John Batdorf has been making his living as a musician since he was a teenager. Yet he is about to celebrate nearly 50 years of marriage. There is something ordinary yet extraordinary in that statement. That is what makes John Batdorf’s life and career even more intriguing.
He was discovered by music guru, Ehmet Ertegun and signed to a recording contract. He was half of the legendary folk/rock duo Batdorf and Rodney, who have been inducted into the Las Vegas Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He was the lead singer on the hit record, Wham Bam, by the band Silver, which, thanks to a little blockbuster movie titled “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2,” have had over 8 million plays on YouTube of their top 20 hit from 1976.
You will also know his music from various commercial jingles and TV and film scores like Touched By an Angel and Promised land. John has also spent quite a bit of time as a backing vocalist and songwriter for artists like Adele, Rod Stewart, America and Kim Carnes. Yet, John lives a very ordinary life at his home in Oregon where he loves to fish and spend time with his family.
KC Café Radio’s Music Director, Kathy Forste, recently Zoomed with John, in his home studio about his ordinary extraordinary life. John performs a few songs, including a Batdorf and Rodney classic. They discuss his newest solo album Last Summer and his upcoming EP. John also shares why his album Soundtrax2Recovery is so important to him. John tells us how he has been spending his time since his tour last year was cancelled because of Covid. Kathy and John talk about his songwriting process over the years. And, John tells us what he hopes his plans are for the coming year.