The Ditty Bops
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n band from Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Though previously with Warner Brothers, they now self-produce. They are noted for their tight vocal harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
and playful style. They are headed by Abby DeWald
Abby DeWald
Abby DeWald sings lead vocals and plays acoustic guitar in the California-based group known as The Ditty Bops. She was born and raised in Shasta County and currently resides in Los Angeles....
(vocals and acoustic guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Amanda Barrett (vocals, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
and dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
). Their music is reminiscent of such artists as Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
and Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
, but incorporates a variety of musical styles such as folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, western swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
, ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
and musical theater. Their live shows are often very interactive, and have different themes and theatrical elements complete with props, costumes, skits, and amusing slide shows.
Romantically involved since 1999, DeWald and Barrett met in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
but formed The Ditty Bops years later after a hunt for a neighbor's lost cat. When they unwittingly crossed into the backyard of a stranger, they discovered that he was a musician and an avid guitar collector. He encouraged them to form a band and start playing .
Six of their songs have been included on the hit ABC show Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. Their song "There's a Girl" is on the series soundtrack.
The Ditty Bops appeared in Season 4, Episode 9 of The L Word
The L Word
The L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
.
The Ditty Bops have appeared twice on Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
: May 7, 2005 from Mitchell, South Dakota; and June 18, 2005 from Highland Park, Illinois.
From May 23 through September 2, 2006, the Ditty Bops embarked on a cross-country tour by bicycle to promote the release of their second album, Moon Over the Freeway
Moon Over the Freeway
Moon Over The Freeway is the second studio album from the folk/swing band The Ditty Bops released in 2006.-Track listing:# "Moon Over The Freeway" – 3:15# "Angel With An Attitude" – 2:31# "Fall Awake" – 3:40# "Aluminum Can" – 3:28...
, while advocating a call-to-action about pollution and energy conservation. They traveled from Los Angeles to New York City, logging 4,502.75 miles.
In October 2008, Abby and Amanda announced their marriage in California via an e-mail message to their fans and MySpace Blog.
Bob Dylan's 2009 Christmas Album " Christmas in the Heart" features the duo.
Discography
- The Ditty BopsThe Ditty Bops (album)The Ditty Bops is the self-titled debut album by the folk/swing band The Ditty Bops. Released on Warner Bros. Records in 2004, it features a cover of the old standard "Sister Kate."...
(CD) – Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
– 2004 - Moon Over The FreewayMoon Over the FreewayMoon Over The Freeway is the second studio album from the folk/swing band The Ditty Bops released in 2006.-Track listing:# "Moon Over The Freeway" – 3:15# "Angel With An Attitude" – 2:31# "Fall Awake" – 3:40# "Aluminum Can" – 3:28...
(CD) – Warner Bros. Records – 2006 - Pack Rat (EP) – Ditty Bops Music – 2007
- Summer RainsSummer Rains (album)Summer Rains is the third studio album from the folk/swing band The Ditty Bops released in 2008. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best Recording Package.-Track listing:# "Summer Rains" – 3:20# "When's She Comin' Home" – 2:56...
(CD) – Ditty Bops Music – 2008 - Songs for Steve (EP) – Ditty Bops Music – 2009
- The Color Album (EP) – Ditty Bops Music – 2010
- Love Letters (CD) – Ditty Bops Music – 2011
Interviews
External links
- Official Facebook Page -For most current news and info from the band itself
- The Ditty Bops at The Rock Hard Times, comprehensive discography, music videos, mp3s
- The Ditty Bops collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive - Interview with music from The Ditty Bops
- The Ditty Bops on Last.fm
- Interview with Amanda Barrett on Sepiachord