OPERA PIONEER McFERRIN DIES
Grammy Award winner BOBBY McFERRIN’s father ROBERT McFERRIN SR died after suffering a heart attack in St Louis, Missouri on Friday (24NOV06). He was 85.
McFerrin won the Metropolitan Opera national auditions in 1953 and debuted as the company’s first black male member in AIDA.
He performed in 10 operas over three seasons and providing the vocals for SIDNEY POITIER in the 1959 movie PORGY AND BESS.
Born in Arkansas, the son of a strict Baptist minister, McFerrin was one of eight children. He was forbidden to sing anything but gospel music while he was growing up.
Despite suffering a stroke in 1989, he continued to perform for many years.
He is survived by his second wife ATHENA, his sister, two children and three grandchildren.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
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