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).

When You Lay Your Head
Kevin Batchelor Lyrics

When You Lay Your Head

You can walk
But don’t run
For you’ve waited much too long
When you get there, don’t let the moment wash away
Days move in tune
Like the ever-changing moon
What we’re left with are the things that chose to stay

You’ll be there soon
Where the sunlight’s waiting for you
And the waters they scream up ahead
And the many tears you’ll cry
With your mama by your side
It’ll be alright
when you lay your head at home

I’ve heard many
Times before
I don’t want to be away no more
It’s not the land or the life I’m living in
And I
Often unkind
Tried to wipe this from your mind
When all I said just came out the same

And I’ll be there soon
And I’ll sing you this here tune
And hope that the words are OK
If there’s many tears you cry
When I’m sleeping by your side
I’ll know that you’re alright
When you lay your head at home

And you’ll be there soon
Under the sunlight and the moon
And the waters that scream up ahead
And the many tears you’ll cry
With your mama by your side
It’ll be alright
When you lay your head at home

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Written by: Jonathan Meyers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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