The drumbeat of David Russell Batiste Jr. runs through many New Orleans bands.
Starting with the St. Augustine High School Marching 100, the bands on Batiste’s résumé are a guide to the history of New Orleans funk and R&B.
“As a member of a family that has put its stamp on New Orleans music for generations, Russell Batiste was a mainstay of the city’s funk and R&B scene,” the New York Times states. “Russell did not take long to establish his identity within the family. He started gigging with the Batiste Brothers Band at local clubs when he was 6.”…