A Tribute to Ken Batie...

Ken Batie was born at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta on April 15, 1960, the son of the late Rev. and Mrs. G. J. Batie. Growing up in the small town of LaFayette, Georgia, Ken attended LaFayette Senior High School, where he was a four-year letterman in football, basketball and track & field, as well as a two-year letterman as chess team captain. Ken was also in the Who's Who Among American High School students in his senior year. Before majoring in Sociology and Mass Communications at Jacksonville State University, Ken began his radio career by working at the college's station WJSU where he played Top 40 hits. In the summer of 1979, Ken obtained his first job at WLFA in LaFayette, Georgia and went on to work for various commercial stations in Alabama and Tennessee. In the fall of 1985, Ken joined the Jazz 91.9 FM WCLK family as host of the afternoon show Ubiquity. In 1987, Ken and Nat Quick developed the show Hot Ice in the Afternoon, both alternating as the show's host. In the spring of 1989 Ken became the full-time host, and now fourteen years later, he is still "jammin' strong." As part of the WCLK family, Ken developed the "Hot Ice Box" where he conducted interviews with various artists such as: Quincy Jones, Najee, Roy Ayers, David Sanborn, Incognito and Dionne Warwick just to name a few.  It was also with the "Hot Ice Box" that Ken was able to expose and support many of Atlanta's own favorite local artists.  After his last on-air show in June of  2005, Ken remained with WCLK until 2006, promoting and directing station events around Atlanta as the station's Promotions Director.  Shortly before 7:00 am on Monday, February 12th, Ken was the victim of a fatal car accident in Atlanta.  Surviving Ken are his wife, Lisa, an infant daughter, Kennedy, an infant son, Ken and many brothers and sisters.  As a father and a friend, Ken was loved by many, but will be missed by all.