Joe Butler
 |
Joe Butler | |
|---|---|
 Butler in 1967 | |
| Born | Joseph Campbell Butler September 16, 1941 |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor |
| Works | Hair,Soon |
| Spouse | Kim Ablondi |
| Children | Yancy Butler |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Rock,psychedelic rock,pop |
| Instrument(s) | Drums, vocals,autoharp,acoustic guitar, percussion |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Member of | The Lovin' Spoonful |
Joseph Campbell Butler(born September 16, 1941)[1]is an American drummer, singer and actor. He is best known as a member of folk-rock bandthe Lovin' Spoonful,where he was their drummer and later lead vocalist, the group had seven top 10 hits between 1965 and 1966.[2]Outside of his work on music he is an actor, having acted in several plays.
Butler would replace the bands original drummer Jan Carl, after the band's first performance in 1964, He would play drums on all of the band's album's and he would occasionally sing lead vocals. After frontman John Sebastian left the band in 1968, he took over full lead vocal duties. He would sing fully on their albumRevelation: Revolution '69,the album was made without the other members of the band, the album failed to sell, after the album the band would break up.
In 1991 the band would resume touring, Butler reunited with membersSteve BooneandJerry Yester,along with adding new touring members. Butler would tour and front the band, singing, playing autoharp, percussion and acoustic guitar. In 2000 Butler would reunite with the original lineup for the final time and be inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Besides music Butler also is an actor and has appeared in the musicalsSoonin 1971 and played Neil andHairin 1968 as a replacement for the musicals authorJames Radoin the role of Claude. Butler has also helped create theCircle Theatre Company.[3]Butler is also the father to actressYancy Butlerand would appear in one episode of her showWitchbladein 2002. Butler has acted in several other projects.[3]
Early life
[edit]Joeseph Campbell Butler was born on September 16, 1941, inLong Island,New York. He began playing drums at age 10 and started playing professionally at 13.[4]During his teen years Butler formed many bands, Butlers bands would play gigs at various places.[3]
Butler would later join the Air Force and was in it until 1963. While in the air force, he metSteve Booneand his brother Skip. Butler, Skip and Steve would form a group called The Kingsmen (not to be confused with anotherbandalso with the same name). While in the band Butler would drum and sing for the band.[4]The Kingsmen's name was later changed to the Sellouts and the band started playing inGreenwich Village.[3]
Career
[edit]The Lovin' Spoonful
[edit]In 1964 Butler would join the Lovin Spoonful. Butler was a principal member of thepop rockbandthe Lovin' Spoonful,founded byJohn SebastianandZal Yanovskyin 1965. Original drummer Jan Carl was replaced by Butler after their first gig at the Night Owl inGreenwich Village.Eventually, Steve Boone joined the group and they later signed withKama Sutra Records.The band would release their debut albumDo You Believe in Magicin 1965. The Lovin' Spoonful's most well known hits are "Do You Believe in Magic","Summer In The City"and"Darling Be Home Soon".
While with the Lovin' Spoonful, Butler was given the lead vocals on the songs "You Baby","Full Measure","Never Going Back","Only Pretty, What A Pity"and" Me About You ".
In 1967 Yanovsky would leave the band and was replaced byJerry Yester,the group would recordEverything Playing,which was the first to feature Yester and last to feature Sebastian. In 1968 Sebastian would leave the band, Butler became the lead vocalist for their last album,Revelation: Revolution '69.The album was recorded without Boone or Yester, instead various other musicians would play on the album. The album performed poorly and after the album the band would break up. During the time the band was split up Butler would go on to pursue an acting career.
In 1980 Butler would first reunite with the original line up of John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky and Steve Boone, to appear in the movieOne-Trick Pony.[5]
In 1991 the group reformed and started touring with original member Steve Boone and Jerry Yester. Butler has continued to perform with Boone in and has retained his position as lead vocalist.[6]He also plays the guitar, autoharp and percussion instruments, while Butler fronted the band Mike Arturi would take over drums, joining the band in 1996.[7][8][9]Butler was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fameas a member of the Lovin' Spoonful in 2000[10][11]and performed with the original line-up for the last time. Butler also was inducted into the vocal group hall of fame with the band in 2006.[12]
In 2020 he would reunite on stage with John Sebastian and Steve Boone, singing the Spoonful's hits, this was the first time Boone and Butler played with Sebastian since their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.[13]
Acting
[edit]Besides his career with the Spoonful, Butler is an actor. After the Lovin Spoonful would break up in 1969 Butler started acting, he got his first role in the 1971 rock operaSoon,playing the character of Neil.[14][15][16]Butler currently plays with several musical ensembles. He replaced the authorJames Radoin the leading role of Claude, joining the original Broadway cast ofHair.[11][17]Butler created the role of Alaska Wolf Joe for the off-Broadway production of the Brecht-Weill social opera theRise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
In 2002 Butler would appear in the showWitchblade,the show starred Butler's daughter Yancy. In the show he would play the former police officer Arthur Buck. This was Butler's first time acting on TV.[18][19]
Butler is a founding member of theCircle Theatre Company.[20]Alongside award-winning and renowned directorMarshall W. Masonand Pulitzer Prize winning playwrightLanford Wilson,Butler has written and directed numerous projects. Recently Butler has written a play called Hearts in the City.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Butler was married to theater manager Leslie Vega, the two married on September 2, 1967. He later divorced her subsequently married Kim Ablondi. His daughter from his first marriage is actressYancy Butler,[18]star of the 1992 televisions seriesMann & Machineand the 1993 seriesSouth Beach,as well as filmsHard TargetandDrop Zone.[21]
References
[edit]- ^"Artist: Joe Butler | SecondHandSongs".secondhandsongs.com.RetrievedJuly 14,2024.
- ^"Names".Detroit Free Press.January 24, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon November 6, 2012.RetrievedOctober 28,2010.
... protection relating to her father Joseph Butler the drummer for the 1960s. band Lovin Spoonful While in custody on that charge Butler headbutted a...
- ^abcde"The Lovin' Spoonful".November 19, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon November 19, 2016.RetrievedJuly 23,2024.
- ^ab"Gary James' Interview With Joe Butler of The Lovin' Spoonful".www.classicbands.com.RetrievedOctober 15,2023.
- ^One-Trick Pony (1980) - IMDb.RetrievedAugust 5,2024– via www.imdb.com.
- ^"Joe Butler Biography lyrics".www.die-augenweide.de.RetrievedApril 18,2024.
- ^"Mike Arturi- Lifelong Learning Through Music".Mike Arturi.RetrievedAugust 23,2024.
- ^"Founder - Universal Music Center".August 20, 2018.RetrievedAugust 23,2024.
- ^"Mike Arturi".Turnaround Arts.RetrievedAugust 23,2024.
- ^"Lovin' Spoonful | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame".www.rockhall.com.RetrievedAugust 22,2022.
- ^ab"Joe Butler & Steve Boone – The Lovin' Spoonful".Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.RetrievedOctober 15,2023.
- ^"The Lovin' Spoonful – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame".RetrievedJuly 23,2024.
- ^Kreps, Daniel (March 1, 2020)."See Lovin' Spoonful Members Reunite Onstage for First Time in 20 Years".Rolling Stone.RetrievedMarch 22,2024.
- ^"Soon Original Broadway Musical Cast 1971 | Broadway World".www.broadwayworld.com.RetrievedJuly 23,2024.
- ^"Soon (Original Broadway Production, 1971) | Ovrtur".ovrtur.com.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^"Joe Butler (i) | Ovrtur".ovrtur.com.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^"Credits & Role Info for" Claude Hooper Bukowski "for Hair (Broadway Transfer, 1968) | Ovrtur".ovrtur.com.RetrievedAugust 21,2024.
- ^ab"Yancy Butler".web.archive.org.June 12, 2011.RetrievedAugust 7,2024.
- ^Witchblade (TV Series 2001–2002) - IMDb.RetrievedAugust 7,2024– via m.imdb.com.
- ^Drummer, Modern (January 27, 2017)."Friday Nuggets: Joe Butler's Cannons".Modern Drummer Magazine.RetrievedJuly 14,2024.
- ^Stunts, Women In (April 22, 2016)."Yancy Butler".Women In Stunts.RetrievedMarch 22,2024.
External links
[edit]
- Joe Butlerat lovinspoonful.com
- Joe Butlerinterviewed on thePop Chronicles(1969)
- Joe Butlerdiscography atDiscogs
- Joe ButleratIMDb
