He started playing trumpet and formed his own band, the Dixie Serenaders when he was a student at Morris Brown University in 1921.
He moved to New York City in the early 1930s and did short stints with Benny Carter and Sam Wooding before joining George White's ensemble on Broadway.
Over time, he began doing more work as a studio musician and arranger, writing charts for Cab Calloway, Paul Whiteman, Fats Waller, Earl Hines, Rudy Vallee, and Count Basie.
[3] During World War II, Battle held a position as an electrician in a shipyard, concomitantly running a big band with Shirley Clay.
Among his numerous jazz compositions are the pieces "Topsy" (co-composed with Eddie Durham) and "Doggin' Around" (with Herschel Evans).