Adam Barta

Adam Barta
Background information
Birth name	Adam Steven Barta
Born	September 21, 1979 (1979-09-21) (age 37) Bronx, New York
Genres	Pop, R&B, dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Actor, musician
Instruments	Vocals
Website	www.adambarta.com

Adam Steven Barta (born September 21, 1979) is an American actor, reality star,^[1] and musician from the Bronx, New York. He has had multiple charting singles on the Billboard dance chart,^[2][3][4] and is known for his duets and viral videos with reality stars and media personalities such as Alana Thompson (Honey Boo Boo) from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,^[5] Farrah Abraham,^[6] Margaret Cho,^[7] Nadya Suleman (Octomom),^[8] Tan Mom^[8] and Jonah Falcon.^[8]

Barta is also known for his collaborations with artists like Kathy Sledge (of Sister Sledge) and music videos featuring comedic stars such as Lisa Lampanelli^[9] that often land him in the press on sites such as TMZ.^{[10][11][12][13]} In 2017, he starred on the WE tv series "Dr. Miami".^[14][15][16]

Acting career

Barta started off his career doing off-Broadway theatre. One of his most noted roles was playing Tash in Befriending Beau, alongside Eric Millegan.^[17] He had also appeared in several television shows and films following his success from his role in Befriending Beau. In 1999, Barta appeared in the Comedy Central series, Strangers with Candy.^[18]

In 2012, he filmed scenes for his music video "Q&A" with Celebrity Apprentice's Lisa Lampanelli at the Night of a Thousand Gowns, in NYC, where he also was a headliner with her.^[19] In addition, he filmed an unaired episode of the show NY Ink for TLC in December where he met Ro Bear, who co-starred with him in the "Q&A" music video as well.^[20]

Music career

Adam's first single, "I Wanna Hold You," was produced by Mike Rizzo and was picked up on Abercrombie & Fitch's official playlist ^[21] in stores throughout the country. EsNtion Records took notice and signed Adam to a record deal for which his first single was "Standing in the Rain," with DJ Russ Harris.

His music video hit the Number 1 spot on Logo's Click List in August,^[22][23][24] and was one of the top 10 videos of 2007.^[23][24] He was named favorite Click List artist of 2007^[24] and made #96 on AfterElton.com’s Hot 100 for 2008.^[25] His video was also picked up internationally on Canada’s Only Dance Channel.^[26] The music video for "Standing in the Rain" premiered October 1, 2008 on Logo network's new mainstream dance/pop show Pop Lab, hosted by Solange and Lady Gaga. Adam hosted the Spring Break episode of Pop Lab on March 11.^[27]

In September 2009, his music video for "Standing in the Rain" was voted in the #1 spot on Logo's Ultimate Sexiest Music Video Countdown, beating out Lady Gaga and Kelly Rowland.^[28]

The music video for "VIP" was filmed in December 2009 and contains cameos from The Real World: Hollywood's Nick Brown, Project Runway's Nicholas Putvinski, Michael Musto, Reina, Jipsta, and more. It premiered on Pop Lab on Logo on April 13, 2010.^[29] "VIP" was featured on the premiere of season 6 episode of The Bad Girls Club and also on The Real World: Las Vegas.^[30][31] In January 2011, he was featured on the show Face to Face with Ke$ha on the HERE! Network, although the two were not filmed together.^[32]

His next single was with Kathy Sledge (lead singer of Sister Sledge), a dance song produced by Mike Rizzo and Mr. Mig, called "Give Yourself Up (To The Music)." It was released on June 14 on Ingrooves/Universal Dist. Kathy Sledge performed it on The Oprah Winfrey Show in April in order to promote it.^[33] In September, the song debuted on the Billboard club chart at #45*.^[34] The song broke the Top 20 the week of October 22. In August, Barta filmed a music video starring reality celebrities Kim Granatell of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Miguel Allure from Jerseylicious, Tonye 'Tone Tone' Albanese from Cake Boss, Jack Mackenroth from Project Runway, and Robin Kassner from Millionaire Matchmaker. The video, which broke on TMZ, featured Kathy Sledge's daughter Kristin.^[10] In May 2012 he released the music video for his single "Q&A" featuring Lisa Lampanelli, Michael Musto, Ro Bear (from NY Ink), Hailey Glassman, Kerry Schwartz, Tone Tone (from Cake Boss), Harry Legg, JC Alvarez, Ryan Nikulas (from The A-List: New York on Logo).

Shortly after in June, he signed with Gina Rodriguez of DD Entertainment. It was then announced he would be heading into the recording studio for a new single with Nadya Suleman (Octomom), after she appeared in an alternate cut of the "Q&A" music video where she was heard saying, "Let's do a duet...on my new album!".^[35] He recorded with Suleman on June 20, at Audiomaxx Studios in Cherry Hill, NJ. The song was produced by Mr. Mig and Mike Rizzo. The duo then began popping up everywhere together doing press.^[36] Barta's song with Suleman was supposed to be called "Meet Me on the Dance Floor" and was slated to be released in August on Global Groove Entertainment. Adam went on "TMZ Live" in July 2012 to promote the song and talk about what it was like to record with Octomom.^[37]

In August, TMZ released the controversial CD cover featuring Adam holding Octomom's breasts while she was wearing a rosary on a bed, surrounded by crosses. The pair claimed they were inspired by Madonna. The new release date for the single was also announced as September 4, 2012 and the name was changed to "Sexy Party."^[38] The song received mixed reviews, with critics slamming the overtly sexy lyrics and heavily autotuned effects on the song.^[39]

In October, he engaged in a heated debate for the online website deeyoon.com with Angelina Pivarnick from Jersey Shore in which he defended same-sex marriage.^[40][41] JWoww came to his defense, slamming Pivarnick, who later made a public apology.^[42] Then in December, he released a single with Pivarnick called "Serendipity," which the pair said was to promote equality. The song was produced by Billboard producers Majik Boys.^[43]

Barta at Gay Pride in Washington D.C. in 2013

In spring of 2013 he starred in three viral music videos. The music video for "Serendipity" was met with heavy criticism, being called "the world's worst music video."^[44] He also starred in Tan Mom's music video which was also called "the worst [music] video ever.".^[45] His music video with Jonah Falcon for their song "It's Too Big" was featured on VH1's "Best Week Ever".^[46] He appeared twice on the Howard Stern show, with both Tan Mom and Falcon, on which Stern declared he was "making a niche" for himself in entertainment.^[47] In Summer of 2013 he released a parody of the George Michael & Aretha Franklin duet "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me," called "You Seemed Shady to Me" with Pandora Boxx from RuPaul's Drag Race, which hit #46 on the iTunes Comedy Charts.^[48][49] He also released a song with Tan Mom on which he was featured called "Life of the Party," which E! News called "bad...really bad."^[50] He then released a song and music video with Myla Sinanaj called "I'm No Angel."^[8] Barta also released yet another controversial song with Sydney Leathers called "Weinerizer," which centered on Leathers' illicit sexting affair with NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner.^[51]

In January 2014 he released a song "Justified" with Toby Sheldon, dedicated to Justin Bieber.^[52] In February 2014, he released the single "See U Next Tuesday" with comedian Margaret Cho. It hit the top 75 on the iTunes comedy singles chart.^[7] In February 2015 it was announced Barta was releasing a new song and music video called "Movin Up" with Alana Thompson (aka Honey Boo Boo) and her sister Pumpkin.^[13] The song was released in 2016 and Barta was credited as creating the new viral craze "the Honey Boo Boo bop".^[5][53]

In 2016 he formed the group "The Pool Kids" with dance artist SK8, and the pair achieved a Billboard dance club charting single, "Heartbreak Hotline", peaking at #17 on the chart.^[4]

In 2017 he appeared on WE tv's, "Dr. Miami", where he got surgery, and also collaborated on a new song "Flawless", after the doctor told him it was his dream to be on the Billboard charts.^[54][16] The single debuted on the Billboard dance singles chart in April and peaked at #24.^[2] It also peaked at #32 on the Billboard dance club chart.^[55] He also released a song and music video with RuPaul's Drag Race season 9 contestant, Eureka O'Hara called "Body Positivity". The music video featured Farrah Abraham, who he previously had been suing for music royalties.^[56][6][57]

Discography

Singles

References