Bill Batstone
Encyclopedia
Bill Batstone is an American
guitarist, bassist, composer and singer/songwriter.
In 1970, Batstone started his first band Rebirth, with David Diggs, including percussionist Alex MacDougall
. Later Batstone would go on to form Good News with Diggs and Erick Nelson. That band also included Bob Carlisle
, who would have success with the unrelated song "Butterfly Kisses
".
Batstone recorded and toured for five years with singer/guitarist Richie Furay
of the Buffalo Springfield
and Poco
. He penned the hit song "I Still Have Dreams" for Furay. Batstone was the bass player on many recordings and tours for artists such as Randy Stonehill
, Mark Heard
, and Larry Norman
and was a part of touring version of The Maranatha! Praise Band, led by Dan Collins, in the greater part of the 1990s. Batstone currently is touring and performing with the Tommy Coomes Band and is a member of the Harvest Worship Band at Harvest Christian Fellowship
. The Tommy Coomes band leads worship at all of Billy Graham and Franklin Graham Festivals worldwide. The Harvest Worship Band leads music and worship at the Harvest Christian Fellowship
church in Riverside, CA and also at the Harvest Crusade
s. Batstone also performs with John Batdorf (of Batdorf and Rodney).
As a composer, Batstone writes songs which fall into the category of "Christian" music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist, bassist, composer and singer/songwriter.
In 1970, Batstone started his first band Rebirth, with David Diggs, including percussionist Alex MacDougall
Alex MacDougall
Alex MacDougall is an American record producer, and percussionist. MacDougall is best known for being a member of the Christian rock band Daniel Amos in the late 1970s in addition to his production and recording session credits...
. Later Batstone would go on to form Good News with Diggs and Erick Nelson. That band also included Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle is a Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning American musician who performs Christian music. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, before launching a solo career...
, who would have success with the unrelated song "Butterfly Kisses
Butterfly Kisses (song)
"Butterfly Kisses" is the title of a song written by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas from Carlisle's third studio album Butterfly Kisses . The song was written for his daughter Brooke's 16th birthday. Carlisle also wrote a journal entitled Butterfly Kisses for fathers and their daughters...
".
Batstone recorded and toured for five years with singer/guitarist Richie Furay
Richie Furay
Richie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
of the Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
and Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
. He penned the hit song "I Still Have Dreams" for Furay. Batstone was the bass player on many recordings and tours for artists such as Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, and Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
and was a part of touring version of The Maranatha! Praise Band, led by Dan Collins, in the greater part of the 1990s. Batstone currently is touring and performing with the Tommy Coomes Band and is a member of the Harvest Worship Band at Harvest Christian Fellowship
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Harvest Christian Fellowship was founded in 1979 by Greg Laurie in Riverside, CA. Laurie is currently the senior pastor of thirty years. Harvest is a megachurch with a congregation of 15,000 and growing. The eighth largest church in America and third largest in California, they are currently...
. The Tommy Coomes band leads worship at all of Billy Graham and Franklin Graham Festivals worldwide. The Harvest Worship Band leads music and worship at the Harvest Christian Fellowship
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Harvest Christian Fellowship was founded in 1979 by Greg Laurie in Riverside, CA. Laurie is currently the senior pastor of thirty years. Harvest is a megachurch with a congregation of 15,000 and growing. The eighth largest church in America and third largest in California, they are currently...
church in Riverside, CA and also at the Harvest Crusade
Harvest Crusade
The Harvest Crusades are evangelical Christian events held across the United States and in other countries at the invitation of local churches and Christian leaders. Since 1990, they have been attended by over 4 million people in stadiums, amphitheaters, and like venues. Greg Laurie is the founder...
s. Batstone also performs with John Batdorf (of Batdorf and Rodney).
As a composer, Batstone writes songs which fall into the category of "Christian" music.