TAXI

Doctor Sparkles

Doctor Sparkles is the Cosmic Cabaret Wise Guy who makes Light of Self and alter-ego of Kevin Patrick Baiko, a metaphysical folk artist turned ukulele enthusiast. Developed in 2006 as an enigmatic stage name for his album of ukulele songs ("Sail Away"), the personality of Doctor Sparkles soon developed a cult following on MySpace, especially amongst experimental artists, psychonauts and a surprising uke subculture. His MySpace profile songs have received over 80,000 plays and his website consistently averages over 1,000 hits daily. In the 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Sail Away was voted 2nd runner-up for “Best Cabaret Album”, with its title track winning the “Best Cabaret Song”.

While his early influences ranged from classic orchestral to folk music, Baiko grew up listening to and eventually performing (on trombone) many of the swing standards of the 30’s and 40’s (eg. Miller, Dorsey, Basie, Goodman, etc.) with “The Nomads”, a Bay Area big band under the conduction of his step-father, Norm Benner. Baiko’s early swing influences inspired a burst of composition through the Recreative Mind of Doctor Sparkles, resulting in a ukulele driven swing combining refined vocals, satirical lyrics and a lighthearted horn rich New Orleans sound. With his new album - Monkey Swing Monkey Doo - nearing release, Dr. Sparkles is gearing up to bring this sound to the people of Earth.

On stage Dr. Sparkles is a cross between Cab Calloway and David Bowie. Before relocating back to San Francisco to better develop his musical career, he performed both solo and as a trio named “Doctor Sparkles and the Mystic Nomads”, being listed by Portfolio Magazine as one of the top 50 live acts of Hampton Roads (VA). He currently hosts a monthly ukulele cabaret called the “Jumping Flea Circus” which showcases the Bay Area's ukulele scene.

Meanwhile, Baiko has recently taken to composing orchestral scores for fun and maybe more. (Fugues are his favorite.)