John Batdorf

John Batdorf (March 26, 1952) is an American singer and songwriter from Springfield, Ohio. Batdorf's musical career began in 1967 after moving to Los Angeles. He joined with Mark Rodney in 1971 to form the duo Batdorf & Rodney. Their greatest hit was "Somewhere in the Night" (U.S. #69, 1975).

Following their breakup in 1975, he formed the group Silver, with whom he had his greatest hit, "Wham Bam" (U.S. #16, 1976). He sings lead on the song, which was their only hit.

Batdorf has also enjoyed success as a film and TV composer, session vocalist, and songwriter for Kim Carnes, England Dan and America.

In 1997 he formed Batdorf & McLean with Michael McLean, with whom he had collaborated earlier as arranger and vocalist, and they released an album, Don't You Know.

In 2006, he released the solo album Home Again, reuniting him with Mark Rodney on some of the tracks. The album features many Batdorf & McLean compositions.

On the American Top 40 radio program of August 14, 1976, Casey Kasem reported that although Batdorf came from a musical family, he had originally aspired to play professional baseball. However, these dreams were crushed following his being stricken with polio at age 11. It was necessary for him to be in a full-body cast for a year, and he was told that he would never be able to play competitive sports again. Out of boredom he picked up a guitar and began to learn, and then the piano, giving him a new set of musical aspirations.