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= Larry Batiste =

Larry Batiste’s career in the entertainment industry spans over 40 years. He has worked with some of the most successful new, and legendary artists of all time. Batiste, best known for musical directing the GRAMMY Awards and the TEC Awards at NAMM, has a natural talent for understanding and working in all genres of music.

Early Life
Larry Batiste was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and moved to Oakland, Ca in his early childhood. He grew up in the Sabrante Park Neighborhood of East Oakland and attended Castlemont High School, where in June 2021 he was inducted into Castlemont's Alumna Hall of Fame.

Early Career

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Career
His recording career started with the group Bill Summers & Summers Heat in 1979. He co-wrote and produced four albums along with Claytoven Richardson and Bill Summers, including the group’s top ten hit singles, “Call It What You Want”, “Jam The Box”, and “At The Concert”. After a few years of recording and touring with Summer’s Heat, he went on to work with various multi-genre artists including Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, The Dazz Band, Natalie Cole, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, The Stylistics, Lenny Williams, Huey Lewis & The News, Ledisi, Mickey Thomas, Pete Townshend, Stevie Wonder, Lalah Hathaway, Young Jeezy, Keyshia Cole, Santana, Yolanda Adams, Trombone Shorty, and Hugh Masakela. As a vocalist, he’s lent his voice to The Magical World of Disney (theme song), NBA Warriors’ Basketball theme, California Raisins (“I Heard It Through The Grapevine”), Wendy’s Restaurants, Sims (Playstation), Leap Frog Education; and the films, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Stuart Little, Snow Dogs, Rent (contractor), and over 500 recordings and commercials.

Batiste was commissioned by the Oakland Symphony to compose and orchestrate two compositions for full orchestra and 200 voices, which premiered at Oakland’s Paramount Theater in 2013. He co-produced and arranged horns and strings on Charlie Wilson’s number one Billboard single, “You Are”, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for “R&B Song of The Year” in 2012, and was a performer and vocal arranger on Roberto Fonseca’s Grammy nominated project, “Yo” in 2013. Batiste has been the musical director for the theater productions of “Pajama Game”, “Moms” starring Whoopi Goldberg, and “Jukebox” starring Danny Glover. In addition, he was the vocal arranger for the NFL Commissioner’s Super Bowl 50 Gala. He recently co-wrote and produced 2x Grammy nominated recording artist, John Lee Hooker Jr’s new album, “Testify”, and is writing a book entitled “The Art & Business of Songwriting” for Oxford University Press due in the Spring of 2021.

“I want to make life better for youth and creators of music” says Batiste, who is very active in community service as a volunteer, educator, and youth mentor. Batiste’s volunteer work includes: Music In Schools Today (Board Member), Heart Of the Town (Producers of Oakland’s Art & Soul Festival-Board Member), West Coast Songwriters Association (Board Member), and The Arhoolie Foundation (Board Member). He is a former National Trustee, San Francisco Chapter President, current Board Member, and Lifetime Member of The Recording Academy (producers of The Grammy Awards).

Music Contributions
Discography:

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-batiste-mn0000779706/related