Milton performing in "Live & Let Die"
Milton ‘Bat’ Batiste was born on the 5th of September, 1934, in New Orleans.
He was a highly charismatic Jazz musician, best known for his long standing affiliation with the Olympia Brass Band.
Growing up in the Jazz centre of the world, Milton was inspired by a number of musician like Louis Jordan’s blues band. He learnt the trumpet during high school and formed his own local band who performed around the city’s smaller clubs and bars. He was soon picked to join pianist Henry Byrd and his band named Professor Longhair & His Shuffling Hungarians, who had several hits in the late 1940’s with ‘She Ain’t Got No Hair’ and ‘Mardi Gras in New Orleans’. This led to Milton performing in some of the seedier and more eccentric venues across the city and eventually he decided to leave to travel around the South, where he ultimately go to work with other established rhythm & blues artists including Big Joe Turner, Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry and Eddie Bo.
After joining the George Williams Brass Band for an incredible 12-hour march on a Mardi Gras parade, Milton’s biggest career move came when he officially joined the famed Olympia Brass Band in 1963, which was headed by Harold ‘Duke’ Dejan, formerly of the Eureka Brass Band. He quickly became one of the leading figures in the group, essentially taking on the role of second in command, and the band went from strength to strength with New Orleans becoming a popular international tourist venue. The Olympia Brass were at the heart of proceedings in ‘The Big Easy’ and they soon earned their right to tour all over Europe and on a tour in Africa, with a highlight coming in 1967 when they recorded a set on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
In October of 1972 came another major promotional opportunity, when the band were hired by Eon Productions to feature in the latest James Bond adventure “Live & Let Die”, which showcased a piece written by Milton and saw him take centre stage during both funeral processions seen in the movie.
As the years rolled by, Milton formed the Young Olympians, which was set up to encourage young musicians to join the parade format. He also formed his own record label Dubat Records and continued to dedicate the majority of his time to the Olympia Brass Band, performing at the famed Preservation Hall on a number of occasions.
Milton wrote a number of other songs which can be heard in films over the years including “Undercover Blues” (2003) which featured ‘Down Yonder’ and “Double Jeopardy” (1999) where he arranged and performed ‘State Of The Blues’ and ‘Telephone To Glory’. Even after his passing, his music continued to be featured in major films such as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) and “Epic” (2013).
He released several records in collaboration with the Olympia Brass Band and other artists such as ‘Milton Batiste with The Rue Conti Jazz Band’ (1993), ‘Milton Batiste, La Vida New Orleans Jazz Band’ (1993), ‘Bourbon Street Jazz’ (1994) and ‘Milton Batiste with Peter Nissens New Orleans Band’ (1997).
Milton Batiste sadly passed away on the 29th of March, 2001, aged 66.
In "Live & Let Die", the iconic Olympia Brass Band were a real life band, who led funerals in the city of New Orleans.
One of the key members at the time of filming of "Live & Let Die" was trumpeter Milton Batiste.
He can be seen during both funerals as the lead trumpeter who signals the change of mood of the procession from a slow somber walk to an upbeat jazz dance.
The item displayed below is the LP 'Best of New Orleans Jazz, Volume II, featuring Dejan's Olympia Brass Band' (1989).
It was signed by Milton Batiste, Harold 'Duke' Dejan and a third unknown person.
Autographs of Milton can be very challenging to find, despite his success as a musician.
Unfortunately, no James Bond material has ever been seen.
Milton not only appeared as the lead trumpet but he also wrote the upbeat second movement of the funeral procession named 'New Second Line'.
During processions he would often play the trumpet one handed, while using the other to play the tambourine!
There were a total of three trumpeters seen in the procession. One of them remains unknown and the trumpeter next to Milton in the film has been identified by The Bond Archives as Edmond Foucher.
DISCLAIMER
The Bond Archives & Bond Autograph Archives are in no way attached or officially associated with EON Productions, Danjaq LLC, United Artists Corporation, Columbia Pictures Industries, Sony, Universal Pictures, Ian Fleming, Glidrose Publications Limited or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All film titles, character names, photographs, screenshots and other information which may be copyright protected are used as a reference only. All autographs, props and private interviews displayed within the Bond Archives & Bond Autograph Archives are owned and exclusively displayed by the Bond Archives, unless stated otherwise. No material found within this website may be removed, copied or reproduced in any form and by any means, without express written permission by the Bond Archives & Bond Autograph Archives.
All related James Bond trademarks
© 1962-2024 Danjaq LLC, EON Productions Ltd, MGM Inc. and United Artists Corp.
All rights reserved