Babydaddy
Encyclopedia
Scott Hoffman known by his stage name Babydaddy, is the Ivor Novello Award
-winning multi-instrumentalist, backing vocalist and lyricist for the American
glam rock
band
, Scissor Sisters
. He is the brother of television personality Ben Hoffman, who co-hosts InfoMania
on the Current TV
cable network.
, where he studied writing and music production, and subsequently worked in the field of dance music. He had previously met Jake Shears
—then still known as Jason Sellards—through a childhood friend, and Hoffman asked Shears to provide vocals for his tracks. When Hoffman moved to New York
to study writing at Columbia, the duo officially joined forces and took stage names to become the first two members of Scissor Sisters in 2001. At the time, the band was just a combination of Babydaddy’s music and Jake's vocal and visual performances. The band logo was designed by Babydaddy, who has since said that "it was sort of the first couple of days, and we decided to record music, and Jake had the name on the tip of his tongue. He told it to me, and I made the logo the next day. It was sort of done and made sense. And then we performed."
Since then, the band has grown and recruited further members, in the process expanding its original musical style to cover the rock, disco and dance music genres.
Assumably Hoffman's name was influenced by the original Babydaddy a hip hop producer who had already made a name for himself in the mid to late 1990s in Killeen Texas. Also known as DJ Amp he was responsible for sponsoring a Houston area rap group called C.A.P first record between 1989 and 1990 that debuted on Local FOX Houston's City under Siege.
Babydaddy plays a number of instruments including keyboards
, guitar
, bass
and banjo
; he and Shears are the main lyricists for the band. The two also wrote the hit single "I Believe in You
" for Kylie Minogue
, as well as the title track from her documentary White Diamond. Babydaddy has also co-produced with other artists including Tiga and Xavier and has produced remixes (alongside Jake Shears under the Scissor Sisters moniker) for Pet Shop Boys
, The Ones and Blondie
.
In 2010, Babydaddy remixed disco icon Amanda Lear
's single "I'm Coming Up
".
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
-winning multi-instrumentalist, backing vocalist and lyricist for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
. He is the brother of television personality Ben Hoffman, who co-hosts InfoMania
Infomania (TV Series)
infoMania was an American half-hour weekly satirical news-show on the Current TV television network. The program was initially hosted by Conor Knighton and later Brett Erlich, with features by Ben Hoffman, Sergio Cilli, Bryan Safi, Erin Gibson, and Ellen Fox.-History:The program's executive...
on the Current TV
Current TV
Current TV, or Current, is a media company led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. Comcast owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC....
cable network.
Biography
Hoffman was born to a Jewish family in Houston, TX, he lived most of his childhood in Lexington, Kentucky; attending Henry Clay High School. He attended Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he studied writing and music production, and subsequently worked in the field of dance music. He had previously met Jake Shears
Jake Shears
Jake Shears is the lead male vocalist for the American music group Scissor Sisters.-Early life and education:...
—then still known as Jason Sellards—through a childhood friend, and Hoffman asked Shears to provide vocals for his tracks. When Hoffman moved to New York
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...
to study writing at Columbia, the duo officially joined forces and took stage names to become the first two members of Scissor Sisters in 2001. At the time, the band was just a combination of Babydaddy’s music and Jake's vocal and visual performances. The band logo was designed by Babydaddy, who has since said that "it was sort of the first couple of days, and we decided to record music, and Jake had the name on the tip of his tongue. He told it to me, and I made the logo the next day. It was sort of done and made sense. And then we performed."
Since then, the band has grown and recruited further members, in the process expanding its original musical style to cover the rock, disco and dance music genres.
Assumably Hoffman's name was influenced by the original Babydaddy a hip hop producer who had already made a name for himself in the mid to late 1990s in Killeen Texas. Also known as DJ Amp he was responsible for sponsoring a Houston area rap group called C.A.P first record between 1989 and 1990 that debuted on Local FOX Houston's City under Siege.
Babydaddy plays a number of instruments including keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, 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...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
; he and Shears are the main lyricists for the band. The two also wrote the hit single "I Believe in You
I Believe in You (Kylie Minogue song)
"I Believe in You" is a dance-pop song performed by Australian singer Kylie Minogue and written by Minogue and Scissor Sisters members Jake Shears and Babydaddy...
" for Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, as well as the title track from her documentary White Diamond. Babydaddy has also co-produced with other artists including Tiga and Xavier and has produced remixes (alongside Jake Shears under the Scissor Sisters moniker) for Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, The Ones and Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
.
In 2010, Babydaddy remixed disco icon Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
's single "I'm Coming Up
I'm Coming Up
"I'm Coming Up" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear, released in 2010 by Edina Music and Outsider Music.-Song information:The song was the third and the last single from Lear's 2009 EP Brand New Love Affair. It was released as the maxi single containing no less than 7 versions of the title tracks...
".
Sources
- Babydaddy Interview on Silent Uproar
- Dallas Observer
- We Are Scissor Sisters... And So Are YouWe Are Scissor Sisters... And So Are YouWe Are Scissor Sisters... And So Are You is the first DVD by the Scissor Sisters, released on November 29, 2004. It contains a full live concert filmed at Brighton Dome in August 2004, featuring backstage footage and extras. It includes the documentary "Return To Oz" which tells the story of the...