Photo: Steve Jurvetson at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bobby McFerrin was born in Manhattan, New York, United States on March 11, 1950. Public records list Bobby McFerrin as a singer, conductor and jazz musician. That works out to 76 years old in 2026. Education on record includes Cathedral High School and California State University, Sacramento. Recorded honors include Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992), Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices (1985), Grammy Award for Song of the Year (1988) and 1 more.
My Take
Bobby McFerrin is one of those rare artists who turned a limitation into liberation by treating the human voice as an entire orchestra. Most people know him only for Don't Worry, Be Happy, but that hit obscures a far deeper career of jazz Grammys, overtone singing, vocal percussion, and later conducting. What captivates me is his sheer fearlessness with improvisation, the sense that he is playing rather than performing. He makes virtuosity feel weightless and joyful, which is much harder than it looks. For me he stands as proof that true mastery often arrives wearing a smile.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bobby McFerrin
- Name (Japanese)
- ボビー・マクファーリン
- Reading
- ぼびー・まくふぁーりん
- Born
- March 11, 1950 (age 76)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Tiger
- Origin
- Manhattan, New York, United States
- Occupation
- singer / conductor / jazz musician / beatboxer / recording artist
2. Background
- High school
- Cathedral High School
- University
- California State University, Sacramento
Awards & achievements
- 1985 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
- 1985 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices
- 1986 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
- 1987 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
- 1988 Grammy Award for Song of the Year
- 1988 Grammy Award for Record of the Year
- 1988 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
- 1992 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Voice | — | |
| Notable work | Don't Worry, Be Happy | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://bobbymcferrin.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby%20McFerrin
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9C%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AF%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310894
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bobby McFerrin born?
Born March 11, 1950 (age 76).
Where is Bobby McFerrin from?
Bobby McFerrin is from Manhattan, New York, United States.
What does Bobby McFerrin do?
Bobby McFerrin works as singer, conductor, jazz musician, beatboxer, recording artist.
What is Bobby McFerrin known for?
Notable works include The Voice, Don't Worry, Be Happy.
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