Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will shake things up with all things swing at The Colonial on Saturday, March 19 at 8:00 PM! Last year marked the 23rd anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s remarkable arrival onto the music scene. Since its formation in the early 1990s in Ventura, California, the band has toured virtually nonstop — performing an average of more than 150 shows a year — and has also produced a sizable catalog of recorded music, with sales of more than two million albums to date.
Early on, during their legendary residency at The Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, they reminded the world (in the midst of the grunge era, no less) that it was still cool to swing. The band, co-founded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, was at the forefront of the swing revival of that time, blending a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and dixieland with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s all original core lineup includes Scotty Morris (lead vocals and guitar), Kurt Sodergren (drums), Dirk Shumaker (double bass and vocals), Andy Rowley (baritone saxophone and vocals), Glen “The Kid” Marhevka (trumpet), Karl Hunter (saxophones and clarinet) and Joshua Levy (piano and arranger). Joining them on the road are Anthony Bonsera Jr. (trumpet) and Alex Henderson (trombone.)
The band’s efforts to promote and revitalize swing music have taken shape as much more than a simple tribute. Taking inspiration from the creators of this uniquely American art form, the band’s original horn-infused music and legendary high-energy show introduces the genre to a new, younger generation while remaining cognizant and respectful of the music’s rich legacy.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s first phase of stardom featured an appearance in the 1996 indie film Swingers, a movie that not only launched the careers of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, but also introduced Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to an audience beyond their Los Angeles base. The band’s music has appeared in countless films and television shows since then, including The Wild, Despicable Me, Friends, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Ally McBeal, So You Think You Can Dance and Phineas & Ferb. The band has made a remarkable total of seven appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and has also appeared live on Dancing With the Stars, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show. The band has also performed with many of the country’s most distinguished symphony orchestras, and for three U.S. Presidents.
After 23 years, 10 records, more than 2,700 live shows, and countless appearances in film and on television, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is showing no signs of slowing down. The band is looking forward to celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017.