New Orleans jazz icon Harold Battiste, Jr. has passed away this morning at the age of 83. Battiste was a highly revered musician and educator who helped shape New Orleans music for over six decades.
His legacy to New Orleans music and culture is undeniable, having co-founded the first New Orleans label owned by musicians, AFO Records, in the late 50s. With AFO he put out countless classic hits by Ellis Marsalis and others. He later moved to LA where he furthered his career working with the likes of Sam Cooke, Dr. John and Sony and Cher, even playing a famous sax melody on the duo’s hit “I Got You Babe.”
He later returned to New Orleans to pursue a career on the educational end of music, where he mentored and inspired a bevy of young talent at the University of New Orleans.
The details surrounding his death are not yet confirmed, though Battiste’s pastor has stated that he had been suffering from a lengthy illness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and the New Orleans music community at this time.