Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

False. The song was written for the 1988 film 'Cocktail,' not for a commercial. The myth likely stems from its catchy, jingle-like feel.

Question 2

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 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 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 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 invented a unique vocal technique called 'overtone singing' that he uses in all his performances.

Accepted Answer

False. He uses multiphonics and vocal percussion, but overtone singing is a separate technique practiced by Tuvan and Mongolian singers; McFerrin doesn't claim to have invented it.

Question 7

True or false: McFerrin's album 'The Voice' was the first solo a cappella album to become a commercial success.

Accepted Answer

True. Released in 1984, 'The Voice' was a landmark all-vocal album, recorded live with no instruments or overdubs, and it sold well.

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