It's only 1:24 pm Eastern time and already it has been one of Mike's All-Time Unforgettable Days. He attended a Q&A hour at American University (his school) where the person on stage was Bobby McFerrin, one of the stellar vocal and music performers of our day.
McFerrin's big hit was "Don't Worry, Be Happy", but Mike and I have been Bobby McFerrin devotees since he performed the Wizard of Oz soundtrack on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion a long,long time ago (YouTube link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1mvfzoHm9g). When Mike was in high school we saw McFerrin live in Newark Symphony Hall. There's a story there, too.
McFerrin is more than a "trick singer". He's an accomplished musician, jazz artist, conductor and teacher. He led the St. Paul (MN) Orchestra for years. Look here for the CD on which he collaborated with Yo Yo Ma
I will leave the full story of the day to Mike. But the very short version is that Bobby McFerrin sang him "Happy Birthday". That plus an hour of talk with this music luminary has made Mike's day.
Happy Birthday, sweetie!
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