Our January Our January Musician-of-the- Month:Musician-of-the- Month:

Bobby McFerrinBobby McFerrin

Born: 1950Born: 1950

Singer/Composer/ConductorSinger/Composer/Conductor

Notes in italics are required facts!

Renaissance ManRenaissance Man

Bobby McFerrin is not Bobby McFerrin is not just a singer!just a singer!

He is a vocal explorer He is a vocal explorer

who has combined who has combined jazz, folk, world music, jazz, folk, world music, choir music, choir music, a a cappellacappella, and classical , and classical music with his own music with his own unique ingredients. unique ingredients.

Bobby’s ChildhoodBobby’s Childhood

Born in New York City Born in New York City in 1950, both of his in 1950, both of his parents were classical parents were classical singers (opera)singers (opera)

He started studying He started studying music theory at age 6. music theory at age 6. (His family moved to (His family moved to L.A. that same year.)L.A. that same year.)

In high school and In high school and college, piano was his college, piano was his main instrument.main instrument. Bobby’s 7th Birthday

Party!

His first major performances:His first major performances:

After college, he toured with After college, he toured with a few different music a few different music groups, dance groups, and groups, dance groups, and even ice shows!even ice shows!

In 1977 (he was 27), he was In 1977 (he was 27), he was inspired to become a singer.inspired to become a singer.

He met Bill Cosby, who He met Bill Cosby, who helped McFerrin start his helped McFerrin start his singing career at a 1980 singing career at a 1980 Jazz Festival at the Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.Hollywood Bowl.

1981 – he gave an excellent 1981 – he gave an excellent performance at another jazz performance at another jazz festival in New York City.festival in New York City.

Bobby’s First AlbumBobby’s First Album After those very After those very

successful jazz successful jazz festival festival performances, he performances, he released his first released his first album: “Bobby album: “Bobby McFerrin” (1982).McFerrin” (1982).

Most songs were in Most songs were in a jazz style.a jazz style.

The album showed The album showed off his 4-octave off his 4-octave vocal range.vocal range.

A 5-Octave KeyboardA 5-Octave Keyboard

•Octave : The distance from “Do” to the next “Do” (up or down a distance of 8 notes)•Bobby McFerrin can sing notes from 4 octaves! Most people can only sing 2 octaves!

A CappellaA Cappella

A Cappella: a song with A Cappella: a song with only singing, no only singing, no instruments!instruments!

1983 – Bobby started 1983 – Bobby started performing concerts as performing concerts as an “a cappella” singer.an “a cappella” singer.

He went on a solo tour He went on a solo tour of Germany were the of Germany were the live album “The Voice” live album “The Voice” was recorded (it was was recorded (it was all all improvised improvised !)!)

ImprovisationImprovisation

Improvisation: the Improvisation: the spontaneous creation of spontaneous creation of music in a performance. music in a performance. (You make up the notes (You make up the notes as you go!)as you go!)

Bobby McFerrin is Bobby McFerrin is famous for his famous for his improvisation skills!improvisation skills!

He was the first singer He was the first singer to completely improvise to completely improvise his concerts!his concerts!

Don’t Worry, Be Happy!Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

In 1988, Bobby released In 1988, Bobby released a new album, called a new album, called Simple Pleasures,Simple Pleasures, which which included the included the internationally famous internationally famous song: song: “Don’t Worry, Be “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.Happy”.

Let’s listen to “Don’t Let’s listen to “Don’t Worry, Be Worry, Be Happy”….What Happy”….What instruments do you instruments do you hear?hear?

ListenListen

Vocal LayeringVocal Layering

How did Bobby How did Bobby create all of those create all of those vocal sounds for vocal sounds for “Don’t Worry” ?“Don’t Worry” ?

He recorded 8 He recorded 8 separate tracks, and separate tracks, and put them together!put them together!

It’s all singing by It’s all singing by Bobby, no Bobby, no instruments!instruments!

AwardsAwards

At the 1988 Grammy At the 1988 Grammy Awards, “Don’t Worry Awards, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” won “Best Be Happy” won “Best Song of the Year”.Song of the Year”.

Bobby also won Bobby also won awards for “Best awards for “Best Album of the Year”, Album of the Year”, and “Best Pop Vocal and “Best Pop Vocal Performance”.Performance”.

The album Simple The album Simple Pleasures sold “triple Pleasures sold “triple platinum”! platinum”!

(3 million copies)(3 million copies)“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – His most famous song, that won him many awards!

After “Don’t Worry”….After “Don’t Worry”….

Bobby left the Bobby left the pop-music scene pop-music scene in the 1990’s to in the 1990’s to work on his work on his unique vocal unique vocal compositions.compositions.

He also explored He also explored conducting…conducting…

St. Paul Chamber OrchestraSt. Paul Chamber Orchestra

As a 40As a 40thth birthday birthday present to himself, present to himself, Bobby learned how to Bobby learned how to conduct an orchestra!conduct an orchestra!

Bobby conducted the St. Bobby conducted the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Paul Chamber Orchestra form 1994-1996, and form 1994-1996, and performed with them as performed with them as a vocalist.a vocalist.

Bobby and the SPCO Bobby and the SPCO released the album, released the album, “Paper Music” (1995), “Paper Music” (1995), his first classical album.his first classical album.

1990’s-2000’s1990’s-2000’s

Bobby continued to Bobby continued to release many release many albums showcasing albums showcasing his amazing vocals!his amazing vocals!

He performs as a He performs as a soloist at many soloist at many concerts, concerts, improvising most of improvising most of the songs, and the songs, and involving the involving the audience!audience!

““Try This at Home” (DVD)Try This at Home” (DVD)

Bobby performed this Bobby performed this concert in Minneapolis concert in Minneapolis in 2001!in 2001!

Let’s watch:Let’s watch: ““Try This at Home” andTry This at Home” and

“ “In the Morning”In the Morning”

Live In Montreal Live In Montreal (DVD):(DVD):

““Somewhere over the Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “The Wizard Rainbow” and “The Wizard of Oz” Medley.of Oz” Medley. At home: find some videos of Bobby on

the Internet, with a parent’s help!

Bobby “In Concert”Bobby “In Concert”

Did you notice Did you notice anything unusual anything unusual about what Bobby about what Bobby was wearing?was wearing?

Do you think the Do you think the music was music was improvised?improvised?

How did he involve How did he involve the audience?the audience?

Music and Kids!Music and Kids!

Bobby is a major Bobby is a major advocate for music advocate for music education!education!

He visits schools, He visits schools, and works with and works with student music student music groups all over the groups all over the country!country!

His concerts are His concerts are enjoyed by music-enjoyed by music-lovers of all ages!lovers of all ages!

Extra facts!Extra facts!

Bobby has won 10 Bobby has won 10 Grammy awards for Grammy awards for his music.his music.

As a child, his first As a child, his first instrument was the instrument was the clarinet, but he had clarinet, but he had to switch to piano to switch to piano when he got when he got braces!braces!

His recordings have His recordings have sold over 20 million sold over 20 million copies!copies!

Fun Stuff!Fun Stuff!

Click here to create your own version Click here to create your own version of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” with of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” with Bobby using Bobby using melodymelody and and ostinatoostinato!!