Butterscotch (performer)

Butterscotch
Performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Background information
Birth name	Antoinette Clinton
Also known as	Butterscotch
Born	(1985-09-29) September 29, 1985 Sacramento, California, United States
Origin	Davis, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, hip hop, jazz
Occupation	Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Piano, saxophone, flute, guitar, bass guitar
Years active	2003–present
Labels	unsigned

Antoinette Clinton (born September 29, 1985), known by her stage name Butterscotch, is an American beatboxer/singer/pianist.

Early career

Butterscotch said her mother got her started on piano at an early age. "My mom was a piano teacher, so me and my siblings all played the piano and at least one other instrument. "My siblings played the trumpet, cello, trombone, clarinet; I had access to all these instruments." As Butterscotch grew older, she was exposed to beat boxing by her high school friends, and said she was inspired to learn the skill. Stage name Butterscotch originated from a song Antoinette wrote about candy in high school. She attended the Natomas Charter School's Performing and Fine Arts Academy in Sacramento, California, where she focused on music. Clinton majored in music (classical piano) at California State University, Sacramento. Butterscotch's mom, Yvonne Clinton, said Butterscotch had to postpone her education at Sac State because her music career was taking over. In addition to the piano, she also plays saxophone, flute, guitar. She won the first World Hip Hop Beatbox Women's Championship in 2005 and won the West Coast Champion title in 2007 beating 18 men. Butterscotch has toured extensively with the Mike Patton-fronted band Peeping Tom, beatboxing in place of Rahzel. She was also a beatbox mentor on MTV's "Made".

America's Got Talent

Overview

She gained national exposure in 2007 when she appeared on the second season of America's Got Talent. She both sang and beatboxed, as well as a combination of the two while playing the piano, for her performances. The judges passed Butterscotch through several episodes and she was voted back by the viewers several times. She was in the final four (the last stage of the competition before the winner is announced), before being voted out by the viewers on the show which aired August 20, 2007.

Performances/results

Week	Theme	Song choice	Original artist	Result
Audition	Chicago	"Love to Love You Baby"	Donna Summer	Advanced
Vegas Verdicts	N/A	N/A	N/A	Advanced
Top 20 Group 1	N/A	"Summertime"	Abbie Mitchell	Advanced
Top 10	N/A	"It's Your Thing"	The Isley Brothers	Advanced
Top 8	Heroes	"My Funny Valentine"	Mitzi Green	Advanced
Top 4	Judges' Choice Contestant's Choice	"What's Going On" "Dance to the Music"	Marvin Gaye Sly & the Family Stone	N/A
Finale	Duets	"Beautiful Girls"	Sean Kingston	3rd Place

External links

Official site http://www.butterscotchmusic.com

• State Hornet article
• YouTube video of Butterscotch performing with Helge Schneider