Billy Butler (guitarist)

William Butler Jr. (December 15, 1924 – March 20, 1991) was an American soul jazz guitarist.[1]

Billy Butler
Billy Butler in 1977
Background information
Born(1924-12-15)December 15, 1924
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 1991(1991-03-20) (aged 66)
Teaneck, New Jersey
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Associated actsBill Doggett

Career

A native of Philadelphia,[1] Butler began his career in the 1940s behind the Harlemaires. In the 1950s he was a member of a trio led by Doc Bagby and accompanied keyboardist Bill Doggett.[2][3] He wrote "Honky Tonk", an R&B hit for Doggett.[2][3]

Butler also worked with Al Casey, King Curtis, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Bill Davison, Tommy Flanagan, Panama Francis, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Hodges, Floyd "Candy" Johnson, David "Fathead" Newman, Houston Person, Sammy Price, Jimmy Smith, Norris Turney, and Dinah Washington.[3][4]

He is credited as the guitarist on Joey Dee and the Starliters' "Peppermint Twist, Parts 1 & 2" recorded in September 1961 at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. Part 1 of the song went to the top of the Billboard pop charts in January 1962.[5]

Butler died of a heart attack at home in Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1991.[1]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

With James Brown

With King Curtis

  • Music for Dancing The Twist! (RCA Victor, 1961)
  • Old Gold (Tru-Sound, 1961)
  • It's Party Time with King Curtis (Tru-Sound, 1962)
  • Doing the Dixie Twist (Tru-Sound, 1962)

With Bill Doggett

  • Moon Dust (King 395-502, 1956)
  • Hot Doggett (King 395-514, 1956)
  • As You Desire Me (King 395-523, 1956)
  • Everybody Dance the Honky Tonk (King 395-531, 1956)
  • Dame Dreaming (King, 1957)
  • A Salute to Ellington (King, 1957)
  • Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet (King, 1957)
  • Candle Glow (King 563, 1958)
  • Swingin' Easy (King 582, 1958)
  • Dance Awhile with Doggett (King 585, 1958)
  • 12 Songs of Christmas (King 600, 1958)
  • Hold It! (King 609, 1959)
  • High and Wide (King 633, 1959)
  • Big City Dance Party (King 641, 1959)
  • Bill Doggett on Tour [not a live album] (King 667, 1959)
  • For Reminiscent Lovers, Romantic Songs By Bill Doggett (King 706, 1960)
  • Back With More Bill Doggett (King 723, 1960)
  • The Many Moods of Bill Doggett (King 778, 1962)
  • Bill Doggett Plays American Songs, Bossa Nova Style (King 830, 1963)
  • Impressions (King 868, 1963)
  • Wow! (ABC-Paramount, 1964)

With Dizzy Gillespie

With John Hammond Jr.

  • Big City Blues (Vanguard, 1964)
  • Mirrors (Vanguard, 1967)

With Johnny Hodges

With Illinois Jacquet

With Freddie King

  • Freddie King is a Blues Master (Atlantic, 1969)

With Memphis Slim

With David Newman

With Houston Person

With Jimmy Smith

With Sonny Stitt

With Grady Tate

  • Windmills of My Mind (Skye, 1968)
  • Movin' Day (Janus, 1975)

With others

References
  1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 335. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  3. Wynn, Ron. "Billy Butler". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  4. "William (Billy) Butler, Jazz Guitarist, 66". The New York Times. March 26, 1991.
  5. de Heer, Dik. "In the can: September 1961". Members.home.nl. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  6. "Billy Butler | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

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