Born David Russell Batiste, Jr. December 12, 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana

His father, David Batiste, was leader of a family band, David Batiste and the Gladiators, credited by many with being one of the pioneering funk bands. The Batiste family is one of New Orleans' most prolific musical families with three generations of Batistes playing regularly in scores of different projects around town and beyond.

Russell began playing drums at age four, first sitting in with the family band at age seven. He began playing saxophone in the school band in fifth grade and can now hold his own on keyboard, trumpet, bass and guitar. He attended St. Augustine High School and was a member of the nationally known Marching One Hundred Band, playing in the drum section and writing cadences that are still heard during Mardi Gras parade season today. He attended Southern University of New Orleans on a music scholarship, studying under the renown Edward "Kidd" Jordan. He left college after two years when he began traveling with the Charmaine Neville Band. He continues his love of marching bands by acting as assistant director of Redeemer-Seaton High School when his schedule permits.

Russell left the Charmaine Neville Band in 1989 to join with Art Neville and George Porter of the Meters and guitarist Brian Stoltz to form The funky Meters. Russell was with George Porter and the Runnin' Partners for many years and has played with a wide variety of performers including Harry Connick, Jr., Champion Jack Dupree, Robbie Robinson and Maceo Parker as well as local and regional bands to numerous to mention. Along with Vida Blue and his own band, Russell Batiste and the Orchestra from da Hood he continues to play with the funky Meters and is an integral part of Papa Grows Funk, a fast-rising original funk band from New Orleans.

Russell Batiste and the Orchestra from Da Hood is Russell's own project and he is currently working on his second CD. The core band is eight members strong but both cuts on the CD and live gigs have seen the numbers swell on any one song to twelve or more. All the music is written and arranged by Russell, including all the horn parts.

As a dedicated family man and loyal friend, Russell is in constant touch with family and friends and is never without his cell phone). He has been known to answer calls while performing and has a picture taken as he talked on the phone while riding the roller coaster at Jazzland. He loves children and is a big kid at heart. On Russell's days off it is entirely possible to find 10 or so children at his house, including nieces and nephews, cousins and neighbors; either that or eight or ten musicians practicing for an Orchestra gig or just dropping by to shed. He has a racing car set that he brought for Christmas and a virtual reality video baseball game that is frequently used for impromptu tournaments.

He has also begun to collect and refurbish drum kits. His other favorite activity involves smoking blunts and watching westerns, Colombo and sports on T.V.. He lives with his son Kristopher and his step-son Blake, two thirteen year olds on their way to being some future NFL team's offensive line and his lady, Kitty.