Billy Butler (guitarist)’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

William Butler Jr., known as Billy Butler (December 15, 1924 – March 20, 1991) was an American soul jazz guitarist.

Life and career

He was born in Philadelphia. He played with The Harlemaires, Tommy Flanagan, tenor saxophonist Floyd “Candy” Johnson, Houston Person, organist Harry “Doc” Bagby, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, David “Fathead” Newman, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Bill Doggett, King Curtis, Sammy Price, William (Wild Bill) Davison, Dinah Washington, Panama Francis, Johnny Hodges, Norris Turney, Al Casey, Jackie Williams and others.

He also co-wrote, with Bill Doggett, the 1956 R&B hit “Honky Tonk”. He was with the Doggett band from 1954 to 1964 and recorded many albums with the organist.

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.

Butler died at home in Teaneck, New Jersey, in 1991.

Discography

As leader

• This Is Billy Butler! (Prestige, 1968)
• Guitar Soul! (Prestige, 1969)
• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Prestige, 1970)
• Night Life (Prestige, 1971)
• Billy Butler Plays Via Galactica (Kilmarnock, 1973)
• Guitar Odyssey (Jazz Odyssey, 1974)
• Don’t Be That Way (Black & Blue, 1976)

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

• Brother Jug! (Prestige, 1969)
• My Way (Prestige, 1971)

With Charles Brown

• One More For The Road (Alligator, 1989)

With Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis

• Jaws Strikes Again (Black & Blue, 1976)

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 With Bill Doggett (King 395-532, 1957)
• A Salute to Ellington (King 533, 1957)
• The Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet (King 557, 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) [reissue of King 295-89 plus 6 additional tracks]
• 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)
• The Best of Bill Doggett [compilation] (King 908, 1964)
• Wow! (ABC-Paramount, 1964)

With Frank Foster

• Soul Outing! (Prestige, 1966)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• The Melody Lingers On (Limelight, 1966)
• It’s My Way (Solid State, 1969)
• Cornucopia (Solid State, 1969)

With Richard “Groove” Holmes

• That Healin’ Feelin’ (Prestige, 1968)

With Illinois Jacquet

• Spectrum (Argo, 1965)
• The King! (Prestige, 1968)

With Eric Kloss

• Grits & Gravy (Prestige, 1966)

With Yusef Lateef

• The Doctor is In… and Out (Atlantic, 1976)

With Les McCann

• Comment (Atlantic, 1970)

With Jimmy McGriff

• The Groover (Jazz America Marketing (JAM), 1982)

With Memphis Slim

• Legend of the Blues Vol. 1 (Jubilee, 1967)
• The Legacy of the Blues Vol. 7 (Sonet, 1973)

With Oliver Nelson

• Oliver Nelson Plays Michelle (Impulse!, 1966)

With David Newman

• Bigger & Better (Atlantic, 1968)
• The Many Facets of David Newman (Atlantic, 1969)

With Houston Person

• Goodness! (Prestige, 1969)
• Truth! (Prestige, 1970)
• Houston Express (Prestige, 1970)

With Dave Pike

• Jazz for the Jet Set (Atlantic, 1966)

With Bernard Purdie

• Soul Drums (Date, 1967)

With Shirley Scott

• Something (Atlantic, 1970)

With Jimmy Smith

• Hoochie Coochie Man (1966)

With Sonny Stitt

• Soul Electricity! (Prestige, 1968)
• Come Hither (Solid State, 1969)
• Goin’ Down Slow (Prestige, 1972)
• Satan (Cadet, 1974)

With Ernie Wilkins

• Hard Mother Blues (Mainstream, 1970)