In 1977 and '78, 10-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Bobby McFerrin was studying music at the University of Utah. He was the accompanist for the U. Modern Dance Department, where he had a thought that was life-altering.
"I decided to be a vocal musician instead of a musician," said McFerrin during a phone call from his home in Philadelphia. "And my first vocal gigs were at the Hilton Hotel's Room at the Top club."
McFerrin was in Salt Lake City seven years ago, visiting his old digs at the Hilton.
"I went to see how the place was and I found out that they were still using the same sound system that I had used 30 years ago. What was up with that?"
For McFerrin, music has always come easy. His parents were opera singers, and he had quite a bit of exposure to all types of music at an early age.
"I always thought, however, that good things always take time," he said. "I thought you had to go through a lot of pain and sweat to do something good. But one day I thought to myself, 'You know, I think I'm pretty good at music. So why don't I do that for a living.'
"There were no earthquakes and a big booming voice that said, 'Bobby! You will be a musician!' or anything like that. No. It was just a thought, and that started it."
Throughout his career McFerrin found that it moved along, thanks to the fact that doors opened to him in a timely manner.
"Meeting (jazz singer) Jon Hendricks was a door that opened to me," McFerrin said. "I was singing in a club in New York where Jon Hendricks and Bill Cosby would come into. One night they came in and saw me singing and Bill asked me to sing and record the opening theme for his TV show."
Commercials, movie scores and albums were all part of McFerrin's career until the No. 1 single "Don't Worry, Be Happy" hit the charts in 1988.
From there, Bobby McFerrin became a household name. But he wanted to do more, so he began conducting.
Interestingly, the most challenging aspect of conducting orchestra for McFerrin is preparing a Mozart score, for example, for a session.
"Mozart, Mozart, Mozart," he said. "He is my favorite classical composer. I like his impish joyfulness."
In addition to working with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra; McFerrin is also the creative chairman of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
He also holds workshops when he's on tour. In fact, he will have workshops for 150 U. music students while he is in Salt Lake City. And he will feature some of these musicians in his concert.
"I don't like to tie myself down with predestined workshops," he said with a laugh. "I like to feel the energy of the workshops and improvise. It's more exciting and keeps it fresh."
McFerrin said that same attitude is applied to his concerts.
"There is nothing like asking someone to come up and join me on stage," he said, "and to hear some wonderful talent. It happens. I ask someone in the moment to come up and play or sing and find they have a gift. And that is more exciting than anything."
More exciting that collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma and Chick Corea?
"Yes. And it's all about sharing the experience with the performers and the audience."
If you go
What: Bobby McFerrin
Where: Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah
When: March 7, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $29.50-$49.50
Phone: 801-581-7100
E-mail: scott@desnews.com