Bobby McFerrin Coming to Town
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
``Don't Worry, Be Happy….'' Who could forget? A cappella vocalist Bobby McFerrin will perform in Seoul on Jan. 25. His concert comes three years after he first visited Korea in 2004.
Born in the UK but raised in New York, his father was renowned opera singer Robert McFerrin.
``Don't Worry, Be Happy,''' one of the most beloved songs of his hit numbers, which was featured in the 1988 movie Cocktail starring Tom Cruise, topped the U.S. pop charts in 1988 and won the Grammy for Best Song of the Year.
McFerrin has collaborated with instrumental performers such as pianists Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
He exels in a broad vocal range of four octaves and can use his voice to create vocal percussion such as bass and drums simultaneously by tapping his chest, while singing.
Aside from his live vocal performances he has recorded albums, in which he sings and delivers simulated performances of other instruments, such as ``Beyond Words'' and ``Voices,'' that have gone platinum.
McFerrin was also named in 1994 as creative chair conductor of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
He tours as a guest conductor for symphony orchestras throughout the United States and Canada.
In his tours with the orchestra, he usually shows off his conducting ability of classical pieces by adding some of his vocal improvisations.
McFerrin also participates in various music education programs, and volunteers to appear as a guest music teacher and lecturer at public schools throughout the U.S. However, since late 1970s, he has concentrated on jazz vocals more than any other music genre.
The concert will be held at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul at 8 p.m. on Jan. 25.
Tickets cost from 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.