Tim and Laura, are known as The Battersby Duo. Laura is a sociologist by profession while Tim has a degree in English literature. They first met in the early 1980s auditioning for the Wayside Theatre where they joined a troupe that put on shows for schoolchildren in Virginia. 3 years later they decided to strike out on their own and within a few years, they were playing in Elementary schools all over the USA. As time passed Tim and Laura began to write more and more songs for young children, embracing the very tenets of childhood development. Love, nature, counting, food, animals, and reading became the main themes of many BatDuo songs. Coupled with Tim's quick wit and Laura's more sensible approach to life, Sesame Street soon described them as "Monty Python meets Mary Poppins," a moniker that has stuck with them their whole career. 

In 2010 they produced a children's album called Sunny Days that was submitted to Grammy (as a lark) Three months later Tim and Laura became proud recipients of a Grammy nomination.    ​