Thursday, November 27, 2008

"See Us Shine" featured on The Original Christmas Song 2008 site

SEE US SHINE
John Batdorf
West Hills, California

Original Christmas Songs 2008 site on myspace
John Batdorfs' feature page on the Original Christmas Songs 2008 site at Soundclick

john300

Background on the Song from John Batdorf
"SEE US SHINE" was one of the first songs I wrote with [Michael] McLean around the time of the LA riots. We were approached by the advertising agency which represents Coca Cola, because they were looking for a heart felt anthem-like song for a new Coke campaign. They heard our brand new song " See Us Shine" and told us it was perfect! The agency gave us a little money to make a musical presentation piece. Unfortunately, the commercial campaign didn't work out but we loved the song so much we threw the song onto the our first CD together "You've Always Been There For Me", using the arrangement we had done for Coke since our budget was so small. I always regretted that decision and for years had wanted to do a real arrangement of the song with acoustic guitars, etc. and finally I have done just that!


















John Batdorf/Biography
John Batdorfs' uniquely passionate vocals and guitar playing landed him his first major record deal back in the 70s with Atlantic Records, and he's continued to develop and grow as an artist to this day. As the song writing and lead vocal half of Batdorf and Rodney, John began honing his craft and developing his own style back in the early 70s. After the breakup with Rodney, John did an album with a group called Silver and toured the country promoting their album at venues with the likes of America, Doobie Brothers, Poco and Hall and Oats. Fans devoted to his sound recognized Johns voice on several radio and television projects in the 80s when he worked as a top LA studio session singer. When he wasn't touring with bands, or producing music for a variety of clients, he never stopped writing songs. In the early 90s he partnered with fellow songwriter Michael McLean and released a handful of albums that captured a personal resonance John found with his universal songs of hope and inspiration. It's as if with each stage in his artistic journey, he developed a greater understanding of the power of music to impact our daily lives. Never one to stagnate creatively, John expanded his artistic palette from acoustic driven pop/rock to story driven melodies. From 1996 to 2002 he worked as a TV composer for the hit series Touched by an Angel and Promised Land. Now into the second half of the new millennium, John has recorded a new CD with James Lee Stanley "All Wood And Stones" (a highly original take on early Rolling Stones songs, done acoustically with tight harmonies) along with his first solo EP, "Side One." Johns' first full-length solo CD, "Home Again", is comprised of seven new originals and three songs from the Batdorf and Rodney days. "Home Again" is an acoustic guitar and vocal enthusiasts dream come true! John's latest CD, "Still Burnin'", teams him up again with Mark Rodney. The duo recorded a live show at XM Studios in Washington D.C. revisiting many of their great songs from the 70s. Also, John and Mark have recorded two brand new songs in LA that are also included in the package. This marks the first new Batdorf and Rodney recording since 1975!

When you listen to John sing songs about things that really matter to him, you'll understand why they mean so much to his fans that have spanned three decades.

See my profile at All Music Guide.

Discography
Batdorf and Rodney "Off The Shelf" 1971
Batdorf and Rodney "Batdorf and Rodney" 1972
Batdorf and Rodney "Life Is You" 1975
Silver "Silver" 1976
Batdorf and McLean "Look Inside" 1992
Batdorf and McLean "Don't You Know" 1997
Batdorf and Stanley "All Wood and Stones" 2005
John Batdorf "Side One" EP 2005
John Batdorf "Home Again" 2007
Batdorf and Rodney "Still Burnin'" 2008

Pertinent John Batdorf Sites
http://johnbatdorfmusic.com/
http://johnbatdorf.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/johnbatdorf
http://www.airplaydirect.com/JohnBatdorf
http://www.sonicbids.com/JohnBatdorf
http://www.reverbnation.com/johnbatdorf
http://www.sonicbids.com/BatdorfandRodney
http://www.allwoodandstones.com/
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/JohnBatdorf/join

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

John Batdorf @ Mama Hillybeans/Tehachapi CA SAT 11/22 @ 7pm

Saturday, 22 November 2008 @ 7pm
John Batdorf @ Mama Hillybeans
426 E. Tehachapi Blvd., Tehachapi, CA 93561
661.822.BEAN
http://mamahillybeans.com/calendar.html#112208
Price: $12. advance/$15. door
Come listen to John sing songs about things that really matter to him, and you'll understand why they mean so much to his fans
that have spanned three decades.
THIS SHOW WILL BE RECORDED LIVE FOR FOLK SCENE www.folkscene.com




Sunday, November 9, 2008

John Batdorf appears exclusively in the Mother Hen Promotions Room at NERFA

For Immediate Release:
John Batdorf appears exclusively in the Mother Hen Promotions Room at NERFA

In addition to aiding selected artists in getting their name and wares known on the internet via radio and social media, Mother Hen Promotions is also becoming known for presenting artists of the highest quality at the various Folk Alliance conferences including FAR-West, the International Conference in Memphis and now NERFA!

"Mom Hen" is pleased to be presenting Claudia Nygaard, Lauren Sheehan, Andrew McKnight, Randall Williams, James Lee Stanley, "All Wood & Stones", and K.C. Clifford in the Mother Hen Promotions guerrilla showcase room (#1517) at the forthcoming NERFA conference.

Additionally, "Mom Hen" is very proud to be exclusively presenting John Batdorf to the conference at large.

From being the vocal and songwriting force behind Batdorf & Rodney in the '70s, to being a recognized vocal (and writer!) on commercials and cartoons in the '80s, to creating the source music and scores for "Touched by an Angel" and "Promised Land" in the '90s/early 2000s, to being part of the dual force behind "All Wood & Stones", and now - finally - branching out solo - John Batdorf is one of those rare musical finds. His influences include the Beatles and Beethoven, Stephen Stills, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel (among others) ... but the music he gives us is purely his own. He started writing music at an early age and some of those songs still bear weight 40 years later. It is Mom Hens' opinion that he had no business having the knowledge to write some of those songs at the age of 14 ... but it is also Mom Hens' experience that such is the transcendent knowledge of genius..... Johns' vocals are sincere and distinct with an amazing range that reaches deep inside you, his meaningful themes encompass the power of love and helping people in all walks of life ... and he consistently challenges himself to create intricate acoustic melodies with difficult guitar licks that will knock your socks off when you watch him play them live on that beloved Martin D-28.
In sum, John Batdorf is an acoustic powerhouse.

Please come visit the Mother Hen Promotions Guerrilla showcase room #1517 at NERFA, scheduled as follows:

Friday, 14 November 2008/Room #1517:
3 - 4pm - John Batdorf
11:30pm - Andrew McKnight
12 Midnight to 1am - John Batdorf
1am - "All Wood & Stones": John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley
1:30am - Randall Williams

Saturday, 15 November 2008/Room #1517:
2-2:45pm - John Batdorf
2:45 - 4:30pm - "Meet Me In The Music" in-the-round peer group showcase with John Batdorf, Randall Williams, Claudia Nygaard, Andrew McKnight, and Lauren Sheehan
11:30pm - James Lee Stanley
12 Midnight to 1am - John Batdorf
1am - Lauren Sheehan
1:30am - K.C. Clifford


Mother Hen Promotions handles booking and radio and media submissions for John Batdorf should you wish to follow-up during or after the conference.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Batdorf & Fowler: The Half & Half Tour 11/11 & 12/08 NY!!!

Batdorf & Fowler
The Half & Half Tour
Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 7:30 pm
The Cutting Room
19 W. 24th St, NYC
Tickets: $20
(212) 691-1900 or www.thecuttingroomnyc.com
AND
Wednesday Nov 12, 2008 8:00 pm
The Turning Point Café
468 Piermont Ave,
Piermont, NY
Tickets: $20(845) 359-1089 or www.turningpointcafe.com

For immediate release: Batdorf & Fowler: The Half & Half Tour

New York, NY, October 20, 2008 - Remember all the acoustic duos of the 1970's known by their last names like Simon & Garfunkel, Seals & Crofts, Loggins & Messina, Brewer & Shipley, and Batdorf & Rodney? Well Rex Fowler, the lead singer and songwriter of the critically acclaimed folk/rock duo Aztec Two-Step is teaming up with his counterpart in Batdorf & Rodney for the Half & Half Tour, performing two shows on either side of the Hudson River next month.

John Batdorf and Rex Fowler will sneak away from their musical counterparts just long enough to engage in an extra marital tryst at The Cutting Room in NYC and The Turning Point across the river in Piermont, NY on November 11th & 12th respectively.

Batdorf & Fowler will perform separate sets but will be adding a harmony or two on some of their bands classics as well as selections from their individual solo recording projects. This will be a guaranteed inspirational evening of harmony, merriment and song by two very seasoned and sensational singer/songwriters.

John Batdorf East Coast Tour: 11/8-16 CT & NY!


Saturday, 8 November 2008 @ 8pm
John Batdorf Opening For Aztek Two Step
JCC of Greater New Haven, CT

360 Amity Road, Woodbridge, CT 06525
1-203-397-3000
Price: $40 in advance/45 at the door
For tickets call 1-866-55-TICKETS

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 @ 8pm
John Batdorf / Rex Fowler Co-Bill
The Cutting Room

19 West 24th Street, NYC, NY
(212) 691-1900
http://www.thecuttingroomnyc.com/index.html
Price: $20.00
John Batdorf and Rex Fowler (Aztek Two Step) will be co-headline this show.
This will be Johns first trip to NYC since 1975!

Wednesday, 12 November 2008 @ 8pm
John Batdorf / Rex Fowler Co-Bill
The Turning Point

468 Piermont Ave., Piermont, NY 10968
(845) 359-1089
http://www.turningpointcafe.com/
Price: $20..
John Batdorf will again co-headline with Rex Fowler (Aztek Two Step)

from Friday, 14 November till Sunday 16 November 2008
John Batdorf @ NorthEast Region Folk Alliance Conference

Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
http://www.nerfa.org/
private music conference
John will be appearing at the NERFA Folk Alliance conference
November 14-16.