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Russell Batiste Jr.

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Russell Batiste Jr.
Batiste in 2008
Batiste in 2008
Background information
Birth nameDavid Russell Batiste Jr.
Born(1965-12-12)December 12, 1965
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 30, 2023(2023-09-30) (aged 57)
LaPlace, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresFunk, Rhythm and blues, Blues
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1973–2023
Formerly ofThe funky Meters, Papa Grows Funk, Vida Blue.

David Russell Batiste Jr. (December 12, 1965 – September 30, 2023) was an American drummer based in New Orleans. Batiste played drums for the bands the funky Meters, Papa Grows Funk, and Vida Blue.

Biography

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David Russell Batiste Jr. was born in New Orleans on December 12, 1965.[1][2] He was a member of the New Orleans musical family, the Batiste family; he started playing drums at the age of four.[1] He also learned to play keyboards, saxophone, guitar and bass, and started to play in the family band when he was seven.[2]

Batiste left college after two years to join Charmaine Neville's band.[2] He joined the funky Meters, the reincarnation of the funk band The Meters, in 1989. The funky Meters without Art Neville played under the name Porter Batiste Stoltz (PBS) (with George Porter Jr. on bass, and Brian Stoltz on guitar).He also played drums with George Porter Jr. and the Runnin Pardners.

As a solo artist, he led his own band Russell Batiste Jr. and the Orkestra from 'Da Hood and has released two albums under the name.

Batiste also played regularly with organ player Joe Krown and guitarist Walter "Wolfman" Washington as the Krown Washington Batiste trio. This unit released a live CD Live at the Maple Leaf in 2008.[3]

Batiste performed with a wide range of musicians and bands including Papa Grows Funk,[4] Vida Blue,[5] Harry Connick Jr., Champion Jack Dupree, Robbie Robertson and Maceo Parker.[1] In 1987, Batiste was in the New Orleans funk band Nuclear Rhythms featuring percussionist songwriter Rosie Rosato, psychedelic funk guitarist songwriter Dirk Billie, bassist songwriter Mark Adam Miller and guitar and keyboard player David M. Brown.

Batiste died of heart attack at his home in LaPlace, Louisiana, on September 30, 2023, at the age of 57.[6] His funeral was scheduled for October 10 at St. Katharine Drexel Church in New Orleans.[7]

Awards and honors

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OffBeat's Best of The Beat Awards

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Year Category Work nominated Result Ref.
2009 Best R&B/Funk Album Live at the Maple Leaf (with Joe Krown and Walter “Wolfman” Washington) Won [8]
2023 Best Drummer Won [8]

Discography

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Solo works

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  • 2000 Orkestra from 'Da Hood (Russell Batiste Jr.)
  • 2003 The Clinic (Russell Batiste Jr.)[9]

With The funky Meters

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  • 2003 Fiyo at the Fillmore, Vol. 1 (Fuel 2000)

With Vida Blue

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With Porter Batiste Stoltz

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  • 2005 Expanding The Funkin' Universe (Ouw)
  • 2008 Moodoo (High Steppin' Productions)[9][11]

With Krown Washington Batiste

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  • 2008 Live at the Maple Leaf (Independent)
  • 2010 Triple Threat (Independent)
  • 2013 Soul Understanding (Independent)[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Official Website - Russell Batiste Jr". 12 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Russell Batiste". Drum Solo Artist. 1965-12-12. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  3. ^ Chris Ryan. "Joe Krown Trio - Krown, Washington & Batiste". Joekrown.com. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  4. ^ Christopher Blagg (May 2001). "CD Review/Papa Grows Funk/Doin' It". OffBeat. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  5. ^ "Vida Blue". 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  6. ^ Spera, Keith (October 2023). "Renowned New Orleans drummer Russell Batiste Jr. dies at 57". Nola.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Rossen, Jeff (2023-10-05). "Rossen Reports: Amazon issues urgent warning about this new scam". WDSU. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  8. ^ a b "Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List". OffBeat Magazine. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  9. ^ a b New Orleans Music Guide Book, p. 206, Blues Interactions
  10. ^ "Vida Blue Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Louisiana Music Factory - Moodoo by Porter - Batiste - Stoltz". 13 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Joe Krown". Joekrown.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
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