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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Background information
OriginVentura, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1989–present
LabelsBig Bad, Interscope, Capitol, Vanguard, Savoy Records, Concord
Members
Past members
  • Jeff Harris
  • Ralph Votrian
Websitewww.bbvd.com

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing revival band from Southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O", "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)", and "Mr. Pinstripe Suit". The band played at the Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show in 1999.[1]

The band was originally formed in Ventura, California, in 1989 by leader Scotty Morris (guitar and vocals). The band was named Big Bad Voodoo Daddy after Scotty Morris met blues guitar legend Albert Collins at one of the latter's concerts. "He signed my poster 'To Scotty, the big bad voodoo daddy'," Morris explains. "I thought it was the coolest name I ever heard on one of the coolest musical nights I ever had. So when it came time to name this band, I didn't really have a choice. I felt like it was handed down to me."[2]

Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren are the two original members who have appeared in every incarnation of the band. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has concentrated on performing their own interpretations of swing music of the 1940s and 1950s and original songs in a similar style, regularly touring and performing worldwide.

History

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Early career: 1989–1996

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After playing in punk and alternative rock bands during the 1980s, including False Confession, part of the Oxnard, California Nardcore scene, Scotty Morris founded Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with Kurt Sodergren.[3] The band launched two CDs, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Watchu' Want for Christmas? under their own label (Big Bad Records) before getting their big break when their songs "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)", "I Wan'na Be Like You" and "Go Daddy-O" were featured in the soundtrack of the 1996 comedy-drama Swingers.

The band was also the house band for the television game show Big Deal, a partial remake of Let's Make a Deal.

Commercial success: 1997–2004

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From there, they were signed by Interscope Records. With Interscope, the band released Americana Deluxe, This Beautiful Life, and Save My Soul. The band has continued their tours, performances and album releases. The band appeared at the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXIII (January 31, 1999)[4] and the 2006 Capital One Bowl, and also served as the house band for ESPN's ESPY Awards for a few years.[5] The band created a version of the opening theme for the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, which was used for the 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 seasons.

Live performances and return: 2005–present

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They created a new song for the movie The Wild, "Big Time Toppin' (Go Man Go)", and recorded a song for Disney's Phineas and Ferb "Christmas Vacation" special. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy also performed on the hit television show Dancing with the Stars, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote their album How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway, a collection of their renditions of Cab Calloway songs that was released in April 2009.[6] They also have been performing at EPCOT for the annual Food and Wine Festival since 2008.[7][8][9][10][11] They performed at Kahilu Theatre, Waimea, Hawaii and while Sodergren was there, he spoke of going to Morris's house in Ventura and working on a new album beginning February 2019. He also mentioned that the band had played at one of Donald Trump's birthday parties.[4] Their website was updated for their 30th anniversary, which took place in 2023, and mentions upcoming releases.[12]

Band members

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Current members
Touring members
Former members

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[13]
US
Indie

[14]
US
Jazz

[15]
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Big Bad
Americana Deluxe
  • Released: February 24, 1998
  • Label: Interscope, Coolsville
47
This Beautiful Life
  • Released: October 19, 1999
  • Label: Interscope, Coolsville
93
Save My Soul
  • Released: July 8, 2003
  • Label: Big Bad, Vanguard
195 12
Everything You Want for Christmas
  • Released: October 12, 2004
  • Label: Big Bad, Vanguard
31
How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway
  • Released: April 21, 2009
  • Label: Big Bad, Vanguard
Rattle Them Bones 129 2
It Feels Like Christmas Time
  • Released: October 22, 2013
  • Label: Savoy
Louie Louie Louie
  • Released: June 16, 2017
  • Label: Savoy
7

Live albums

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Title Details
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Live
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Big Bad, Vanguard

Compilation albums

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Title Details
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy[16]
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Interscope

Extended plays

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Title Details
Watchu' Want for Christmas?
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: Big Bad

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[17]
US Alt
[17]
"You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight (Baby)" 1998 104 31 Americana Deluxe

Filmography

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  • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy appeared as themselves in Night of the Living Doo, a special farcical episode of Scooby-Doo.
  • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy appeared as themselves in the 1996 film Swingers, in which they played a set (including "You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)") at a club that the characters visit.
  • An uncredited appearance as the band at Salinger's Restaurant in the Party of Five season 2 episode "Change Partners... And Dance".
  • The band appeared on an episode of Hell's Kitchen when they attended dinner service in the twelfth episode of Season 13.
  • In 1999, the band appeared in season 2 episode 19 of Ally McBeal, "Let's Dance", during a swing dance competition.
  • The band performed the theme song for the NBA on TNT from 1999–2000.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Live In Los Angeles NPR Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  2. ^ Mondavi swings to the jive of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy July 9, 2014 • By L Pierce Carson Napa Valley Register Retrieved October 17, 2014
  3. ^ McAlpine, Ken (3 January 2017). "Exclusive Interview | For Big Bad Voodoo Daddy lead singer Scotty Morris, Ventura is home sweet home". Visit Ventura. Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Roby, Steve (January 4, 2019). "Talking Story With Kurt Sodergren – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Cofounder". Big Island Music Magazine. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "Did you know?". Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  6. ^ “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy” Archived 2012-08-13 at the Wayback Machine (PDF). Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Eat to the Beat! 2008 concert lineup". Wdwmagic.com. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. ^ "Eat to the Beat 2009 Concert Line-Up". WDW News Today. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  9. ^ "'Eat to the Beat' Concert Series Lineup at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival « Disney Parks Blog". Disney. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. ^ "'Eat to the Beat' 2011 Concert Series Lineup at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival « Disney Parks Blog". Disney. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  11. ^ "Eat to the Beat Concerts | Epcot Food & Wine Festival | Walt Disney World Resort". Disney. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  12. ^ "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy". Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  13. ^ "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  14. ^ "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Chart History: Jazz Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy". Apple Music. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Top Songs". musicvf. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  18. ^ NBA on TNT Theme (99-2000) on YouTube
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