Cherry Poppin Daddies Biography

The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were formed in 1989 by Steve Perry and Dan Schmid. While attending university in Oregon, Perry fell in love with the burgeoning punk and ska scene developing in the area, and after a meeting with Schmid, who shared the same love, the two formed their first band, The Jazz Greats, in 1983, which turned into the Saint Huck, which lasted for three years until the late 1980’s. After Saint Huck disbanded, Perry sought out Brooks Brown and added the sax player to his latest band formation with Schmid, Mr. Wiggles. Mr. Wiggles eventually became the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.

The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies took their first demo and self-marketed in 1989, selling over a thousand copies and leading to the self-release of their debut LP, Ferociously Stoned. Regionally, the debut did very well, and helped the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies to launch a number of tours and establish a stronger and more widespread following. Despite changes to the lineup, by the early 1990’s the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were performing regularly, and they released their second offering, Rapid City Muscle Car, followed by a third album, Kids on the Street, in 1996. But the band had yet to garner the attention of a major label, at least not yet.

Just in time for the swing revival of the mid 1990’s, due in part to the success of the movie Swingers, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies finally garnered the attention of Mojo Records, which signed the band to their first major record deal. Their album Zoot Suit Riot was released immediately after, in 1997, and began a slow and steady rise up the charts. The title track was released as a single, and became the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ big breakthrough. By the latter part of the decade, the band found themselves among the most successful of the swing and ska genre, eventually spurring the album all the way to the number one spot on the charts. They’ve been a musical sensation ever since.

In the new millennium, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies have experienced many additional changes to the lineup, but the band continues to perform with current members: Steve Perry, Dan Schmid, Dana Heitman, Joe Manis, Kevin Congleton, William Seiji Marsh, Willie Matheis, and Joe Freuen. The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies most recently released White Teeth, Black Thoughts, in 2013, and they continue to perform and tour.