A Pioneer Passes

I’m not really a fan of opera music but I was reading the newspaper today and read an article about a pioneering opera singer passing away. He was Robert K. McFerrin Sr. Many may recognize the last name, as his son, Bobby McFerrin, had success with the hit song Don’t Worry, Be Happy. He was a St. Louis native.

Robert K. McFerrin Sr., an opera singer from St. Louis who performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, died Friday (Nov. 24, 2006) at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital of a heart attack. He was 85 and lived in Creve Coeur.

Mr. McFerrin was born in Marianna, Ark., the seventh of eight children. He began singing at his father’s church as a boy and continued to pursue music as a student at Sumner High School.

Mr. McFerrin served in the Army in World War II. He married Sara Cooper in 1949. They shared a love of music and reared two children. They later divorced.

Mr. McFerrin graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in music from Chicago Musical College. He received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Harris-Stowe State College in 1987.

Mr. McFerrin is best known for providing the vocals for Sidney Poitier in the 1959 film “Porgy and Bess.” He also starred at the New York Metropolitan Opera, where in 1955, he became the first African-American male to sing solo.

Mr. McFerrin toured internationally, showcasing his rich, baritone voice in concerts and opera houses throughout Europe. He sang with the National Negro Opera Company and appeared on Broadway.

In 1973, Mr. McFerrin moved back to St. Louis, performing regularly at venues such as the Sheldon Concert Hall and the St. Louis Art Museum. Though a stroke in 1989 impaired his speaking ability, he was still able to sing. He continued to perform, teach and tour on a demanding schedule until 1998.

Mr. McFerrin often sang alongside his daughter, Brenda McFerrin of Anaheim, Calif., a recording artist, and his son, Grammy-winning conductor and vocalist Robert “Bobby” McFerrin Jr. of Philadelphia, who is best-known for the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

In 2003, Opera America honored the senior Mr. McFerrin with a lifetime achievement award. He earned a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2004.

Mr. McFerrin married Athena McFerrin in 1994.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Friday until the funeral service at 10 a.m. at Lupton Chapel, 7233 Delmar Boulevard, University City. Interment will be private at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

In addition to his wife and children, among survivors are a sister, Minnie Cartwright of St. Louis; and three grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the McFerrin Endowment, University of Missouri at St. Louis, 1 University Boulevard, St. Louis, Mo. 63121-4400.