
Bobby McFerrin
Robert Keith McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American jazz vocalist and conductor. A ten-time Grammy Award winner, he is known for his unique vocal techniques, such as singing fluidly but with quick and considerable jumps in pitch—for example, sustaining a melody while also rapidly alternating with arpeggios and harmonies—as well as scat singing, polyphonic overtone singing, and improvisational vocal percussion. He is widely known for performing and recording regularly as an unaccompanied solo vocal artist. He has frequently collaborated with other artists from both the jazz and classical scenes. McFerrin's song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was a No. 1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won Song of the Year and Record of the Year honors at the 1989 Grammy Awards. McFerrin has also worked in collaboration with instrumentalists, including pianists Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Zawinul, drummer Tony Williams, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Listed On
- #3 of 33Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Winners
- #4 of 11One-Hit Wonder Musicians On Their Big Hit
- #11 of 25Best One Hit Wonder Bands & Artists
- #16 of 54Best A Cappella Groups, Ranked
- #16 of 2828 Celebrities Who Sang in Church Choir
- #18 of 305Best World Music Artists
- #27 of 150100+ Best Bands & Artists That Start With B
- #28 of 6450+ Celebrities Born on March 11
- #37 of 467Famous People Born in 1950
- #49 of 506Famous US Conductors
- #70 of 959Famous Arrangers
- #76 of 665Famous Conductors
- #79 of 81Best Male Artists Of 1970s, Ranked
- #82 of 87Best SNL Musicians of the '80s
- #108 of 109The 50+ Best Male Singers Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #164 of 1437Famous Record Producers
- #191 of 1139100+ Famous Male Musicians
- #200 of 224205+ Capricorn Moon Celebrities
- #215 of 1697List of Famous Musicians
- #269 of 1572Famous Singer-songwriters
- #407 of 2169Famous Male Singer-Songwriter Artists


Comments (0)
Join the conversation
Sign in to share your take and reply to others.
First take? What stood out to you about "Bobby McFerrin"?