{{Short description|American band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Cleanup press release|date=June 2010}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Ditty Bops | image = The Ditty Bops by Sachi Kato.jpg | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | instrument = | genre = {{hlist|Folk|bluegrass|country|blues|western swing|ragtime}} | years_active = 2004–2012 | label = {{hlist|Warner|independent}} | associated_acts = | website = http://www.thedittybops.com/ | current_members = | past_members = * Abby DeWald * Amanda Barrett }} right|thumb|Abby DeWald in 2007 right|thumb|Amanda Barrett in 2007 '''The Ditty Bops''' were an American band from Los Angeles, California, under label WMG, and later self-produced. Noted for the tight vocal harmonies of members Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett,<ref>{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |title=Ditty Bops Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ditty-bops-mn0000108447#biography |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> the duo 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.
== History ==
Romantically involved since around 1998, 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. A former record producer with ABC-Dunhill, he encouraged them to form a band and start playing.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Nagy|first=Evie|title=The Ditty Bops|journal=GO!|date=9 July 2008|url=http://www.gomag.com/article/the_ditty_bops/|accessdate=April 9, 2015}}</ref>
Their music was prominently featured in the first season of the ABC television series ''Grey's Anatomy'', including "Wake Up", "Walk or Ride", "Wishful Thinking", "Sister Kate" and "There's a Girl".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ditty Bops {{!}} Tunefind |url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/the-ditty-bops |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=www.tunefind.com}}</ref> The latter is also featured on the show's fourth season soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greys-anatomy-mw0000642596#review |title=Grey's Anatomy – Various Artists – Review |publisher=AllMusic |first=Johnny |last=Loftus |accessdate=27 July 2025}}</ref> Noted for popularising obscure indie artists, the show often used their music as a motif for the quirky and domestic, contrasting with the show's more heavy and emotional facets. Sarah Drew performed "Wake Up" in tribute at "The Songs Beneath the Show", a Grey's Anatomy Benefit Concert, in 2012.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvseM3GUNwU |title=Sarah Drew performing "There's A Girl" - Grey's Anatomy Benefit Concert |date=2012-03-21 |last=Amanda Men |access-date=2026-01-04 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The band has also been featured on ''The L Word''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Levack|first=Chandler|title=The Ditty Bops|magazine=The Village Voice|date=September 22, 2009|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-09-22/voice-choices/the-ditty-bops/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115134936/http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-09-22/voice-choices/the-ditty-bops/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref>
The Ditty Bops appeared twice on the ''A Prairie Home Companion'' radio show with Garrison Keillor: May 7, 2005, from Mitchell, South Dakota,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2005/05/07/|title=A Prairie Home Companion: May 7, 2005|publisher=American Public Media|accessdate=9 April 2015}}</ref> and June 18, 2005, from Highland Park, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2005/06/18/|title=A Prairie Home Companion: June 18, 2005|publisher=American Public Media|accessdate=9 April 2015}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Billboard">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629192016/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/live-earth/green-artists.html Billboard Going GREEN]</ref>
In October 2008, Abby and Amanda announced their marriage in California via an e-mail message to their fans and MySpace blog.<ref name="blogs.myspace.com">[http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=25239875&blogID=444667985 The Ditty Bops MySpace Blog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065936/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view |date=2009-02-07 }}</ref>
==Discography== * ''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== <references />
==External links== * [http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ditty-Bops/109183475797902?ref=sgm/ Official Facebook page] - for news and info from the band itself * [http://www.trht.net/artist/The+Ditty+Bops The Ditty Bops] at The Rock Hard Times, comprehensive discography, music videos, mp3s * [https://archive.org/details/TheDittyBops The Ditty Bops collection] at the Internet Archive's live music archive * [https://archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=34258 Interview with music from The Ditty Bops] * [http://www.last.fm/music/The+Ditty+Bops The Ditty Bops on Last.fm] * [http://www.sepiachord.com/dbint.htm Interview with Amanda Barrett on Sepiachord] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212021831/http://www.sepiachord.com/dbint.htm |date=February 12, 2012 }}
===Interviews=== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001050/http://www.thoughtworthy.com/contact.cgim?partner=TWM&tab=PODCAST&contact_id=11586 ThoughtWorthy Media Interview with The Ditty Bops (38:04)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060423025540/http://www.advocate.com/currentstory1_w.asp?id=28951 The Advocate: "Gotta have my Bops"] *[https://archive.org/details/dittybops2005-11-13.folkscene "Folkscene", 2005-11-13], KPFK
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ditty Bops}} Category:American folk music groups Category:American bluegrass music groups Category:American all-female bands Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles Category:American LGBTQ-themed musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 2004 Category:Folk music duos Category:Musical duos from California Category:American female musical duos Category:2004 establishments in California Category:Female musical duos