Skip Battin

Clyde "Skip" Battin (February 18, 1934 – July 6, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, bassist, performer, and recording artist. He was a member of the Byrds, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Εarly life Clyde Raybould Battin was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, USA, attending local schools. He discovered the electric bass when he was 17 years old.

Two years later, he moved to Tucson to attend physical education classes at the University of Arizona. With fellow student Gary S. Paxton, he formed a college band, the Pledges. As Gary and Clyde, they recorded the single "Why Not Confess" (with "Johnny Risk" on the flipside) for Rev Records, a local label. In 1959, they went into the Desert Palm Studios in Phoenix, Arizona, the home of guitarist Duane Eddy, and recorded some Paxton compositions. In 1966, after a few years out of the music industry, he formed the short-lived folk-rock group Evergreen Blueshoes, whose one album appeared on the Amos label. After the album failed to sell, Battin concentrated instead on session work for many musicians, such as Gene Vincent, Warren Zevon, and others.

Fame The Byrds in 1970. (L–R) Roger McGuinn, Skip Battin, Clarence White, Gene Parsons Battin is probably best known as bass guitarist and songwriter with the Byrds from 1970 to 1973. He was—by eight years—the oldest member of the Byrds. He recorded three albums with them and toured extensively. Many of his songwriting contributions were co-written with Kim Fowley. Battin was invited to join the country-rock group New Riders of the Purple Sage, with whom he recorded three albums from 1974 to 1976.

He left the group to join his ex-Byrd cohort Gene Parsons in a new line up of the Flying Burrito Brothers. Meanwhile, he was replaced in the New Riders within the year by Stephen A. Love.

In 1984, Battin got into a fight with Roger McGuinn after a live performance in London, UK, when McGuinn failed to pay wages to a line-up called the Peace Seekers.

Personal life Battin married and had a son, Brent. 1981: Navigator (Appaloosa) 1984: Don't Go Crazy (Appaloosa) 2012: Topanga Skyline (Sierra) (recorded July 17–30, 1973 in Hollywood CA) 2017: Skip Battin's Italian Dream (Appaloosa)

Collaborations 1985: Live in Italy (Moondance) with Sneaky Pete Kleinow and 1998: Family Tree (Folkest Dischi) with John York, Ricky Mantoan, and Beppe D'Angelo

With Skip & Flip Singles 1959: "It Was I" / "Lunch Hour" US #11 1959: "Fancy Nancy" / "It Could Be" US #71 1960: "Cherry Pie" / "(I'll Quit) Cryin' Over You" US #11 1960: "Hully Gully Cha Cha Cha" / "Teenage Honeymoon" US #109 1960: "Willow Tree" / "Green Door" 1961: "Betty Jean" / "Doubt" 1962: "One More Drink for Julie" / "Over the Mountain"

As The Skip Battin Combo Singles 1962: "Can't Stop Twistin" / "Quarter To Three In Moscow" (Indigo Records)

With the Evergreen Blueshoes 1969: The Ballad of Evergreen Blueshoes (Amos)

With The Byrds 1970: (Untitled) (Columbia) 1971: Byrdmaniax (Columbia) 1971: Farther Along (Columbia) 2008: Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 (Sundazed)

With The Flying Burrito Brothers 1976: Airborne (Columbia) 1979: Live from Tokyo (Regency) 1981: Hearts on the Line (Curb) as The Burrito Brothers 1983: Hollywood Nights 1979–82 (Sundown) 1985: Cabin Fever (Relix) 1986: Live from Europe (Relix) 1991: Close Encounters on the West Coast (Relix)

With New Riders of the Purple Sage

1974: Brujo (Columbia) 1975: Oh, What a Mighty Time (Columbia) 1976: New Riders (MCA) 1993: Live on Stage (Relix) 2005: Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX, 6/13/75 (Kufala)

Also appears on 1969: Warren Zevon – Wanted Dead or Alive (Imperial) 1973: Kim Fowley – International Heroes (Capitol) 1975: Earl Scruggs Revue – Anniversary Special Volume One (Columbia) 1978: Kim Fowley – Visions of the Future (Capitol) 1979: Sneaky Pete Kleinow – Sneaky Pete (Shiloh)