HaroldBatiste

Harold Battiste Jr. was born in New Orleans in 1931 and studied music formally before becoming a key figure in the city's R&B scene as a saxophonist, arranger, and producer. He worked extensively with Allen Toussaint and was a central figure at AFO (All For One) Records, the musician-owned label he helped establish.

AFO Records, founded in 1961, was one of the first musician-owned record labels in America and a model for musician empowerment. The label recorded important early work from Barbara George, whose 'I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)' became a national hit.

Batiste moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s and became musical director for Sonny and Cher, arranging and conducting on their early hits including 'I Got You Babe.' His work in Los Angeles brought the New Orleans arranging tradition to the pop world with remarkable results.

Later in life Batiste returned to New Orleans, where he taught at the University of New Orleans and worked to document and preserve the city's musical history. He died in 2015, leaving behind a legacy that touched jazz, R&B, pop, and the institutional history of American music.