DAVID BATTEAU - BIOGRAPHY
I am a singer/songwriter.
I’ve written for a lot of people including myself, from Spanky McFarlane of Spanky And Our Gang in the early 1970s to writing lyrics for Wladyslaw Szpilman, “The Pianistâ€, in the 21st century.
I was born on June 25th, 1949. My earliest memory is of my mother’s shining face. She is holding me.
My most important childhood memory is of singing cowboy-gospel songs to Jesus in outer space from my bed when I was five-years-old. The songs were spontaneous creations.
Five was a big year for me. At five, my family and I moved into our first, last and only house. That was in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My father was a professor at Harvard University.
I had an epiphany at twelve that I was a songwriter.
At seventeen I formed a duo with Tom Logan while attending prep school at Choate in Wallingford, Connecticut. It was the beginning of my career. Frank Sinatra paid for our demos.
My father, Dr. Dwight Wayne Batteau, died in the fall of 1967. He was working on a Man/Dolphin Communication Project for the U.S. Navy in Hawaii.
Jenny Jones and I were married in 1969. We had our first and only daughter, Yolanda, in 1970. We had our first and only son, Christian, in 1974. Yolande & Christian are my greatest joy.
My brother, Robin Batteau, and I made a record, Batteaux, for Columbia Records in 1973.
That same year, 1973, I had my first hit with El Chicano's version of my song, "Tell Her She's Lovely". It went to number 1 on the West Coast and was Top 40 nationally.
I made a solo record, Happy In Hollywood, for A&M Records in 1976
Jenny and I separated in 1977 and were divorced in 1980.
I had an epiphany at thirty-three. Jesus entered my room as a point of consciousness. He offered me an eternal relationship which I gratefully accepted. I was a Christian. Dr. Gene Scott was my spiritual father.
In 1985 I made a record with Tony Humecke and Eric Pressly, NOMO (The Great Unknown), for Atco Records.
I am most proud of my CD, “Soul Missionâ€, which I wrote and produced with Darrell Brown in 1993 for Myrrh Records. The legendary Steve Cropper ("Midnight Hour") and Booker T. (Booker T. & The MGs) were the core of the Soul Mission band. Tata Vega & Mavis Staples led the vocals. Darrell and I had won a Dove Award for best Christian Rock Song in the late 1980s with "The River Unbroken".
I am also proud of the songs that I wrote and produced with Perla Batalla for her CDs “Mestiza I†in 1999 and “Mestiza II†in 2000. Amazon voted Mestiza I the best independent release of 1999.
Writing lyrics for the Wladyslaw Szpilman English language CD in 2002 was also one the proudest moments in my career. It felt historic in the shadow of "The Pianist" which went on to win two Academy Awards. "The Pianist" was Wladyslaw Szpilman's Holocaust survivor's story. Wladyslaw Szpilman was Poland's most celebrated songwriter.
On February 21st, 2005, my spiritual father, Dr. Gene Scott, died in Los Angeles.
Bonnie Raitt's 2005 recording of a song that I wrote with Maia Sharp, "The Bed I Made", mesmerized me. I must have listened to it a thousand times. I love it. It's on Bonnie's "Souls Alike" CD.
In 2006, when my son, Christian, discovered that Ghostface Killah had used the track of a song of mine, "High Tide", for one of his own, "Underwater". I was blown away. It was my first "Rap" cover. I was thrilled. It appears on Ghostface's "Fishccale" CD.
I had the honor of participating as a writer on a wonderful 2006 CD written and produced by Danny Sembello and Sharon Silver called "Revolution Of The Spirit". It celebrates past and present world leaders of heart. The tributes include Aung San Suu Kyi, Sojourner Truth, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, Leo Tolstoy, Jane Addams, Henry David Thoreau and Socrates.
And I am also proud to have written with Sara Hickman for her 2006 double CD release, "Motherlode". Sara has a heart as big as the planet. We still have an American Independence Day project on hold for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Sara is a descendant of the American presidents John & Quincy Adams.
I am proud to have written for Ernie Halter's 2007 CD release, "Congress Hotel". Ernie reminds me of Otis Redding. Ernie's spirit and musicality are infectious. I was captivated by his talent.
In 2007, I met a wonderful Venezuelan violinist named Jesus Florido, via MySpace, whom I believe will be my companero in an art project that I have been pursuing for many years; Hispania. In an effort to embrace my Hispanic roots I have written a song for every Spanish-speaking country. I was initially inspired by a family reunion in northern Spain in 2001. This spring 2008 my family and I will be celebrating another reunion in Puerto Rico. The mission continues. Jesus will be along side.
I am currently performing with the best band in the world; Chrissy Shefts-guitar (Seal), Jesus Florido-violin (Dan Hicks), Jimmy Earl-bass (the Jimmy Kimmel Show) and Tal Bergman-drums (Rod Stewart).
My latest song writing collaboration has been with Madeleine Peyroux. She is a gem of gems.
David Batteau – April 13, 2008
PS. I owe a debt of gratitude to Pythagoras, the Greek, Ziryab, the Mede, and Bach, the German, without whom there would be no modern American music.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to Moses, the Israelite, who wrote the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the seventy Jewish scholars who organized and translated the Septuagint Bible, Paul, the Jewish Apostle, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, Martin Luther, the German, John Calvin, the Frenchman, and King James, the Englishman, without whom there would be no modern English language.
PPS. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who shared with us their "Armor of God" in the turbulent 20th Century; for "The Shield of Faith", Dr Gene Scott (www.drgenescott.com), for "The Belt of Truth", C.S. Lewis (www.cslewis.org), for "The Breastplate of Righteousness", Reinhold Niebuhr (www.niebuhrsociety.org), and for our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace", Martin Buber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Buber). These four men, I believe, were the greatest souls of the 20th Century. Their legacy is our best future.
For "The Helmet of Salvation" I would recommend the Jesuits' JERUSALEM BIBLE with notes and a little help from J.R.R. Tolkien.
For "The Sword of Truth" in the 21st century, I would recommend my pastor, Melissa Scott (www.pastormelissascott.com). She's the best Bible teacher in the world, speaks twenty languages and is gorgeous. It doesn't get better than her!
DAVID BATTEAU - DISCOGRAPHY
1) Spanky And Our Gang "Space Cowboys Forever" (1975)
2) Bonnie Keen "A Gate Called Beautiful" (2003)
3) Jonathan Butler "After All This Time" (1999, 2000, 2000, 2002)
4) David Mullen "After The Hurricaine" (1991)
5) Kelli Reisen "After The Hurricaine" (1992)
6) June Pointer "Always" (1983)
7) First Call "Amanece En Ararat" (1996)
8) Michael Berger "American Island" (1983)
9) Art Garfunkel "And I Know" (1979)
10) The Strand "Another Night In The City" (1980)
11) Nomo ""A Little True Love" (1985)
12) Michael Sembello "Automatic Man" (1983) - produced by Phil Ramone
13) John Klemmer "Beloved" (1983)
14) Jimmy Earl "Better Believe" (1999)
15) John Farnham "Beyond The Call" (1988)
16) First Call "Box Of Glory" (1993)
17) Perla Batalla "Burning" (2000)
18) Mary Black "By The Hour" (1979) - produced by Larry Klein
19) Perla Batalla "Camino A Santiago" (1998)
20) Jonathan Butler "Can't Let Go" (1999)
21) The Strand "Can't Look Back" (1980)
22) Gina Haley "Capture My Spirit" (1999)
23) Valeria Lynch "Caravana De Suenos"
24) Sergio Mendes "Carnaval" (1983)
25) Cassius "Cassius 99" (1999)
26) Perla Batalla "Cinema Of Tears" (1998)
27) Perla Batalla "Cine De Llantos" (2002)
28) Maia Sharp "Come Back To Me" (2004)
29) Kim Stockwood "Compassion" (1996)
30) Michael Sembello "Cowboy" (1983) - produced by Phil Ramone
31) Maia Sharp "Crooked Crown" (2002)
32) Bonnie Raitt "Crooked Crown" (2006)
33) Soul Mission "Cross Of Stone" (1993)
34) Sergio Mendes "Dance Attack"
35) Nomo "Dance The Dance" (1985)
36) David Batteau "Dancing On Atoms" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
37) Deni Hines "Delicious" (1998)
38) New Edition "Delicious" (1984)
39) David Fathead Newman "Destiny" (1979)
40) Rufus with Chaka Khan "Desiny" (1978)
41) Jeffrey Osborne "Don't Stop" (1999, 2001, 2002)
42) Don Freeman "Dump Your Milk On Me" (2002)
43) Akina Nakamori "Easy Rider" (1987)
44) First Call "El Premio" (1994)
45) Jermaine Jackson "Escape From The Planet Of The Antmen" (1984)
46) Perla Batalla "Eternity" (2000)
47) Nomo "Facts Of Life" (1985)
48) John Klemmer "Falling" (1977)
49) Gina Haley "Fear And Trembling" (1999)
50) David Batteau "Festival Of Fools" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
51) Art Garfunkel "Finally Found A Reason" (1979)
52) Marcy Levy ""First Invasion" (1982)
53) Legend Seven "First Love" (1993)
54) Angela Bofill "First Time" (1985)
55) Marilyn Scott "First Time" (1991)
56) Michael Sembello "First Time" (1983) - produced by Phil Ramone
57) Jonathan Butler "Follow It Through"
58) First Call "Freedom" (1993)
59) Bonnie Raitt "Fundamental Things" (1998)
60) Soul Mission "Give It All To Jesus" (1993)
61) Ray Simpson "Give This Heart A Chance"
62) John Klemmer "Glass Dolphins" (1989)
63) Bonnie Raitt "Goin Wild For you Baby" (1990) - produced by Peter Asher
64) Trisha Yearwood "Wild For You Baby"
65) David Batteau "Happy In Hollywood" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
66) California "Happy In Paradise" (2001)
67) Soul Mission "He Is Amazing" (1993)
68) Perla Batalla "Heaven And Earth" (2000)
69) Robben Ford "Hey Brother" (1999)
70) Batteaux "High Tide" (1974)
71) Paul Horn "High Tide" (1974)
72) Marilyn Scott "Hold On To Your Heart" (1991)
73) Holy Cole "Hold On" (1997) - produced by Larry Klein
74) John Cody "Hold On" (1996)
75) Perla Batalla "Holy Roses" (1998)
76) Donna Summer "(If It) Hurts Just A Little" (1982) - produced by Quincy Jones
77) John Cody "I Can't Stop Crying" (1996) - produced by Larry Klein
78) Randy Crawford ""I Don't Want To Lose Him" (1982, 1997)
79) Valeria Lynch "I Don't Want To Lose Him"
80) The Strand "I Like It Like That" (1980)
81) Wendy Lands "I'm Set Free" (2002)
82) Batteaux "I Sang This Song" (1974)
83) George Duke "I Surrender" (1988)
84) Robey "I Surrender"
85) Perla Batalla "Iberia" (1998)
86) Nicky Holland "Independence Days" (1991)
87) Rita Guerra "Independence Days"
88) Flora Purim "Island In The Sun" (1979)
89) Pablo Cruise "Island Woman" (1975)
90) John Farnham "It All Comes Back To You" (1993)
91) Batteaux "Joe Arnold" (1974)
92) The Strand "Just A Little More Time" (1980)
93) Miki Asakura "Killer Love"
94) Nomo "Killer Love" (1985)
95) Perla Batalla "Kindness" (1998)
96) David Batteau "Oh, My Little Darling" (1976) produced Ken Scott
97) Batteaux "Lady Of The Lake" (1974)
98) Annie Crummer "Language" (1992, 2002)
99) First Call "Lazarus Unwound" (1993)
100) Nomo "Let It Come Down" (1993)
101) Toni Childs "Let The Rain Come Down" (1988, 1996, 2000)
102) John Klemmer "Let's Make Love" (1978)
103) Jonathan Butler ""Let's Stand Together" (1999)
104) Jeffrey Osborne "Live For Today" (1984)
105) Batteaux "Living's Worth Loving" (1974)
106) The Strand "Long Hot Summer" (1980)
107) Willi Jones with Willie Dixon "Long Legged Goddess" (1990)
108) Rocky Robbins "Look Before You Leap" (1980)
109) Cheryl Lynn "Look Before You Leap" (1982)
110) Freda Payne "Lost In Love" (2000)
111) Sergio Mendes "Love Is Waiting" (1983)
112) David Sanborn "Love Will Come Someday" (1981)
113) Melvin Lee Davis "Love Will Come Someday" (2003)
114) France Joli "Love's On Fire" (1985)
115) Martha Davis "Lust"
116) John Klemmer "Magnificent Madness" (1980)
117) El Chicano "Make You All My Own" (1976)
118) Perla Batalla "Making Up For Lost Time" (2000)
119) Greg Long "Man Of Sorrows" (1998)
120) Batteaux "Maybe I'll Run Away" (1974, 2002)
121) Alabina "Me Encuentro En Tu Desierto" (1999)
122) Los Ninos De Sara "Me Encuetro En Tu Desierto" (2003)
123) The Temptations "Memories" (1984)
124) Batteaux "Mirror" (1974)
125) Perla Batalla "Morning Star" (1998)
126) Gina Haley "Mountain Top" (1999)
127) Richard Elliot "Movers And Shakers"
128) Michael Sembello "Movers And Shakers" (1992)
129) John Klemmer "Music" (1989)
130) Kate Markowitz "My L.A." (2003)
131) Wendy Lands "My Memories Of You" (2002)
132) Batteaux "My Morning Glory" (1974)
133) Martha Davis "My Promise"
134) Don Freeman "Nervous Kiss" (2002)
135) Wilson Phillips "Next To You (Someday I'll Be)" (1990) - produced by Glen Ballard
136) Sara Hickman "No Name For Love" (2002)
137) Valeria Lynch "No Quiero Perderlo" (1994)
138) Sara Hickman "Oh, Daddy" (1994)
139) Perla Batalla "On This Rock" (1998)
140) Soul Mission "One Blood" (1993)
141) Joe Chemay "One Needs Another"
142) Toby Beau "One Needs Another" (1980)
143) David Batteau "Orphee" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
144) Jermaine Jackson "Our Love Story" (1987)
145) Perla Batalla "Out Of The Labyrinth" (2000)
146) Jimmy Earl "Panteria"
147) Kate Markowitz "Pride And Vanity" (2003)
148) The Strand "Prisoners In Paradise" (1980)
149) Wendy Lands "Prisoners Of Evening" (2002)
150) Sergio Mendes "Rainbow's End" (1983)
151) Perla Batalla "Ramona" (1998)
152) Nomo "Red Lipstick" (1985)
153) John Keane " Red Raven" (1999)
154) Perla Batalla "Remnant" (1998)
155) The Strand "Rock It Tonight" (1980)
156) Jeff Paris "Rock Tonight" (1980)
157) First Call "Sacred Journey" (1993)
158) Alabina "Sahara (Beyond The Desert Wind)" (1998)
159) Pablo Cruise "Sailing To Paradise" (1983)
160) Soul Mission "Salvation Road" (1993)
161) Perla Batalla "Salvation" (2000)
162) Perla Batalla "Scarlet Thread" (1998)
163) Rufus "Secret Love" (1981)
164) Soul Mission "Settled In Heaven" (1993)
165) David Batteau "She Needs Love" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
166) Akina Nakamori "Slave For Love"
167) Nomo "Slave For Love" (1985)
168) Jai Uttal "Soldiers" (1992)
169) Perla Batalla "Someday Soon" (1998)
170) Wendy Lands "Someday We Will Love Again" (2002)
171) Soul Mission "Soul Mission" (1993)
172) Soul Mission "Some Sweet Day" (1993)
173) Mavis Staples "Some Sweet Day"
174) David Batteau "Spaceship Earth" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
175) Perla Batalla "Starbound" (2000)
176) The Strand "Stay Away from My Girl" (1980)
177) Jonathan Butler "Story Of Life" (1999)
178) John Keane "Straightaway" (1999)
179) Michael Sembello "Summer Lovers" (1982)
180) First Call "Sunrise On Ararat" (1996)
181) Russ Taff "Table In The Wilderness" (
182) Soul Mission "Table In The Wilderness" (1993)
!83) Tata Vega "Table In The Wilderness" (2002)
184) Sara Hickman "Take Me With You" (1997)
185) Greg Phillinganes "Takin It Up All Night" (1981)
186) Michael Sembello "Tear Down The Walls" (1986, 2003)
187) Rick Cua "Tear Down The Walls"
188) Soul Mission "Tear This House Down" (1993)
189) Perla Batalla "Tears Of The Sun" (2000)
190) El Chicano "Tell Her She's Lovely" (1990, 1997, 1997, 1998, 1999)
191) Batteaux "Tell Her She's Lovely" (1974)
192) The Union Station Singers "Tell Her She's Lovely"
193) Tierra "Tell Her She's Lovely"
194) Perla Batalla "Teotihuacan" (2000)
195) First Call "Thank You Lord" (1993, 2000)
196) Bonnie Raitt "The Bed I Made"
197) Perla Batalla "The First Time I Felt Rain" (2000)
198) Adrianne Leon "The Everlasting Dream" (2003)
199) Vicki Thomas "The Forbidden"
200) David Batteau "The Gates In Your Heart" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
201) Nomo "The Great Unknown" (1985)
202) Nicky Holland "The Night We Never Met" (1992)
203) First Call "The Prize"
204) First Call "Before The Rage Reborn" (1996)
205) Dolly Parton "The River Unbroken" (1988)
206) Russ Taff "The River Unbroken" (1990)
207) Kate Markowitz "These Wheels" (2003)
208) Nicky Holland "This Town" (1992)
209) First Call "Timothy's Burden" (1993)
210) The Martins "Timothy's Burden" (1994)
211) Miguel Mateos "Titar Los Muros Abajo"
212) Perla Batalla "Turtle Island" (2000)
213) First Call "Under The Water" (1993)
214) Nomo "Wailing Wall" (1976)
215) Carl Graves "Walk In Love" (1975)
216) David Batteau "Walk In Love" (1976) - produced by Ken Scott
217) John Gates "Walk In Love"
218) John Klemmer "Walk In Love" (1977)
219) Manhattan Transfer "Walk In Love" (1976, 1978)
220) Norrie Paramor & The M.R.O. "Walk In Love" (1978)
221) Rachel Alejandro "Walk In Love" (1997, 2001)
222) First Call "Wanna Be" (1993)
223) California "We Can, Yes We Can" (2001)
224) Nomo "We Go To Sleep Believing" (1985)
225) Irene Cara "We're Gonna Get Up"
226) Michael Sembello "What You Really Want" (1986)
227) First Call "When You Fall" (1993)
228) New Edition "Who Do You Trust" (1985)
229) Valerie Carter "Wild Child" (1978) - produced by James Newton Howard
230) John Cody "Winds Of Vanity" (1996)
231) Shawn Colvin "Wish You Were Here" (1996)
232) Nick Munday "Woman's Touch" (1991)
233) Don Mack "You're The Love"
234) Frank Chacksfired Orchestra "You're The Love"
235) Seals And Crofts "You're The Love (1978, 1999)
237) Manhattan Transfer "Women In Love"
238) Jonathan Butler "Spirit Of Our Nation" (2005)
239) Omar Torrez "Dog Heart" (2005)
240) Omar Torrez "St. Vladimir" (2005)
241) Sara Hickman "Birdhouse" (2006)
242) Sara Hickman "A Song For You" (2006)
243) Ernie Halter "Melissa" (2007)
244) Ernie Halter "Something's Come Over Me" (2007)
245) Ernie Halter "Moving Along" (2007)
246) Ernie Halter "When The Lights go Down" (2007)
247) Revolution Of The Spirit "Revolution Of The Spirit" (2005)
248) Revolution Of The Spirit "It Starts From Inside" (2005)
249) Revolution Of The Spirit "Try To Understand" (2005)
250) Joe Pizzulo "Rainbow's End" (2005)
