Walt Disney Records:
Biography of Bobby McFerrin
Grammy® Award-winning artist Bobby McFerrin provides both the voice and "instrumentals" on "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" from The Music of Disney's Cinderella. McFerrin is famous for his distinctive approach to the concept of the one-man band. He alternates upper and lower registers of his voice to create the illusion of multiple singers and uses his hands, chest, and feet to simulate a rhythm section.
Aside from winning ten Grammy® Awards, recording a #1 pop single, and becoming one of the most inventive voices in jazz, McFerrin has also conducted most of America's greatest orchestras.
McFerrin's recent release, Paper Music (Sony Classical), is his first recording as a conductor. It is the result of five years of live conducting and includes McFerrin's use of his voice as a solo "instrument" in several selections. He made his conducting debut in 1990 with the San Francisco Symphony. Since then, he has led the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, Washington, D.C.'s National Symphony and dozens of other orchestras. In 1994 McFerrin accepted the position of Creative Chair with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Paper Music is one result of this ongoing collaboration.
McFerrin's first classical music recording was the 1992 Hush (Sony Classical), a set of duets with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Like so many of his solo and jazz ensemble recordings, Hush quickly became a bestseller. Future classical projects of McFerrin's include an opera commisioned by the San Francisco Opera with a libretto by the renowned novelist/poet Ishmael Reed.
Since his debut recording in 1982, McFerrin has practically reinvented the voice as an instrument in jazz, and at the same time, popularized the idea of improvised music to new audiences--especially kids--around the world. The lead instrument in the theme to TV's The Cosby Show was his voice. The entire soundtrack to the children's video How the Camel Got His Hump consists of McFerrin's unique vocals. The main theme to the film Round Midnight and the hit single "Don't Worry, Be Happy" are other familiar examples of McFerrin's vocal talents. He has collaborated with a typically diverse group of people--from Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea to Robin Williams and the Muppets.
In addition to his busy conducting schedule, McFerrin has formed two touring groups, a jazz trio called Bang Zoom and a vocal group called Hard Choral. He's also recorded an album of original jazz compositions with members of the Yellowjackets, and continues to do unaccompanied solo performances. And as a crucial part of his position with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, McFerrin continues on his mission to educate children about the joys of making and hearing music--in any genre.