Bobby McFerrin : NPR Please disable your adblocker or subscribe to ad-free membership to view this article. 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 collaborated with his son, Taylor, on various musical ventures. Bobbys daughter Madison McFerrin has gotten a lot of Pitchforky buzz for her own a cappella version of dancey neo-soul. In the 1959 film version of Porgy And Bess, we see Sidney Poitier singing, but the sound we hear is Robert McFerrins voice. , . The venue isn't very big and capacity is only about 700 people, so it was sold out. (Cruises other 1988 movie was Rain Man, the years biggest hit. Don't Worry, He's Happy May 14, 2013, 2:15 AM For a while in the '90s, before the public knew to turn to Snopes.com on such matters, an urban legend persisted. Bobby was around to see everything his parents did; he was four years old when Robert debuted at the Met in 1955. Bobby McFerrin was born on March 11, 1950 in New York City, New York, USA. Beyond Words became available in 2002. So if you like truly happy endings (as opposed to "Be Happy" endings), McFerrin's ability to thrive as a cultural explorer while going off the pop-culture radar makes for a fine cap to his story. He started off doing voice work commercially for the likes of Cadbury Chocolates and The Cosby Show. The new album brings him back to his childhood, since three songs on it were also recorded by his father, Robert McFerrin Sr., on a 1957 album, "Deep River" And Other Classic Negro Spirituals. He is often referred to as his birth name Robert Keith McFerrin Jr. "My whole goal this whole time was to be a working musician," he told NPR. Apr 29, 2020 10:34 am Pro article. Bobby McFerrin, Roscoe Mitchell, Reggie Workman, Dorthaan Kirk Named 2020 Jazz Masters The four recipients of America's highest jazz honor will be celebrated at a concert in San Francisco next spring. Bobby McFerrin Greatest Hits // Bobby McFerrin Best Songs // Greatest Hits Full Album 2020 8,825 views Aug 1, 2020 Bobby McFerrin Greatest Hits // Bobby McFerrin Best Songs // Greatest Hits. McFerrin was given a lifetime achievement award at the A Cappella Music Awards on May 19, 2018. to track Bobby McFerrin and get concert alerts when they play near you. He married Debbie Green in 1975. Currently, Bobby McFerrin is 72 years, 11 months and 22 days old. He has even conducted or performed for various orchestras across the world. As per our current Database, Bobby McFerrin is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020). He has also released many albums as sidemen. If youre a fan of clown-ass shit, then the Dont Worry, Be Happy video is for you. .ALIVE INSIDE is a joyous cinematic exploration of music's capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. His song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (featured in the 1988 movie Cocktail, and the 2005 movie Jarhead) was a #1 U.S. pop hit in 1988. He has built up a reputation for being skilled at polyphonic singing. Bobby McFerrin was born on March 11, 1950 in New York City, New York, USA. He was born on March 11, 1950 in Manhattan, New York. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 158,744 fans get concert alerts for this artist. Playing the audience as his second instrument, McFerrin is clearly still an unparalleled creative force, a peaceful warrior of song. A Tribute to Jack Johnson), What the World Needs Now: Stan Getz Plays Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Herbie Mann Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint The Smell of the Crowd, Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock/Keith Jarret/McCoy Tyner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_McFerrin&oldid=1139320483, 20th-century African-American male singers, California State University, Sacramento alumni, Classical musicians from New York (state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. A service will be held at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church 1231 E. Chapman Ave. Fullerton, CA, Saturday, Dec. 7th at noon. In McFerrins youth he was inclined to become a minister of music, but, after attending California State University at Sacramento and Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, he instead became a pianist and organist with the Ice Follies ice-skating show and with pop music bands. We got through the entire doo-wop era without any all-voice singles reaching the top spot, and lord willing, well also get through the age of YouTube and TikTok novelties without it happening again. We will update more factful insights about Bobby Mcferrin when we are informed. Being born on 11 March 1950, Bobby McFerrin is 72 years old as of todays date 5th March 2023. Omissions? We'll hear music from across his chameleonic career, ranging from Mozart to Cream. In 2010, he got signed to EmArcy Records and came up with the album Vocabularies. Dont Worry, Be Happy was a #1 jam. Bobby McFerrin - Billboard Updates? will eventually appear in this column. The most important stories and least important memes, every Friday. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! Well, if youre ready, lets start. It was used in the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, and in Wall-E, where the title robot has a Big Mouth Billy Bass mounted fish that sings McFerrin's jolly tune amid the dystopian depression. A ten-time Grammy Award winner, he is one of the world's best known vocal innovators and improvisers. He then came up with the chartbuster Dont Worry, Be Happy in 1988. Dont Worry, Be Happy remains the only completely a capella #1 hit in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. His height is 1.75 m tall, and weight is 66 kg. Near the end of the song, McFerrin sort of reveals the logic behind his thinking: When you worry, your face will frown/ And that will bring everybody down. Bobby McFerrin doesnt care about your problems; he just doesnt want your problems to harsh his mellow. Bobby McFerrin was born in the Year of the Tiger. His mother was a singer and his father was an operatic baritone. Each concert has been vastly different from the others, however EVERY concert McFerrin gives is outstanding. He preferred to sing without fixed lyrics, and he could imitate the sounds of various musical instruments with great skill. Bobby McFerrin started his career by coming up with an eponymous debut album. Thats not exactly Bobby McFerrins fault; he never couldve foreseen the places that Dont Worry, Be Happy would go. At the time, in the mid-1980s, it was a sobriquet more readily associated with Frank Sinatra but in its definitive. Bushs campaign invited McFerrin to have dinner with the vice president, and McFerrin declined. Oftentimes he will sound like an entire band all by himself, sometimes using his own body as a percussion instrument. He often sang a cappella, mixing folk songs, 1960s rock and soul tunes, and jazz themes with original lyrics. He shares the same passion as his father, he was a musician as well. McFerrins parents both had distinguished vocal careers. It was a single from her debut album Word of Mouth, and it was originally written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. Pisces is a Water sign and as such this zodiac sign is characterized by empathy and expressed emotional capacity. You might wonder what is Bobby Mcferrins age, or you might have predicted the age of Bobby Mcferrin. Also, I hate McFerrins fake accent so much. Linda Goldstein, McFerrins manager and producer, sent a letter to the Bush campaign objecting to the use of the song. Half of Simple Pleasures ended up being McFerrins own songs, and he led the album off with Dont Worry, Be Happy.. Maybe that's because his music seems to be a story of his life and the jazz and classical music he's learned to perform all seem to melt together and become one unique category all of its own. Even after being active in his career for a long time, he has not given up and continues to engage himself with some of the popular artists in the world. As a swinging jazz and ballad vocalist, by 1980 McFerrin was touring with popular jazz singer Jon Hendricks. But when a song like that becomes a cultural phenomenon, it loses any sense of nuance that it mightve had in the first place. But Bobby McFerrin was always an unlikely pop star. He makes use of percussive effects created both with his mouth and by tapping on his chest. He's amazing and his talents have always impressed me. Unfortunately there are no concert dates for Bobby McFerrin scheduled in 2023. 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 pitchfor example, sustaining a melody while also rapidly alternating with arpeggios and harmoniesas well as scat singing . But the one McFerrin song that did catch on serves as a living symbol of bumper-sticker philosophy and Reagan-era complacency. In 1989, he composed and performed the music for the Pixar short film Knick Knack. 2 in F Major) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chick Corea, McFerrin) with Chick Corea, Blues Connotation (Ornette Coleman) with Chick Corea, Honeysuckle Rose (Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) with Christian McBride. At the time, in the mid-1980s, it was a sobriquet more readily associated with Frank Sinatra but in its definitive clarity, loaded with implications, no term could have been better suited to his art. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. For example, the concerts often end with McFerrin conducting the orchestra in an a cappella rendition of the "William Tell Overture," in which the orchestra members sing their musical parts in McFerrin's vocal style instead of playing their parts on their instruments. [8] The song was used as the official campaign song for George H. W. Bush in the 1988 U.S. presidential election, without Bobby McFerrin's permission or endorsement. McFerrin has carved out a fascinating and successful career in music, and virtually all of that career has played out far away from the pop charts. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bobby McFerrin, Soundtrack: The Two Popes. McFerrin vocally protested that usage and loudly declared that he was voting for the other guy; some reports at the time even had McFerrin taking it out of his concert repertoire, just to make sure no one got the wrong message. In 1990, McFerrin made his debut as an orchestra conductor. 26-Foot Marilyn Monroe Statue Still Causing a Stir Among the . Additionally, he has performed in Sing Out America with Judy Collins on a PBS TV special. It also served to spawn a long-lived rumor: As early as 1992, whispers were afoot that the man who had composed and sung this bouncy little ditty had failed to heed his own advice and had killed himself instead. Surely a song that cheerful could only lead to a heavily ironic end, no? Bobby McFerrin age, height, net worth 2023, wife, girlfriend, kids Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching the show one of the greatest contemporary musicians of the past century that keeps haunting the youth of this new era with amazing, innovative arrangements, mixing rhythms, sounds, syncopated melodies ballads with irresistible, inspiring, exciting to see the playfulness with Mc Ferrin that makes everything flow leading the audience into a frenzy Too bad we did not have an encore - the audience stood for about 15 minutes cheering, hoping the whole band back, but had to console themselves with the ground Bobby. Bobby McFerrin's 'Circlesongs' and the Politics of Play In 1975, Bobby McFerrin got married to Debbie Green. Live Live Death Statistics Worldwide and The United States Bobby McFerrin - Biography Robert Keith "Bobby" McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American jazz vocalist and conductor. McFerrin's performance throughout was engaging, fun, and beautiful. He would also perform on a recording of Pink Panther which would go on to be the main theme song for the movie Son of the Pink Panther. This was followed by the albums Spontaneous Inventions and The Elephants Child. His mother, a soprano, was a Metropolitan Opera judge who chaired the vocal department at Fullerton College, near Los Angeles, and his father, who sang at the Met, dubbed actor Sidney Poitiers singing on the 1959 Porgy and Bess sound track. He was the voice of Santa Bears First Christmas in 1986. Here, for instance, is the scene where the song shows up in 2006s Jarhead: BONUS BONUS BONUS BEATS: Heres the bit from the 2008 masterpiece Wall-E where Wall-Es Big Mouth Billy Bass sings Dont Worry, Be Happy and almost gets lasered into oblivion: BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS BEATS: Heres the part from 2018s Hotel Transylvania 3 where Dont Worry, Be Happy charms a giant sea monster: (Adam Sandlers highest-charting single, 1996s The Chanukah Song, peaked at #80. There's a good reason McFerrin has won ten Grammy Awards: he's an amazing musician, song writer, and vocalist, one that comes along once in a lifetime. Don't Worry, Keep Kosher written by unknown author (s) English January 25, 2005. The song was even involved in George H. W. Bushs 1988 campaign, as the official song; unfortunately, it was without McFerrins permission. BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS BEATS: In 2020, the comedian Lil Duval recorded a version of Dont Worry, Be Happy with T.I., a once-beloved rapper who is now on his way to Bill Cosby status. In 1994, to add to his already sterling CV, McFerrin gained the accolade of creative chair of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, with whom he embarks on regular tours around the world. Justin Timberlake posts sweet birthday message for 'dream of a partner' Jessica Biel, Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works'. Its a 9.) They are the parents of three children named Jevon, Madison, and Taylor McFerrin. It may sound odd to say this of an album rooted largely in the music of slavery, but spiritYOUall may be the closest thing to a pop album McFerrin's recorded in a long time. Instead, McFerrin took other gigs, like scoring the 1989 Pixar short Knick Knack and performing Pink Panther Theme in 1993s Return Of The Pink Panther. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. I've seen Bobby McFerrin twice before. His response to being a pop star as the '80s turned into the '90s? Bobby McFerrin [mkfrn] 1950 311 - Compatible with Horse or Dog. He has frequently collaborated with other artists from both the jazz and classical scenes. The tale was justly ironic and thus much beloved: the man who'd crooned "In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double" ultimately couldn't stomach what he'd been spooning out to others. He was 85. Bobby McFerrin | Spotify 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 should improvise). Bobby McFerrin 07.30.88 1 2 WKS . Bobbie McFerrin is an exceptional performer. McFerrin won a bunch of jazz Grammys, and at Bill Cosbys request, he sang the season-four theme song for The Cosby Show. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. In 1989, the album Strange Angels was released by Laurie Anderson. Thank you to everyone for your kind words. It's a form of yodeling, I guessAnd then I started tapping the rhythm on my chest and it all came into place.". McFerrin later said that he wasnt trying to sound Jamaican when he recorded the song. Bobby has also been to Cerritos College followed by the University of Illinois Springfield. Bill Cosby helped McFerrin get booked at the Playboy Jazz Festival in 1980, and a performance at New Yorks Kool Jazz Festival the next year got McFerrin a deal with Elektra. The entire idea of a sitting vice president using Dont Worry, Be Happy as a campaign song speaks to a political climate that I frankly cant imagine, though I was alive when it was happening. Robert Keith McFerrin Jr., mais conhecido como Bobby McFerrin ( Nova Iorque, 11 de maro de 1950 ), um msico estadunidense. Robin Williams never met a fake ethnic accent he didnt love; Dont Worry, Be Happy mustve been his favorite fucking song. He started out as a pianist and didn't even think about becoming a singer until 1977, when he was 27, though he "always had a nagging suspicion that I wasn't a pianist," he said. The Cocktail soundtrack was also a big deal. The first portion, he gave numerous a cappella melodies, all beautiful as only McFerrin can do. Il fatto di proporre un concerto/scuola forse doveva essere spiegato all'acquisto del biglietto. The highest-charting single from Andy Sambergs group the Lonely Island, the 2010 Akon collab I Just Had Sex, peaked at #30.). Saturday, March 7, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. . Along with some originals, he covers religious/humanist songs ranging from the Negro-spiritual era on up to Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released"; sometimes playing with scatted vocals in his jazzy trademark way, but sometimes going for more of a bluesy, earthy, Americana feel. Robert McFerrin, Bobbys father, was an operatic baritone singer who served in World War II and then became first Black man ever to sing at New Yorks Metropolitan Opera. At least in part, that's by . I cannot imagine sitting in one of these audiences, but captured on video, his work looks extremely cool. The vocalist has received nominations for the Kids Choice Awards, Soul Train Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards. Bobby McFerrin - IMDb Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2f222a18bcabc3 Gravou vrios clssicos do . "I wanted to do something with a band, and a lot simplerPeople are more aware of my jazz and classical and world music roots, but the rock and blues and soul influences have always been there, too," he said recently. His chart-topping feat would be truly impressive if the song were any good. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. ", A eureka moment arrived one day when he started singing a Joan Armatrading song to himself, jumping around in his four-octave range. Whatever Happened to Bobby McFerrin? Don't Worry, He's Happy - Yahoo! Dont Worry, Be Happy doesnt make a lot of sense as a pop song, but it got a big boost from appearing on the soundtrack of Cocktail, a terrible movie in which Tom Cruise plays Maverick from Top Gun if Maverick from Top Gun was somehow a bartender instead of a fighter pilot. The result that we provided is based on 2022. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Sometimes he would do entirely improvised shows with a 12-piece a cappella vocal group. In this category we find Steve of Blue's Clues and Jared Fogel of those interminable Subway commercials, both of whom have supposedly kicked the bucket any number of ways, but also singer John Denver and kiddy show host Mr. Rogers, both of whom are said to have at one time been snipers. On September 24 of that same year, he performed the theme song for the opening credits of Season 4 of The Cosby Show. Bobby McFerrin was onto something when he titled his second album The Voice. Maybe you know about Bobby McFerrin very well But do you know how old and tall is he and what is his net worth in 2023? BONUS BEATS: Heres the bit from a 1995 Beavis & Butt-Head episode where the Dont Worry, Be Happy video precipitates a couch brawl between Beavis and Butt-Head: BONUS BONUS BEATS: Dont Worry, Be Happy makes frequent appearances in movies, where directors use it to gain easy irony points. Bobby Mcferrin Jr, he is doing well and alive, he is currently 72 as of 2022. Weve had plenty of hit songs where people made funny screeches, percussive plops, and goofy sound-effects with their mouths, but Dont Worry, Be Happy is the only song where those things are the entire song. He's been most comfortable collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, and other jazz and classical musiciansor classical audiences, as when he gets a crowd to sing "Ave Maria" while he performs Bach's "Bach's Prelude No 1 in C Major" as counterpoint. Yet the tale wasn't true. Before that, he had spent six years developing his musical style, the first two years of which he attempted not to listen to other singers at all, in order to avoid sounding like them. On 10 February 1942, the man who in 1915 wrote the music for "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile," took his own life. Join 158,744 fans getting concert alerts for this artist. He was also the singer of the film Son of the Pink Panther. (A few years ago, when Dont Worry, Be Happy turned 30, Brad Shoup wrote a very cool Stereogum story on McFerrins unlikely career. Product Description. Robert Keith McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950)[1] is an American folk and jazz singer. 1989 saw McFerrin compose the music for a Pixar short film entitled Knick Knack. with Judy Collins. Amazon.com: Alive Inside : Dan Cohen, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Rossato In 1988, he came up with his fourth studio album entitled Simple Pleasures. "It wasn't about being famous or being a celebrity. We'll hear tracks from his vast catalog, stories from his illustrious career, and an . McFerrin was honored with the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award on August 20, 2020. "But I always had this idea of performing solo at the back of my mind. The Wilbur - Boston. A cool guy with a cool family. Bush started using it as his campaign song, without McFerrins permission. Bobby McFerrins album Simple Pleasures went gold pretty great for a covers-heavy album of novelty a cappella jazz-pop. His later recordings include Circlesongs (1997) and VOCAbuLarieS (2010), for which he drew from various world-music traditions to create minimally accompanied, harmonically rich choral pieces; the impressionistic jazz album Beyond Words (2002); and Spirityouall (2013), an homage to African American spirituals. More About The Rapper Mother And Father, Was Ivana Trump Religious? Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. He later went to the California State University in Sacramento. He died. "I started singing the bass riff with my chest voice and then jumping up to my falsetto voice to sing the tune. Bobbys son Taylor McFerrin is a beatboxer, producer, and jazz musician. At that time, he performed on the PBS TV special Sing Out America! Bobby McFerrin will celebrate 73rd birthday on a Saturday 11th of March 2023. McFerrin sang a Wizard of Oz medley during that television special. Bobby Mcferrin Jr is worth $4 million as of 2022, per the research we seconded from a few notable websites. January 20, 2022 Host Christian McBride talks with vocalist and 2020 NEA Jazz Master Bobby McFerrin. According to astrologers, Pisces are very friendly, so they often find themselves in a company of very different people. In 1993, he recorded Henry Mancini's "Pink Panther" theme for the movie, Son of the Pink Panther. The days of a cappella overdubbing and one-man-bandsmanship are behind him, for now. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bobby-McFerrin, All About Jazz - Biography of Bobby McFerrin, African American Registry - Bobby McFerrin, Vocalist born, Bobby McFerrin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Bobby McFerrin was onto something when he titled his second album The Voice. McFerrin is also capable of multiphonic singing. In The Number Ones, Im reviewing every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the charts beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present. It is absolutely nothing but clown-ass shit. In 1986, McFerrin was the voice of Santa Bear in Santa Bear's First Christmas, and in 1987 he was the voice of Santa Bear/Bully Bear in the sequel Santa Bear's High Flying Adventure. Bobby McFerrin - Age, Birthday, Biography, Movies, Albums & Facts Don't miss a chance to catch him in concert. He also dropped the song from his own performance repertoire.[9]. Vocalist and conductor whose song "Don't Worry Be Happy" was a hit in 1988. But the Cocktail soundtrack was much, much bigger. McFerrin has also worked in collaboration with instrumentalists, including the pianists Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Zawinul, the drummer Tony Williams, and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. He has been married to Debbie Green since October 18, 1975. 88, but upon being re-released, the unlikeliest of singles soared to No. Bobby has been active in his career for over five decades. Later that year, the two appeared together on a panel at the World Science Festival. - Wikipedia Robert McFerrin Sr. Dead At 85 - CBS News The clip is mostly just ferociously twee physical-comedy mime stuff from Williams, McFerrin, and pratfalling vaudeville comedian Bill Irwin. Toni Basil topped the charts with her 1982 one-hit-wonder 'Hey Mickey'. Choose a language. What a stultifying embrace of the status quo. On record he could improvise all the parts in a vocal group himself, as he did in Dont Worry, Be Happy. In 1995 McFerrin released Paper Music, an album he collaborated on with the St. Paul (Minnesota) Chamber Orchestra that featured orchestral works by Mozart, Bach, Rossini, and other masters, with the melodies sung instead of played. Sara McFerrin's Obituary (1924 - 2019) Orange County Register He formed his first band in high school, and he went on to become a touring keyboardist with the Ice Follies and a piano-bar performer in Salt Lake City. 1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won Song of the Year and Record of the Year honors at the 1989 Grammy Awards. He's joined by another big Grammy winner, Esperanza Spalding, for duet and harmony parts, as well as a full band. In contrast to other performers with '80s-era MTV smashes who might be remembered as "one-hit wonders," the singer doesn't even usually perform "Don't Worry" in concert. 2, Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West, Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore East, Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. His youngest daughter is attending Berklee, but McFerrin favors a different university. Singer Bobby McFerrin performs at The 39th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by Shell - Day 6 at The New Orleans Fair Grounds on May 3, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 3, Jack Johnson (a.k.a. Lets have some more of this! Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track Bobby McFerrin and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 158662 other Bobby McFerrin fans. Fuck 1988. McFerrin issued his self-titled debut album in 1982, and it was followed by The Voice (1984), which was unusual because it featured no accompaniment; Spontaneous Inventions (1985), which featured music by Herbie Hancock and Manhattan Transfer; and Simple Pleasures (1988), which featured the hit song Dont Worry, Be Happy. He also recorded television commercials and a theme song for The Cosby Show; improvised music for actor Jack Nicholsons readings of Rudyard Kiplings childrens stories; and released an album with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, titled Hush, in 1992. Whatever Happened to Bobby McFerrin? Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and theyre ready to pounce at any time. The couple has remained married for over four decades. Later he brought audience members on stage to participate with him in Voicestra-style duets and more. Speaking with our host, Christian McBride, McFerrin recalls the precise moment he realized he was a singer; remembers a formative encounter with the Miles Davis band and reflects on his inspiring musical relationships with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the late pianist Chick Corea. It was in 2009 that McFerrin would feature as a co-host of The Music Instinct, which would go on to be an award winning documentary. He is the son of Sara Copper and Robert McFerrin. 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 Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt.