Norman Batley is a radio personality who has hosted and programmed award-winning shows for stations in the United Kingdom, Seattle, Washington, and Tampa, Florida. He is also a business entrepreneur who has created, managed, and owned successful restaurant concepts in the Tampa Bay area. He produces, writes, edits, and hosts Life Elsewhere, a weekly show about art, media, and culture. The show is broadcast on WMNF."WMNF Returns to Drive Time Music," Walt Belcher, Tampa Bay Tribune, February 4, 2013 The show is heard on podcast platforms including Spotify, Mixcloud, NPR One, Apple Podcasts.
Career Norman B.'s career has spanned the worlds of broadcasting, advertising, and hospitality. After studying graphic design and graduating from Richmond College, London, his first position was as a graphic designer for BBC News. He later began working as an art director for EMI Records, working on album covers, publicity, and branding campaigns. He began his own boutique agency, specializing in branding and promotion for the music and fashion industries. A client based in Seattle, Washington, led to an extensive stay in America. An opportunity to be a guest on a local radio show, talking about the new music coming out of the UK. His radio appearance attracted enough interest from listeners and management alike to prompt Norman to explore a regular radio time slot.
Life Elsewhere became a permanent feature on station KCMU (KCMU became KEXP-FM 90.3FM in April 2001), after being a syndicated program being broadcast to multiple college stations.
Life Elsewhere morphed into a weekly show for independent London, UK, station Phoenix Radio. Norman B. launched the reggae show Positive Vibrations for KCMU. The show could be heard on Saturday mornings."Positive Vibrations," The Rocket, July 1996.
Norman B.’s first foray into commercial radio was in 1984 for an album-oriented rock station KXRX, where he produced and hosted Seattle Blues, a Sunday night show that drew a large following."Seattle Blues," Jim Kelton, Everett Herald, November 18, 1988 Bart Becker of The Seattle Weekly wrote that Norman B. was "stirring up the Sunday night radio waves" and "breaking the sound barrier.""Stirring Up Sunday Night Radio Waves: "Radio Rebel, Opinionated FM Deejay Norman B Breaks the Sound Barrier," Bart Becker, April 5, 1989 Following the ratings performance of Seattle Blues, Norman B. was invited to host a midday talk show on KGW in Portland, Oregon, with KXRX management facilitating his travel between the two cities. Prompted by the success of Seattle Blues, KXRX released a new weekly new music show hosted by Norman B. called, The Xtra Hour."X-tra, X-tra, Read All About It," Seattle Weekly, February 22, 1989
In August 1991, at the peak of Seattle's globally renowned "grunge" music wave, Norman B. was poached by the newly launched alternative radio station 107.7 KNDD The End."The End: Chapter 1 – Seattle's Newest Alternative Station Is Still Very Much A Work-In-Progress," Kit Boss, Seattle Times, September 27, 1991. Within six weeks of The End's first broadcast, three albums by local artists — "Ten" by Pearl Jam, "Nevermind" by Nirvana, and "Badmotorfinger" by Soundgarden — were released, reaching the top of the Billboard charts, which benefitted KNDD. Within a year KNDD was "defying history," as reported in the Seattle Times."The Beginning Of The End – Alternative Rock Station KNDD Is Almost One Year Old And Going Strong," Ken Hunt, Seattle Times, July 26, 1992 "This spring's Arbitron ratings show KNDD in the top three stations among listeners aged 18–34," writes Times reporter Ken Hunt.
The Seattle Weekly wrote that "In the past six months 'The End' has become one of the hottest stations in the city... leonine Brit and gentleman rocker Norman B makes an amiable afternoon companion.""107.7 The End," Seattle Weekly, January 4, 1995
"I loved all of the DJs," recalls blogger Michael Sutton on the occasion of The End's 20th anniversary. "British iconoclast Norman B., The eclectic mix of music -- was radio at its finest.""The End's 20th BDay – Kind Words From A 'Friend of The End,'" Michael Sutton, TheEnd.com
By the first part of the 1990s, grunge had made Seattle an important centre for popular music, The End its chief purveyor in the market, and Norman B. that station's highest-profile on-air personality. In 1993 readers of The Seattle Weekly voted Norman B. "Best Radio Voice," edging out Hall of Fame Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus."Best of List: And the Readers Say..." Seattle Weekly, June 23, 1993 His "smooth British voice adds class," wrote Elizabethe Brown of the Bellevue Journal American.
In 1997, Norman B. left The End to work for WSJT in Tampa, Florida to anchor that station's format turnaround. "The Norman B. Show," premiered that year with a theme based around Norman B. himself, and soon gained a large following.'Friday Extra: Fed Up With Commercial Radio? You're Not Alone," Tampa Tribune, November 12, 1999
Restaurateur Norman B partnered in a French-Vietnamese bistro, which became one of the most popular establishments in the Tampa area, earning a rating by Conde Nast as one of the "Top 60 Restaurants in the World.""Top 60 Restaurants," Conde Nast Traveler 2005 Shortly after the launch, the St. Petersburg Times wrote in a review that "high style comes in a tiny boite. French and Vietnamese flavors meet with flair in stunning soups, meat salads and classic entrees. Fresh herbs and flowers are as luxurious as the duck and lobster. Best service of the year.""1999 On the Restaurant Beat: Best Canh Cuo Tom, Lobster in Dubonnet and, Oh My, Just Everything," Chris Sherman, St. Petersburg Times, December 24, 1999
Norman B. opened three more new eateries, including The Yellow Door, described as a "paradox" by food writer Natalie Capisi of Clique, "that is as visionary as it is rooted in custom, making it an enjoyable puzzle to ponder as you show off your chopstick-ing skills.""Yellow Door Adventure," Natalie Capisi, Clique, May 1, 2002
"The Yellow Door, my favorite new entry in the Hyde Park dining scene," writes Sara Kennedy of CL Tampa. "The Yellow Door is Restaurant Royalty. It's a fabulously original, creative and consistent restaurant that any foodie would love. I tried a number of dishes, and was astonished at their complexity and sheer exuberance. I nearly dropped my fancy chopsticks in a fit of swooning.""Hyde Parking," Sara Kennedy, Creative Loafing Tampa, August 21, 2002
On August 16, 2002, staff writer Michael Canning of the St. Petersburg Times reported that "one of Tampa's most consistently stylish restaurateurs... plans to open a third restaurant. Regulars know to expect stylish decor and natty wait staff. (The Yellow Door) promises a Zen motif with cool colors, natural textures, and 'a very strong emphasis on balance.' Servers may be outfitted in black T-shirts with quotes from Confucius.""Noodles are Their Specialty," Michael Canning, St. Petersburg Times, August 16, 2002
"The photos hang in two long rows over the bar, creating a focal point for all who come to relax, celebrate or forget," writes Susan Thurston, Tampa Bay Times. "Each subject holds a drink – wine, beer, even milk. People ask about them constantly.""What's Brewing: Face Value is a $500 Donation," Susan Thurston, Tampa Bay Times, September 16, 2005
"Diners may recognize the curved walls and oversized ceiling columns," writes Michael Canning, Tampa Bay Times. "But the rest of the space has been redone in adherence to feng shui principles. Bamboo and cedar surfaces and modern track lighting hold sway in the dining room. Steel mesh curtains partition the lounge, which features a stainless steel bar and Batley's black and white portraits of staff, family and patrons. (Can you spot attorney John Fitzgibbons? Hinks and Elaine Shimberg?)"Everybody's Business: Oodles of Noodles and More at B.T.," Michael Canning, Tampa Bay Times, April 1, 2005
Norman B. and 'Life Elsewhere' Return to Radio In February 2013, Norman B. relaunched "Life Elsewhere" as a weekly music, arts and culture programWMNF Returns to Drive Time Music, Walt Belcher, Tampa Bay Tribune, February 4, 2013. on Tampa Bay public radio station WMNF.
The Tampa Bay Tribune reported the premiere of "Life Elsewhere" as part of a format turnaround at WMNF, with the independent, non-profit station "tweaking the schedule in response to what our listeners have said about what they like and don't like," according to Program Director Randy Wind."WMNF Returns to Drive Time Music," Walt Belcher, Tampa Bay Tribune, February 4, 2013
Nonprofit
Norman B. has been actively involved with charitable work and nonprofit organizations throughout his career. Notable events include his performancs work during "KISS THE SKY! The Orca Freedom Concert,""Heart, Joan Jett Headline Earth Day Concert at EMP," Craig Sailor, Staff Writer, Tacoma News Tribune, February 25, 2014 a historic Earth Day 2014 benefit show at Seattle's Sky Church at EMP Museum featuring Graham Nash, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Country Joe McDonald, Arielle, and the Andrew Morse Band with Faces and Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian McLagan.
In all, KISS THE SKY! (a reference to Seattle's Jimi Hendrix) showcased four inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – or five, given Nash's two HoF inductions, as a founding member of both The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
The sellout concert raised tens of thousands of dollars for wild orca research and advocacy. It also provided Norman B. the opportunity to discover that he and McLagan attended the same art school as kids in London.
It would spark a unique oral history collaboration between the two musicologists that lasted until McLagan's passing in the fall of 2014.
Loyal Listeners Norman B. remains one of the most recognized radio personalities in the Pacific Northwest. In a Seattle Post-Intelligencer column, reporter Bill Virgin surveyed readers on "what local hosts or personalities do you miss that you'd like to have back on the air?"
Norman B. was at the top of the list, as by the survey response.
"Think no one cares about an old-fashioned communications medium like radio?," writes Virgin. "Then ask people what they think about it – and see if anyone cares enough to respond. We did ask. They did respond. And it's obvious people do care about radio.""Radio Beat: P-I Survey Indicates People Do Care About Radio Fare," Bill Virgin, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 9, 2003
Radio career KOAS Olympia Weekly alternative show on campus station that gave birth to Op Magazine and K Records, and helped launch the career of the founder of SubPop Records and numerous musical and artistic talents. KRAB Seattle Weekly alternative show "Life Elsewhere" on free-form public station, part of the original Pacifica group. KXRX Seattle Hugely popular commercial AOR station; introduced "Seattle Blues" later become an award-winning and long-running brand. KCMU Seattle (now KEXP) World-wide acclaimed independent non-commercial station, Norman B hosted Positive Vibrations, a weekly reggae show with highest-rated Arbitron 12+ for the time slot; and produced and also hosted Life Elsewhere an acclaimed weekly alternative show, distributed and heard on over 25 American college stations. Phoenix Radio London, UK Weekly overview of alternative American music on an indie station the forerunner of a successful commercial station. KXRX Seattle Regular air-shift on the leading Seattle commercial AOR station; winner of "Best Radio Voice" award. Hosted and programmed the weekly show, "Seattle Blues," the longest-running and highest-rated "specialty show" in Seattle radio history. Created and hosted "The Extra Hour", an alternative music show KGW Portland, OR