Question 1

True or false: 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' was originally written for a toothpaste commercial.

Accepted Answer

False. The song was written by Bobby McFerrin, inspired by a Meher Baba slogan. It was not created for a commercial; it was later featured in the 1988 film 'Cocktail'.

Question 2

True or false: Bobby McFerrin retired from music in the 1990s after the death of his wife.

Accepted Answer

False. He never retired; he continued recording, touring, and collaborating. His wife Debbie died in 2016, but he remained active.

Question 3

True or false: Bobby McFerrin is the son of the opera singer Robert McFerrin Sr., the first Black man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera.

Accepted Answer

True. His father, Robert McFerrin Sr., was a pioneering baritone who debuted at the Met in 1955.

Question 4

True or false: Bobby McFerrin was trained as a classical pianist before becoming a vocalist.

Accepted Answer

False. He studied voice and piano briefly, but his primary training was as a vocalist; he didn't have extensive classical piano training.

Question 5

True or false: Bobby McFerrin won ten Grammy Awards, including one for his hit 'Don't Worry, Be Happy.'

Accepted Answer

True. He has won 10 Grammys, and 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' won Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1989.

Question 6

True or false: Bobby McFerrin's 1984 album 'The Voice' is a live solo a cappella album recorded without any instruments or overdubs.

Accepted Answer

True. Released in 1984, 'The Voice' was performed entirely by McFerrin using only his voice, with no instrumental backing or studio overdubs. It was recorded live in concert.

Question 7

True or false: Bobby McFerrin invented a unique vocal technique called 'overtone singing', which Bobby McFerrin uses in all performances.

Accepted Answer

False. Bobby McFerrin uses multiphonics and vocal percussion, not overtone singing. Overtone singing is a traditional technique from Tuva and Mongolia, and McFerrin does not claim to have invented it.

Question 8

True or false: McFerrin once conducted a symphony orchestra using only his voice and body movements, without a baton.

Accepted Answer

True. He famously conducted the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and others using vocalizations and gestures, blending conducting with performance.

Bobby McFerrin Trivia Questions