Baby Dee
Encyclopedia
Baby Dee is an American
performance art
ist, multi-instrumentalist
, and singer-songwriter
from Cleveland
, Ohio
.
In the 90s, Baby Dee met fellow transgender
musician
and performance art
ist Antony Hegarty
. The two became friends, and Hegarty later invited Dee to perform harp on his 1998 debut album, Antony and the Johnsons
. During this time, Dee returned to her childhood home in Cleveland and took up work as a tree surgeon. Never having envisioned herself as a recording artist, Dee gave Hegarty songs she had written in hopes that he would perform them. Hegarty, instead, sent them to his friend David Tibet
, founder of the music group Current 93
. Tibet contacted Dee encouraging her to record an album for his label, Durtro
.
. The album was composed and produced by Dee and featured only her, singing and playing piano on seven songs bookended by two accordion instrumentals. Though the album went largely unnoticed at the time of its release, the few reviews it did receive were often positive.
Dee released her second album, Love's Small Song
, in 2002. This album was recorded in much the same fashion as the first, with Dee acting as the sole producer, composer, and performer. This time, though, the album contained more varied instrumentation with layered tracks of vocals, piano, accordion, and harp. Dee even set the entire album against a recording of birdsong. Still, while the album received a few very positive reviews, it, too, garnered little attention.
In 2007, the out-of-print albums Little Window and Love's Small Song along with Made for Love, a 2005 three-song EP, were re-released in a 2-CD compilation entitled The Robin's Tiny Throat.
and Matt Sweeney
who were both fans of her work. They offered to produce an album for her, and, while initially hesitant, Dee soon agreed.
In 2008, Dee released her third official studio album and debut for Drag City
, Safe Inside the Day
. The album was her first to feature collaborators. Other performers included producers Oldham and Sweeney and fellow eccentric personality/singer-songwriter Andrew WK. The album garnered significantly more attention than its predecessors and was well-reviewed by most.
In 2010, Dee released her fourth album, a re-recording of a limited-edition book and CD entitled A Book of Songs for Anne Marie
released by Durtro in 2004. The recording significantly expanded on the original version adding chamber orchestration and three additional songs. The album also featured Dee, for the first time, predominantly using harp as opposed to piano. Following in the path of Safe Inside the Day, it gained the artist further visibility and recognition. It was released on the Drag City label in America and on Tin Angel Records in the UK.
In 2011, Baby Dee released her fifth album, Regifted Light
. The album was recorded in Dee's home and produced by friend and collaborator Andrew WK. It featured mainly instrumental tracks performed on a Steinway D
grand piano with a small backing band.
, Andrew WK, and many other artists on the New York City
scene. She has toured extensively with Current 93
, playing piano
and harp
. She has also toured with Marc Almond
and The Dresden Dolls
.
Compilations
Singles & EPs
Live Albums
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
ist, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
, and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Early career
In the 1970s, Baby Dee began her musical career as a street performer, but soon decided to take work as an organist at a Catholic church in the Bronx. Ten years later, after Dee had began her transition into life as a woman, she left her job at the church and returned to her earlier occupation as a performance artist. She performed as an accordion-playing bilateral hermaphrodite in Coney Island leading to a stint as the bandleader for the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. She also became known for a street act in which she played harp atop a high-rise tricycle in Manhattan.In the 90s, Baby Dee met fellow transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
ist Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons.-Early life:...
. The two became friends, and Hegarty later invited Dee to perform harp on his 1998 debut album, Antony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons (album)
Antony and the Johnsons is the debut album by Antony and the Johnsons, released in 1998.-Releases:Originally, the album was released in 1998 on David Tibet's label Durtro...
. During this time, Dee returned to her childhood home in Cleveland and took up work as a tree surgeon. Never having envisioned herself as a recording artist, Dee gave Hegarty songs she had written in hopes that he would perform them. Hegarty, instead, sent them to his friend David Tibet
David Tibet
David Tibet is a British poet and artist who founded the music group Current 93, of which he is the only full-time member. He had earlier collaborated with Psychic TV and 23 Skidoo...
, founder of the music group Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
. Tibet contacted Dee encouraging her to record an album for his label, Durtro
Durtro
Durtro was a British independent record label, established by the British poet, singer, songwriter, and visual artist David Tibet in 1988, to publish his own work, and that of fellow friends and musicians. It was replaced by one of Tibet's earlier labels, Coptic Cat, in 2010.Nearly every release...
.
The Durtro Years: 2000-2006
In 2001, Baby Dee released her debut album, Little WindowLittle Window
Little Window is the debut album of American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. The album was released in 2002 on the Durtro label. It was produced, composed, and performed entirely by Dee alone.Little Window is currently out of print as a lone album...
. The album was composed and produced by Dee and featured only her, singing and playing piano on seven songs bookended by two accordion instrumentals. Though the album went largely unnoticed at the time of its release, the few reviews it did receive were often positive.
Dee released her second album, Love's Small Song
Love's Small Song
Love's Small Song is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. The album was released in 2002 and consisted of two discs. The first disc contains songs composed and performed by Dee. The second is made up entirely of birdsongs recorded in the backyard of Dee's mother's...
, in 2002. This album was recorded in much the same fashion as the first, with Dee acting as the sole producer, composer, and performer. This time, though, the album contained more varied instrumentation with layered tracks of vocals, piano, accordion, and harp. Dee even set the entire album against a recording of birdsong. Still, while the album received a few very positive reviews, it, too, garnered little attention.
In 2007, the out-of-print albums Little Window and Love's Small Song along with Made for Love, a 2005 three-song EP, were re-released in a 2-CD compilation entitled The Robin's Tiny Throat.
Drag City: 2007-Present
By 2006, Baby Dee had grown tired of recording and returned to private life at her Cleveland home. Unfortunately, Dee's tree climbing career was cut short when a tree she was doctoring fell on a customer's home. The incident left Dee jobless and in need of money. Soon though, Dee came into luck when she met musicians Will OldhamWill Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
and Matt Sweeney
Matt Sweeney
Matt Sweeney is a guitarist, vocalist, and producer who has worked with various musicians and groups.-Biography:Sweeney's high school band Skunk released two albums on Twin/Tone records...
who were both fans of her work. They offered to produce an album for her, and, while initially hesitant, Dee soon agreed.
In 2008, Dee released her third official studio album and debut for Drag City
Drag City
Drag City may refer to:*"Drag City" , a 1963 song from Jan & Dean's album of the same name*Drag City , an indie record label...
, Safe Inside the Day
Safe Inside the Day
Safe Inside the Day is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. Released on January 21, 2008, it was her debut album on the Drag City label. It was Dee's first album to feature collaborators. It was produced by and features Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney...
. The album was her first to feature collaborators. Other performers included producers Oldham and Sweeney and fellow eccentric personality/singer-songwriter Andrew WK. The album garnered significantly more attention than its predecessors and was well-reviewed by most.
In 2010, Dee released her fourth album, a re-recording of a limited-edition book and CD entitled A Book of Songs for Anne Marie
A Book of Songs for Anne Marie
A Book of Songs for Anne Marie is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. It was released on April 20, 2010 under the Drag City label in the US and on Tin Angel Records in the UK...
released by Durtro in 2004. The recording significantly expanded on the original version adding chamber orchestration and three additional songs. The album also featured Dee, for the first time, predominantly using harp as opposed to piano. Following in the path of Safe Inside the Day, it gained the artist further visibility and recognition. It was released on the Drag City label in America and on Tin Angel Records in the UK.
In 2011, Baby Dee released her fifth album, Regifted Light
Regifted Light
Regifted Light is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. It was released on March 22, 2011 on the Drag City label. The album was produced by friend and collaborator Andrew WK. The songs were performed on a Steinway D grand piano that WK gave to Dee...
. The album was recorded in Dee's home and produced by friend and collaborator Andrew WK. It featured mainly instrumental tracks performed on a Steinway D
Steinway D-274
D-274 is the model name of a concert grand piano, the flagship of the Steinway & Sons line, first built in 1884.It is generally described as the first choice of most concert pianists....
grand piano with a small backing band.
Collaborations
Baby Dee has worked with Antony and the JohnsonsAntony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...
, Andrew WK, and many other artists on the 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...
scene. She has toured extensively with Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
, playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
. She has also toured with Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
and The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione...
.
Discography
Albums- Little WindowLittle WindowLittle Window is the debut album of American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. The album was released in 2002 on the Durtro label. It was produced, composed, and performed entirely by Dee alone.Little Window is currently out of print as a lone album...
(Durtro, 2001) - Love's Small SongLove's Small SongLove's Small Song is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. The album was released in 2002 and consisted of two discs. The first disc contains songs composed and performed by Dee. The second is made up entirely of birdsongs recorded in the backyard of Dee's mother's...
(Durtro, 2002) - A Book of Songs for Anne Marie (limited-edition book with bonus disc) (Durtro Jnana, 2004)
- Safe Inside the DaySafe Inside the DaySafe Inside the Day is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. Released on January 21, 2008, it was her debut album on the Drag City label. It was Dee's first album to feature collaborators. It was produced by and features Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney...
(Drag City, 2008) - A Book of Songs for Anne MarieA Book of Songs for Anne MarieA Book of Songs for Anne Marie is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. It was released on April 20, 2010 under the Drag City label in the US and on Tin Angel Records in the UK...
(Drag City/Tin Angel, 2010) - Regifted LightRegifted LightRegifted Light is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Baby Dee. It was released on March 22, 2011 on the Drag City label. The album was produced by friend and collaborator Andrew WK. The songs were performed on a Steinway D grand piano that WK gave to Dee...
(Drag City, 2011)
Compilations
- The Robin’s Tiny Throat (Durtro Jnana, 2007)
Singles & EPs
- Baby Dee (Durtro, 2001)
- Made for Love (Durtro Jnana, 2005)
Live Albums
- Live in Turin (PREcordings, 2004)
- Love Is Stronger Than Death (Baby Dee & John ContrerasJohn ContrerasJohn Contreras is an American cellist, best known for his work with Current 93 and Baby Dee. He has also performed with Marc Almond, Fovea Hex and Nurse With Wound. In addition to the cello, he also performs with the Buchla 200e. His work is released on the Durtro label.- External links :* * * [...
) (Bragagild, 2007)
External links
- Official Website
- Drag City artist page
- Dominic Eichler on Baby Dee
- Baby Dee video interview on MonsterFresh.com (June 2010)