 Battiste introduced audiences to New Orleans artist Mac Rebennack as Dr. John, and produced his earliest albums.Battiste spent thirty years in Los Angeles, including fifteen years with Sonny and Cher, earning six gold records, and acting as musical director on their TV series.He also played piano for Tom Waits's songs "Whistlin' Past The Graveyard" and "A Sweet Little Bullet from a Pretty Blue Gun" on "Blue Valentine" (1978).