Pablo Batista

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

Presently, Pablo is the percussionist for ”fill in later“. He has toured with five time Grammy recipient, Alicia Keys and performed with her live at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

He has been teaching percussion for the Latin American Music Association (AMLA) for over 15 years and has performed and recorded with such artist as: Bono, Jeffrey Osborne, Phyliss Hyman, George Howard, Diane Reeves, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Eddie Palmieri, Manny Oquendo Conjunto Libre, Philadelphia Orchestra, Musiq, Norman Brown’s 2003 Grammy award winning, Just Chillin album. Pablo has been a Latin Percussion endorser and clinician since 1985.

In 1954 the Batista’s moved to Bethlehem, PA with a family of 4 children, 3 daughters and their youngest son Pablo. At the age of 9 Pablo started studying hand drums with master percussionist Miguel Candia. From there he learned the styles of popular and Afro-Caribbean music, with a specific interest in Salsa. After graduating Bethlehem Catholic High School in 1981 Pablo went on to attend Temple University and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelors Degree of Fine Arts. Pablo started teaching Afro-Caribbean percussion at The Association of Latin American Musicians (AMLA).

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