Jeff Batson

Bio:

Jeff Batson is a testament to originality and passion, firmly rooted in a foundation of natural talent. Jeff’s wide-ranging musical influences include John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap and Alabama. A kid who loved to sing for people at home, at church, and at family gatherings was playing the saxophone by the age of eight and picked up his first guitar at fourteen. Reared in blue collar Cahokia, Illinois, his parents instilled integrity and a resilient work ethic in him as he excelled academically and focused on a career in real estate. He completed a B.S. in Business Administration at Saint Louis University and subsequently earned an M.S. in Real Estate and Construction Management at the University of Denver. After graduation, Jeff returned to St. Louis and established himself as a commercial real estate appraiser.

But through it all, there was the music and that was what really drove Jeff. He spent his days appraising buildings and his nights performing at the many venues in and around St. Louis. Jeff developed quite a regional following and was regularly featured on St. Louis area radio and television. His fame in St. Louis led to opportunities outside the area including a guest appearance on TNN’s Prime Time Country, a finalist spot in the national Jim Beam Country Music Talent Search and a Middle East tour with the Department of Defense to entertain the troops serving in Desert Storm.

It was during that time that Jeff also began to develop his songwriting talents and that meant one thing: Nashville. Jeff embarked on frequent commutes to attend the yearly Country Radio Seminar, award shows, and other industry events. Networking was instinctive for his charismatic personality as he acquainted himself with the Nashville scene, becoming a student of the country music business. Then in 1997, Jeff permanently relocated to Music City.

Once settled, Jeff threw himself into his music and after countless hours writing songs, he has amassed a remarkable catalogue. “That’s a Winner”, a tribute to the St. Louis Cardinals’ announcer Jack Buck, is a staple on St. Louis area sports shows and is often heard in Busch Stadium. The fervent intensity of “The Rock” resulted in its selection as the grand prize winner of the In the Beginning: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Garth Brooks contest. “Found My Way to You” poignantly conveys the relationship an adopted child has with his birth mother and his adoptive mother (the song went to 5 on the New Christian Music Euro Country chart). “Don’t Call Me a Hero” is a tribute to the brave men and women that have chosen to serve the public as firefighters. The song has quickly circulated amongst the many firefighter organizations and is becoming an anthem of sorts among this group of very special individuals.

Jeff also co-wrote the sensitive theme portrayed in “Make a Wish” with Laura Bryna, Steve Williams and Roger Sarchet. The song caught the attention of Bryna’s co producer Kyle Lehning and they cut it for her debut CD on Equity Records, Trying to Be Me. The track was chosen as a single and released with a video produced by Trey Fanjoy in the fall of 2007. The song has been heralded as a standout cut from the project and has elicited an amazing emotional response from audiences around the country, becoming a huge smash on the internet. Bryna was so taken with Jeff's writing style that she also cut the song "Hometown Heroes" and rushed it to radio as the follow-up single. The Air Guard adopted Laura's version as their theme song and featured it in a national promotional campaign that included both television and radio commercials.

Country hit maker Tracy Lawrence recently recorded Jeff's "The Rock" for his first gospel project. The song will be the title track on the Rocky Comfort release, schuled for Spring 2009.

But don’t let his sensitive side fool you: there is more than one ingredient in the Jeff Batson brand of music. While his lyrical sensibilities often portray themes of faith, family, and love in emotional ways, Jeff also writes songs that just as effortlessly impart vivid imagery of the hard living typically associated with many performers and fans of country music. “Wasted” and “Last Time ’til The Next Time” are fast-tempo toe-tappers best suited for the barroom. Both songs were recorded by D-Records artist Jamie Richards and peaked at 4 and 7, respectively, on the Texas Music charts.

Jeff is a workaholic, a perfectionist and a true music fan that is most at home on stage and in the studio. But when not performing, he is usually in the audience of a honky-tonk somewhere supporting another artist and loving the music. Fans of his live show will get another taste of Jeff’s music in the spring of 2009 when he releases his long awaited project featuring all original material. Packed with elements of country and rock, the tracks are both intimate and provocative and represent another major step forward in Jeff’s creative journey.

Jeff certainly possesses an authentic gift for songwriting, and his vocals are satisfyingly devoid of routine mediocrity. He has mastered the art of believing in the formative power of his music and then systematically pursuing his dreams. Undoubtedly, Jeff Batson is a shooting star on the horizon and his work will excite any true fan of good, honest music.



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Member Since:

October 30, 2006

Members:

Photo by Ryan Sweeney

Influences:

Jeff’s wide-ranging musical influences include John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap and Alabama.

Sounds Like:

There is more than one ingredient in the Jeff Batson brand of music. While his lyrical sensibilities often portray themes of faith, family, and love in emotional ways, Jeff also writes songs that just as effortlessly impart vivid imagery of the hard living typically associated with many performers and fans of country music. “Wasted” and “Last Time ’til The Next Time” are fast-tempo toe-tappers best suited for the barroom. Both songs were recorded by D-Records artist Jamie Richards and peaked at 10 and 19, respectively, on the Texas Music charts.

Livin' that honky tonk dream!


Rockin' with Nick and Timmy!


Workin' the crowd before Trick Pony!

Record Label:

Unsigned