I met Harold Battiste, Jr. for the first time when he first moved back to New Orleans, around 1992. We were still in our offices in the Masonic Temple Building at 333 St. Charles Avenue, a few years before OffBeat moved to Frenchmen Street.

“Blue Harold” Courtesy of the Jazz Journalists Association

Being relatively ignorant about the myriad aspects of who is who and what was what in music, I wasn’t that familiar with Harold Battiste. He came to introduce himself and to visit with me, being a guy who had a lot of music biz experience. I guess he wanted to see what OffBeat was all about and who the pushy broad was who was running it.

So we visited.

I knew right away that Harold would mean much more to me than just someone I knew, a musician or a music industry person. Our personalities just clicked. He was, of course, a legendary persona in jazz, in music education, in music business, in living a good life, in creating a legacy. We got to know each other a lot better, and spent many hours in conversation on the phone and in person.

It turned out that Harold grew up in the Central City neighborhood where we live, and his cousin still lives right around the corner. So when Harold was still driving and visiting, he’d come over to our house and visit for a spell, when he was able.

“Mr. Bat” (I always called him Harold) taught me the most important thing I ever learned about music: its healing power. Music communicates to everyone, no matter how young, old rich, poor, no matter what language is spoken. It is the ultimate communicator (remember those notes sent up to the aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind?), and certainly the ultimate emotional conveyance, when words aren’t even needed.

I thank Harold for his kindness and patience with me and his constant reiteration that music was communication, a healing force. This is something that I certainly needed to remember, and remember often, as running a small creative business is certainly stressful. Sometimes it’s easy to forget why I am even doing this… until I just let go and listen to music. Then the real reason why OffBeat exists washes over me. I thank Harold for teaching me that, and making me understand.

I’m glad that OffBeat was able to honor him several times during his life with Best of The Beat Awards, by telling his story, and giving him his “flowers while he was still on this side of the earth.” I’d encourage you to read his autobiography, Unfinished Blues, co-written with Karen Celestan, to learn about Harold, his music, his life, and about the man himself. And, of course, to enjoy his legacy of music and to truly appreciate his influence on so many other musicians.

He certainly had a profound influence on me, my business, my character, and my love for New Orleans music. RIP, Harold Battiste, Jr. You will be forever in my heart.

Thank you.