Wendy and the kids and I had the pleasure once again of hearing the modern swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy last night and, as usual, they didn’t disappoint. After almost 18 years and with most of the original cats still in the band, they made it look easy as they rocked the house with their well-oiled show. For Wendy, It was bring back the old days as she remembered how she used to dance every Wednesday night at The Derby in LA to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Yup, that’s where the band really got their start along with shows up and down the California coast.
For all the years I’ve known the band, I have always been very impressed with how the guys in the band have been able to stay together and continue to earn more than adequate livings for themselves all these years. We got a chance to catch up with the band’s leader, singer, guitarist, and song writer, Scotty Morris along with original members, Glen, Andy, Kurt and Dirk after the show. And, although I wasn’t surprised to hear it, Scotty reminded me of the most fundamental thing that leads to success in the music business: just do what you do, and do it well.
When the band started playing The Derby every Wednesday night in the early nineties, swing music had taken hold of the singles scene in LA and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy delivered it hot. Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn were regulars on Wednesday nights and when they started work on the cult comedy hit movie “Swingers,” they just had to have Big Bad Voodoo Daddy part of the story. “Go Daddy ‘O” and “You and Me and The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)” were featured in the film and launched Big Bad Voodoo Daddy into the national spot-light, got them signed to Capitol Records, and enabled them to book themselves into clubs and theatres around the Country including the SuperBowl XXXIII half-time show in 1999. They had made two records under their own label and then released three more with Capitol Records. Now signed to indie label Vanguard Records, they continue to tour regularly.
One big thing the band has always done: after every show, they all come out into the lobby and meet and greet the fans and sign autographs and take pictures with anyone who wants one. This, in my opinion, is one of the single most important things any band could do to build a fan base.
Touring has lead them to many opportunities. Last father’s day for example, my kids gave a musical card and, of course, it featured “Go Daddy ‘O,” one of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s biggest hits. When I asked Scotty how he put that together, he said – “…they came to us.” When the band was doing a show in Kansas City, home of Hallmark Cards, two woman from Hallmark – they were big fans – came backstage at the show showing off a couple of demo cards they had put together with the band’s music.
Over the last few years, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has played numerous Pops programs of American Symphony Orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Atlanta Symphony just to name a few. They created a new song for the movie The Wilde 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?, a collection of their renditions of Cab Calloway songs in April 2009.
Most of the band’s success comes from their live shows. They have cultivated loyal fans over the years who continue to introduce them to opportunities. But, most importantly, they are very professional and make friends wherever they go. We can all learn a few things from them.
Catch them this Monday night at BB Kings in NYC or when they come to your town soon.
