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The Ditty Bops were an American band from Los Angeles, California that began with Warner Brothers, and later self-produced recordings. Noted for their tight vocal harmonies by Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett, they incorporated a variety of musical styles such as folk, bluegrass, blues, western swing, ragtime and musical theater with guitar, ukulele, mandolin and dulcimer. Their live shows were often very interactive, and had different themes and theatrical elements complete with props, costumes, skits, and amusing slide shows.
The Ditty Bops | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk, bluegrass, country, blues, western swing, ragtime |
| Years active | 2004–2012 |
| Labels | Warner Brothers independent |
| Members | Abby DeWald, Amanda Barrett |
| Website | http://www.thedittybops.com/ |
History
editRomantically involved since 1999, DeWald and Barrett met in New York City and 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.[1]
Their music has been on the ABC show Grey's Anatomy, including "There's a Girl," which is featured on the show's soundtrack CD.[2] The band has also appeared on The L Word.[3]
The Ditty Bops appeared twice on Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor: May 7, 2005 from Mitchell, South Dakota[4] and June 18, 2005, from Highland Park, Illinois.[5]
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, 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.[6]
In October 2008, Abby and Amanda announced their marriage in California via an e-mail message to their fans and MySpace Blog.[7]
Discography
edit- The Ditty Bops (CD) – Warner Bros. Records – 2004
- Moon Over the Freeway (CD) – Warner Bros. Records – 2006
- Pack Rat (EP) – Ditty Bops Music – 2007
- Summer Rains (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
- Jelly for President - Yes We Jam (CD) – Ditty Bops Music – 2011
References
edit- ^ Nagy, Evie (9 July 2008). "The Ditty Bops". GO! (July 9, 2008). Retrieved April 9, 2015.
- ^ "Grey's Anatomy - Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ Levack, Chandler. "The Ditty Bops". The Village Voice (September 22, 2009).
- ^ "A Prairie Home Companion: May 7, 2005". American Public Media. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "A Prairie Home Companion: June 18, 2005". American Public Media. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ Billboard Going GREEN
- ^ The Ditty Bops MySpace Blog Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit- Official Facebook page - for 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 Archive's live music archive
- Interview with music from The Ditty Bops
- The Ditty Bops on Last.fm
- Interview with Amanda Barrett on Sepiachord