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Robert "Bobby" McFerrin Jr. (born New York City, March 11, 1950) is a jazz-influenced a cappella vocal performer and conductor. He is the son of well-known operatic baritone Robert McFerrin. His song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (featured in the 1988 movie Cocktail starring Tom Cruise) was a #1 U.S. pop hit in 1988 and won the Grammy for Best Song of the Year. The song is also commonly mistaken for a Bob Marley song, due to lyrics that are very similar to one of Marley's songs, "Three Little Birds". McFerrin has also worked in collaboration with instrumental performers including pianists Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. He is known for possessing a large vocal range of four octaves and for his ability to use his voice to create sound effects and in vocal percussion, like his recreation of a bass and drums simultaneously, which he achieves by singing while tapping on his chest.

In 1987, he sang the theme tune to The Cosby Show and soon after also provided the music for a Cadburys chocolate commercial.

In 1989, he composed and performed the music for the Pixar short film Knick Knack. The rough cut to which McFerrin recorded his vocals had the words "blah blah blah" in place of the end credits. McFerrin spontaneously decided to sing "blah blah blah" as lyrics, and the final version of the short film includes these lyrics during the end credits.

In 1993, he also sang Henry Mancini's Pink Panther theme tune for the movie Son of the Pink Panther.

In addition to his vocal performing career, Mr. McFerrin was appointed in 1994 as creative chair of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He makes regular tours as a guest conductor for symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. In his concert appearances, he combines serious conducting of classical pieces with his own unique vocal improvisations, often with participation from the audience and the orchestra. (For example, his concerts often end with McFerrin conducting the orchestra in an a capella rendition of the "William Tell Overture," in which the orchestra members sing their musical parts (i.e. "ta da dum, ta da dum, ta da dum dum dum") in McFerrin's vocal style, instead of playing their parts on their instruments.)

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 a son, Taylor, and father and son have collaborated on various musical ventures.

Contents 1 In popular culture 2 Discography 2.1 Solo 2.2 Collaborations 2.3 Guest Appearances 3 Grammys 4 External links

• McFerrin and his hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" were parodied on The Simpsons as "I'm Worried - Need Money".
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was again parodied on Futurama as "Don't Worry, Bee Happy".
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was also used in the 2004 movie Dawn of the Dead as muzak in the shopping mall
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was also used in the 2005 movie Jarhead in the introduction scene of the film.
• He was the subject of a parody in the television series Family Guy, where during one of Stewie Griffin's flashbacks he falls down a flight of stairs while making vocal percussion noises every time his body hits one of the stairs.
• McFerrin is at the center of an ongoing false urban legend which claims, ironically, that he committed suicide after his fame from "Don't Worry, Be Happy" diminished.
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was used in a 2006 TV advert for Walkers crisps in Britain

• Bobby McFerrin (1982)
• The Voice (1984)
• Spontaneous Inventions (1985)
• Elephant's Child (1987)
• Simple Pleasures (1988) ("Don't Worry, Be Happy" - #1 hit single taken from the album)
• How the Rhino Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump (1990)
• Medicine Music (1990) (features the song "Baby", which had a music video that used to be occasionally played on the Disney Channel)
• Many Faces of Bird (1991)
• Sorrow Is Not Forever (1994)
• Paper Music (1995)
• Bang! Zoom (1997)
• Circlesongs (1997)
• Mouth Music (2001)
• Beyond Words (2003) - featuring Chick Corea, Cyro Baptista and Richard Bona

• Bobby McFerrin & Jack Nicholson, The Just So Stories, 1987
• Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea, Play, 1990
• Bobby McFerrin & Yo-Yo Ma, Hush, 1991
• Bobby McFerrin & Chick Corea, The Mozart Sessions, 1996

• Pharaoh 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, Dialects, 1986
• Weather Report, Sportin' Life, 1986
• 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
• Jack DeJohnette, Extra Special Edition, 1994
• Yellowjackets, Dreamland, 1995
• George Martin, In My Life, 1998 - on Come Together with Robin Williams
• Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Little Worlds, 2003
• Chick Corea, Rendez-Vous in New York, 2003
• Wynton Marsalis, Magic Hour, 2004
• Bobby Mcferrin, Family Guy, 2005

• 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 Elephants’ 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"

• Official Site
• Snopes.com on the suicide rumour
• Video
• Bobby McFerrin at All Music Guide