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Billy Butler

Born into a musical family, Billy grew up in NH around back- wood jamborees, living room concerts and Paganini concertos. His mother is a classically trained pianist (and an expert stride player), and his brother is a virtuoso jazz violinist. At a young age he showed an affinity for the performing arts and tiring of the living room dramatic re- interpretations of Cheech and Chong, his mother brought him the closest theatre group she could find. The jazz punk theatrical began.

"January 2015 started with a commission to write some tunes for "Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic," a brand new immersive 1920s show in New York City. I ended up in the show playing all the songs I wrote, knee deep in jazz, blues, and burlesque! I was always the punk, the so-called rocker, so I thought it would take me a bit to fit in. Didn't take much time at all actually, my mother used to sing all those great old tunes to me growing up, I was right at home. It was a great three month run. Met some amazing dancers, strippers, musicians, and artists. I will always think of them with such deep fondness and love. How we took over a small piece of the center of the universe, led by a Valkyrie to the bazaar of 42nd street, there in the back of a shotty diner we made magic, with glitter, champagne, jazz, and stardust! The show may be over but a light shines for all of us.

"We’ll bring down the house We’ll be all the rage And we’ll shine with the ghosts of Broadway"

Billy currently lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Paula and their two cats Jack and Purl and sometimes on a kitchen floor in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, NYC.

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Awards

2007 Excellence in American Theatre Award from the New England Theatre Council


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Album Review

Billy Butler: Legends of Acid Jazz: Billy Butler

Read "Legends of Acid Jazz: Billy Butler" reviewed by Douglas Payne


Legends of Acid Jazz: Billy Butler documents two interesting records made by the unfortunately neglected studio guitarist Billy Bulter (1924-91). The man who gave the groove to Bill Doggett's perennial juke-box classic “Honky Tonk" released four solo albums on Prestige between 1968 and 1970. This CD combines the first ( This is Billy Butler ) and the last ( Night Life ) of these.

Butler's mellifluous sound easily bends itself to the groove he's working: bop, blues, soul-jazz, R&B, pop ...

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