The Battersby Duo: A Biography

Founded in 1984 by Tim and Laura Battersby, The Battersby Duo began as a passion project by two classroom teachers who wanted to create engaging, fun songs for the children in their schools. Living in Winchester, Virginia, at the time, they quickly realized that children's performers were scarce in their area. What started as small birthday party performances soon blossomed into a thriving entertainment career, leading them to expand into northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. suburbs.

With a unique blend of music, slapstick comedy, and vaudeville-style routines, The Battersby Duo crafted a variety of 45-minute shows tailored to different age groups. They developed specialized programs for preschoolers, early elementary students (K-2), and curriculum-based performances for grades 3-6, ensuring that each show was age-appropriate, engaging, and educational.

Their growing reputation led them to hire a full-time booking manager, and by 1985, The Battersby Duo had expanded into the summer camp circuit. After showcasing their talents at a camp conference in New Jersey, they secured performances at 96 summer camps across the Northeast, eventually performing at more than 150 camps over a 12-year span. Their summer camp shows, infused with 1960s rock and roll, became legendary among campers and directors alike.

Throughout their career, Tim and Laura released several acclaimed children’s music albums, including A Tail of Too Sillies, By the Book, and Too Sillies Two. In 2000, they became voting members of the Recording Academy (NARAS), and a decade later, their album Sunny Days earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Children’s Album. In 2011, they won a GRAMMY Award as contributing artists on All About Bullies Big and Small.

After 28 years of performing, The Battersby Duo retired in 2012, settling on Florida’s west coast, where Tim turned his creative energy toward writing. To date, he has authored 24 mystery novels. In 2025, his work in music continued to be recognized when he received his third GRAMMY nomination for his contributions to The Fury, a blues album by Antonio Vergara.

Now enjoying the tranquil beauty of the Gulf of Mexico, Tim and Laura can often be found watching breathtaking sunsets—still storytellers at heart, whether through music, performance, or the written word.