Pablo Batista, a graduate of Temple University class of 1985 has been a percussionist for over 31 years. In 2000, Pablo was a recipient of the distinguished Pew Fellowship Award in Folk Arts. He also toured and recorded with the late Grover Washington, Jr., from 1985 until Grover's passing in 1999.

Presently, Pablo Batista is the percussionist for the five-time Grammy recipient, Alicia Keys. He has been teaching percussion for the Latin American Music Association (AMLA) for over 15 years.

Pablo Batista has performed and recorded with such artist as Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, George Howard, Diane Reeves, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Eddie Palmieri, Manny Oquendo y Conjunto Libre, Philadelphia Orchestra, Musiq, Norman Brown, Gerald Veasley, and Regina Belle to name a few.

Recently Pablo Batista performed at the 2002 Grammy Awards with Alicia Keys, in addition to completing a world-wide tour. He has recently recorded on Alicia Keys upcoming recording and has just recorded on Norman Brown's 2003 Grammy award winning, Just Chillin CD.

(source: www.lpmusic.com)

Master percussionist Pablo Batista has performed, recorded and toured internationally for 30 years with some of the biggest stars in rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, pop and gospel.

Artists with whom he has worked with include Alicia Keys, Patti Labelle, Kirk Franklin, Jill Scott, Gerald Levert, Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass, Diane Reeves, Norman Brown, Manny Oquendo and Libre, Eddie Palmieri, and Musiq. A drummer of unusually diverse talents, Pablo is highly regarded for his professionalism, tireless work ethic and ability to listen. He can integrate his playing into almost any style at the highest level of musicianship, holds the rare distinction of having performed on Grammy-winning releases in jazz, R & B and gospel, and has also been a guest with the Philadelphia Orchestra Percussion Ensemble.

A son of Puerto Rican immigrant parents
Pablo Batista grew up in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, where he began studying Latin percussion at the age of 9 years. Starting with hand drums under the tutelage of master percussionist Miguel Candia, he went on to absorb popular Afro-Caribbean music styles, and developed a special interest in salsa.

His education-oriented upbringing brought him to Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a pre-law student in 1981. There, he recorded a demo of folkloric percussion music, which came to the attention of Grover Washington Jr. At that time, Grover Washington Jr was serving as producer for R&B star Jean Carne, and he invited Pablo into the studio to work professionally as a percussionist for the first time. The record, “Closer Than Close,” became a huge success.