Meet Randy Bates

We recently connected with Randy Bates and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Randy, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I got it from my sister, when I was 9 and my sister was 17 our mom died of cancer. My father was working in Africa at that time, he flew in to Georgia for my mom’s funeral and left a few days later. In order to keep me from foster care my sister married her boyfriend and got custody of me. I can’t imagine having a traumatized 9 year old to raise at the age of 17. She was always supportive of my music career, and she still remains my greatest resource and best friend.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am primarily a songwriter, I wrote my first song on the last day of 1st grade at age 6. I started my first band when I was 14, that band morphed over the next 5 years, eventually signing a large record deal with BMG Records. Tool’s first show was opening for my band East of Gideon. Rage against the Machines 3rd show was opening for us as well. The Black Crowes also opened for us and we played on the Nirvana “NEVERMIND” tour. The band eventually broke up, and I joined a band called Panic Boom with the rhythm section from Saigon Kick and we got a development deal with Atlantic Records. I formed/joined a handful of other bands with small successes for years afterwards. Then I met my current musical director and songwriting partner,Joel Hellman, he formed my solo band. We are now a duet named Echoes of Sunset, an alternative/rock/pop band.

By age 14 I was a PADI Open Water Scuba Diver, a surfer, and a BMX and Skateboard enthusiast. When my band moved to Los Angeles in 1988, I fell in love with mountain biking and snowboarding as well. When I fell in love with Downhill Mountain Biking my social media started gaining traction. I have several sponsors from all over the world. I am currently sponsored by GoPro Cameras, Fuel Clothing, X-Brand Goggles, Fist Hand Wear, etc. I rekindled my love for Scuba Diving, I became an Emergency First Responder, Rescue Diver and then a PADI Scuba Dive Master. My surfing skills were also escalating, I eventually became a Private Surf Instructor.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I learned how to persevere through tough times, I learned to accept rejection and to surround myself with great people. If someone is new on their journey I recommend you find great, supportive, and like minded people. I didn’t meet my true mentor Joel Hellman, until I was 36 so never give up!

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Joel Hellman rekindled my love for music, he is my producer, songwriting partner and my Musical Director. With his help I have been able to hone in my talents, of singing, recording, and songwriting abilities.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Music photos and portraits by Vico Velez
Scuba photo by Carolyn Wang
Skateboard shot by Sebastian Roche
Moab photo by Aaron Lucy

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