Bobby McFerrin's videos
July 2, 2019, Jazz à Vienne. Bobby McFerrin
Vocals / Percussion / Double Bass
Bobby McFerrin
(1950–)
Bobby McFerrin (b. 1950) — Vocals, Percussion. Led The Voice, Spontaneous Inventions, Simple Pleasures. Worked with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea.
McFerrin uses no instruments — his voice simultaneously carries bassline, melody, and percussion. Known worldwide for Don't Worry, Be Happy, his true range runs far beyond that: duets with Herbie Hancock, conducting major orchestras, and free improvisation that makes the voice sound like an entire band.
Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1988, becoming the first a cappella song ever to top the U.S. chart. At the 1989 Grammys it swept Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
After meeting at Leonard Bernstein's 70th birthday at Tanglewood in 1988, Bobby McFerrin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma recorded Hush at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock in August 1991. Released on Sony Masterworks in 1992, the album peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200.
Bobby McFerrin's leader album
The chart-topping single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' from Simple Pleasures (1988) hit No. 1 with zero instruments on it. Every bass note and percussion hit is Bobby McFerrin's own voice, multi-tracked — there was never a band.
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In the library. "Wait, is this all his voice?" Yui is amazed. Music made with zero instruments.