Jr., The Best Is Yet to Come, 1982
Various Artists, The Young Lions, 1983
Charles Lloyd Quartet, A Night in Copenhagen, 1984
Various Artists, A Tribute to Thelonius Monk, 1984
Chico Freeman, Tangents, 1984
Michael Hedges, Watching My Life Go By, 1985
The Manhattan Transfer, Vocalese, 1985
Joe Zawinul, Di•a•lects, 1986
Weather Report, Sportin' Life, 1985
Al Jarreau, Heart’s Horizon, 1988
Quincy Jones, Back on the Block, 1989
Laurie Anderson, Strange Angels, 1989
Gal Costa, The Laziest Gal in Town, 1991
Dizzy Gillespie, "To Bird With Love", 1992
Jack DeJohnette, Extra Special Edition, 1994
Yellowjackets, Dreamland, 1995
George Martin, In My Life, 1998 – on "Come Together" with Robin Williams
En Vogue, Masterpiece Theatre, 2000
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Little Worlds, 2003
Chick Corea, Rendezvous in New York, 2003
Wynton Marsalis, The Magic Hour, 2004
size2shoes, 2006 (free track)
Grammys
1985, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male, "Another Night In Tunisia" with Jon Hendricks
1985, Best Vocal Arrangement for two or more voices, "Another Night In Tunisia" with Cheryl Bentyne
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 Jack Nicholson
1988, Song of the year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, male, Record of the year, "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
1988, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, male, "Brothers"
1992, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, "Round Midnight"
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