I did the one concert, and I was not bitten by the conducting bug, and I thought I was done, but then the phone started to ring, and gradually, over time, I started conducting more and more. Now a third of my performances are with orchestras. Bobby McFerrin More Quotes by Bobby McFerrin More Quotes From Bobby McFerrin I prepared five songs, I sang them, and he hired me. I started working about a month later at the piano bar. Bobby McFerrin ukulele piano song Here's a little song I wrote Bobby McFerrin want worry song I couldn't do anything without faith. I couldn't open up my eyes, I couldn't walk, I couldn't speak, I couldn't sing. Bobby McFerrin walks eye speak I played piano as a kid; I still play a little bit. Bobby McFerrin piano play kids But, if there's any aspect of my career that needs attention, it's writing. Bobby McFerrin careers writing needs It's not that I don't love the song. My songs are like my children: some you want around and some you want to send off to college as soon as possible. Bobby McFerrin college song children Miles Davis turned his back to the audience when he came out on stage, and he offended people. But, he wasn't there to entertain; he was all about the music. I kind of do that. Bobby McFerrin host kind people I grew up in a time when being a musician and learning to be a musician was actually very wonderful. Bobby McFerrin musician grew-up wonderful Well, I started conducting kind of by accident. I wanted to give myself a special birthday present for my fortieth birthday, and I was living in San Francisco at the time and I started attending some of the concerts and then simply dropping hints. Bobby McFerrin san-francisco birthday giving Inviting audiences to open up and hear things differently is an important part of what I do. But I still love to sing songs with words, too. Bobby McFerrin audience important song I like to use the audience as my color palette, my instrument. Bobby McFerrin instrument like audience color Then when I was in grammar school I played the clarinet, and then, after clarinet I played the flute in college orchestra - besides singing in the college chorus and things like that. Bobby McFerrin things singing college school Then I left that school and I went to Cerritos College, which was in southern California; they had one of the best big band programs in the country at the time. Bobby McFerrin best time country school If I can bring joy into the world, if I can get people to stop thinking about their pain for a moment, or the fact the tomorrow morning they're going to get up and tell their boss off... then I'll be successful. Bobby McFerrin moment pain morning people