Contact/Publicist:
Marguerite LoPresti
raggamar@gmail.com

Kevi… Read Full Bio ↴Contact/Publicist:
Marguerite LoPresti
raggamar@gmail.com

Kevin Batchelor's debut solo performance on March 22, 2008 in Russia was a huge success. Joined on stage by members of the legendary Skatalites, Kevin Batchelor captivated the audience with his riveting trumpet solos and soulful vocals.
In mid-February, 2009, during his first USA tour in Florida, Kevin and world-renowned Saxophonist, Cedric IM Brooks, tore up the stages in the cities of Tallahassee, Downtown Gainesville, Cocoa Beach, and Jacksonville Beach. He has since given spectacular performances in his hometown of NYC, and fans are surely wanting more.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Kevin Batchelor met his destiny at the age of thirteen. Already an avid lover of music, he stumbled upon the Miles Davis record Milestones. Captivated by the sound of the trumpet, he instantly fell under its influence and realized that this was the instrument that he would strive to perfect.
Eventually, Kevin’s profound love for the trumpet brought him to the east coast, where he gained prestige as a scholar and performer at the Berklee College of Music (1971 Duke Ellington received the college's first honorary doctorate). In 1983, he left Berklee for New York City and never looked back. Upon arriving, he met reggae super star Sugar Minot, and in just a few months, found himself on reggae’s greatest stage, Jamaica’s Reggae Sunsplash. While touring with Sugar for ten years, he began to make New York his home, working with one of the top backing bands in the city. This perspective gave young Kevin a bird’s eye view to many of the Jamaican master singers, such as Frankie Paul, Alton Ellis and Delroy Wilson. In 1990, he joined band mate Sidney Mills and became a member of the top English Reggae band, Steel Pulse. In this seven-year stint, Kevin travelled all over the world, seeing Europe and South America for the first time. He then moved on with Big Mountain, who scored a big hit with a reggae cover of “Baby I love your Way.”

While the reggae world embraced Kevin, other gigs proved his versatility. Back in New York, Kevin landed a gig in the orchestra pit for the Broadway smash “The Full Monty.” At the same time, Kevin did studio work for hip hop artists such as Queen Latifah, Sean Paul and KRS One’s Boogie Down Productions to name a few.

Eventually, the road called for him and in 2002, he took the gig with Jamaica’s legendary Studio One house band, The Skatalites. Kevin joined the band as a humble sideman, fulfilling the trumpet chair alongside the original members who quickly became his mentors. As the years progressed, Kevin’s mileage, instrumental talent and knack for entertaining the crowd helped him solidify a more permanent and essential role in the band. With Kevin’s help, The Skatalites reached their 40th anniversary and are still on the move, reaching many parts of the world that have been listening to the sound they created for forty years and counting.

Influenced by the creative genius of Bob Marley, Louis Armstrong and several others, Kevin Batchelor’s voice is as much of an outlet as his trumpet. When he realized his talents as a lead vocalist, he formed his own bands, Batchelor Party and Kevin Batchelor’s Grand Concourse. He collaborated with producers Sidney Mills, of Living Room Records and Noel Alphonso on the recording and release of his debut CD entitled “Batchelor Party” (2006, Living Room Records) choosing choice covers and writing a few instrumental originals featuring the likes of Cedric IM Brooks (The Skatalites) and Sidney Mills (Steel Pulse). Later in 2008, Kevin teamed up with songwriter Jonny Meyers (The Stingers ATX), and producer Dan Jeselsohn (The Toasters, NY Ska Jazz Ensemble) for the recording and release of his second CD, “Kevin Batchelor’s Grand Concourse” (2011, Mossburg Music) featuring all original material.
As both a Trumpeter & Lead Vocalist, Kevin Batchelor effortlessly captures the attention of audiences worldwide with his masterful ensemble playing and spirited solos. No matter the time of year, day of the week, or location, you will always catch him working. Currently, he is bringing the music of Grand Concourse on tour, as he embarks on a long overdue solo career. According to Kevin Batchelor, music is life and life is good.

Credits: Queen Latifah, Rihanna, Sean Paul/Bunny Rugs, Marcus Miller (producer/songwriter for Miles Davis, Luther Vandross etc.), Sly and Robbie, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Maxwell, KRS-ONE, Burning Spear, Big Mountain, Black Rock Coalition, Sugar Minott, The Fleshtones, David Yazbek, Mark Ledford, The Meditations, Eek-A-Mouse, Harry Miller, Ms. Melodie, Shelly Thunder, Boogie Down Productions, Abeng, Lisette Melendez, Bustin Melonz, Boom Band, Dancehall Divas, Dog Eat Dog, Shinehead, Robi Kahakalau, Jah Batta, The Fleshtones, Marques Wyatt, Ras Droppa, Rob Symeonn, and Patrice.He has appeared on several Television shows including The David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show & more. KB has also enjoyed the honor of playing on the Grammy-winning Burning Spear album Jah Is Real (Best Reggae Recording, 2008).

Fly
Kevin Batchelor Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fly

If I could fly
I’d fly higher than the trees
If I could fly
I’d fly sideways with the breeze
The longer my stay
The sweeter the dream

Don’t you try and take me away
When I’m gonna fly

Never needed anyone to remind me
As long as there’s pain there’s victory
I always thought your smiling face could find me

If I could fly
I’d do anything you please
If I could fly
I could be your summer breeze
The longer we wait
The sweeter the dream

So softly we fade away
To the skies and just fly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kevin Batchelor's song "Fly" convey a sense of freedom and escape from the constraints of life. The opening lines, "If I could fly, I’d fly higher than the trees" express a desire to transcend limitations and go beyond what is considered possible. The act of flying symbolizes a liberation from the burdens and restrictions that hold one down.

The lyrics also suggest a yearning for a carefree existence, as depicted in the lines "I’d fly sideways with the breeze" and "I could be your summer breeze." Flying becomes a metaphor for the ability to move effortlessly and adapt to any situation. It represents a desire to experience life with a sense of lightness and ease.

The chorus emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's dreams, as the longer one stays in pursuit of these dreams, the sweeter they become. The line "Don’t you try and take me away when I’m gonna fly" conveys a determination to stay focused on personal aspirations and resist any attempts to divert or discourage. It speaks to the idea that dreams should be cherished and pursued at all costs.

The lyrics also touch upon the resilience and self-reliance of the singer. The lines "Never needed anyone to remind me, as long as there’s pain there’s victory" highlight the singer's belief in their own strength and ability to find triumph even in the face of adversity. In contrast, the reference to "your smiling face" suggests a recognition of a past relationship or influence that once provided support and guidance.

Overall, "Fly" is a song that encourages listeners to envision a life free from constraints, to pursue their dreams passionately, and to find strength and joy in the journey.

Line by Line Meaning

If I could fly
If I had the ability to soar through the air

I’d fly higher than the trees
I would ascend above the tallest trees

If I could fly
If I possessed the power of flight

I’d fly sideways with the breeze
I would glide effortlessly in the direction of the wind

The longer my stay
The more time I spend

The sweeter the dream
The more delightful the reverie becomes

Don’t you try and take me away
Do not attempt to prevent me from taking flight

When I’m gonna fly
At the moment when I am about to embark on my aerial journey

Never needed anyone to remind me
I have never required someone's reminder or prompting

As long as there’s pain there’s victory
For as long as there exists suffering, there also exists triumph

I always thought your smiling face could find me
I had always believed that your cheerful countenance could locate me