Harold Battiste
Encyclopedia
Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr. (born October 28, 1931, in New Orleans), is an American music composer, arranger, performer and teacher.
He attended New Orleans' Dillard University
, earning a B.S. in music in 1953. His first success as a studio arranger was with Sam Cooke
’s "You Send Me
" in 1957. In 1961, he initiated the first African American musician-owned record label, All For One, better known as AFO Records. Within a few months, they produced a million-selling hit single, Barbara George
’s I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)
(AFO#302).
His other professional contributions as a producer and arranger for studio, film, stage and television include Joe Jones
' "You Talk Too Much", Lee Dorsey
's "Ya Ya", and Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe
". Battiste introduced audiences to New Orleans artist Mac Rebennack as Dr. John
, and produced his earliest albums. He also spent thirty years in Los Angeles
, including fifteen years with Sonny and Cher, earning six gold records, and acting as musical director on their TV series. Harold also played piano
for Tom Waits
's songs Whistlin' Past The Graveyard and A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun on Blue Valentine (1978).
Battiste has also been a lecturer at several colleges, and in 1989, he joined Ellis Marsalis
on the Jazz Studies faculty of the University of New Orleans
. He has now established the AFO Foundation, a non-profit service and educational organization dedicated to recognizing, perpetuating and documenting the heritage of New Orleans music and the people who make the music. Some of his many notable students are David Morgan, Brice Winston, Geoff Clapp, Jessee McBride, and Rex Gregory.
Battiste remains active in the community and has served as a board member of the Congo Square Cultural Collective, the Louisiana State Music Commission, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Louisiana Jazz Federation, the African Cultural Endowment and numerous other cultural organizations. He has received the Beau Arts Award, the Mayor's Arts Award, the Governor's Arts Lifetime Achievement Award and many others. In 1998, the City of New Orleans proclaimed his birthday as Harold Battiste Day. In 2010 the Historic New Orleans Collection published his autobiography Unfinished Blues.
He attended New Orleans' Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
, earning a B.S. in music in 1953. His first success as a studio arranger was with Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
’s "You Send Me
You Send Me
-Background:Cooke made a demo recording of "You Send Me" featuring only his own guitar accompaniment in the winter of 1955. The first recording of the track was made in New Orleans in December 1956 in the same sessions which produced "Lovable", the first release outside the gospel field for Cooke...
" in 1957. In 1961, he initiated the first African American musician-owned record label, All For One, better known as AFO Records. Within a few months, they produced a million-selling hit single, Barbara George
Barbara George
Barbara George was an American R&B singer and songwriter.Born Barbara Ann Smith, she was raised in New Orleans and began singing in a church choir. She was discovered by singer Jessie Hill, who recommended her to record producer, Harold Battiste...
’s I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)
I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)
"I Know " is a R&B song written and performed by American singer Barbara George. It was released as her debut single in late 1961. This song became her signature song and her only major hit in United States, peaking at number 1 in the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 3 in the Pop Singles chart...
(AFO#302).
His other professional contributions as a producer and arranger for studio, film, stage and television include Joe Jones
Joe Jones (singer)
Joe Jones was an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger...
' "You Talk Too Much", Lee Dorsey
Lee Dorsey
Lee Dorsey was an African American pop/R&B singer during the 1960s. Much of his work was produced by Allen Toussaint with instrumental backing provided by the Meters.-Career:...
's "Ya Ya", and Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe
I Got You Babe
"I Got You Babe" is a 1965 #1 single by American pop music duo Sonny & Cher.-Background and composition:Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics to and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. Session...
". Battiste introduced audiences to New Orleans artist Mac Rebennack as Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, and produced his earliest albums. He also spent thirty years in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, including fifteen years with Sonny and Cher, earning six gold records, and acting as musical director on their TV series. Harold also played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
for Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
's songs Whistlin' Past The Graveyard and A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun on Blue Valentine (1978).
Battiste has also been a lecturer at several colleges, and in 1989, he joined Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis is the name of two people, father and son:*Ellis Marsalis, Sr., New Orleans, Louisiana businessman*Ellis Marsalis, Jr., jazz pianist...
on the Jazz Studies faculty of the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
. He has now established the AFO Foundation, a non-profit service and educational organization dedicated to recognizing, perpetuating and documenting the heritage of New Orleans music and the people who make the music. Some of his many notable students are David Morgan, Brice Winston, Geoff Clapp, Jessee McBride, and Rex Gregory.
Battiste remains active in the community and has served as a board member of the Congo Square Cultural Collective, the Louisiana State Music Commission, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Louisiana Jazz Federation, the African Cultural Endowment and numerous other cultural organizations. He has received the Beau Arts Award, the Mayor's Arts Award, the Governor's Arts Lifetime Achievement Award and many others. In 1998, the City of New Orleans proclaimed his birthday as Harold Battiste Day. In 2010 the Historic New Orleans Collection published his autobiography Unfinished Blues.