Billy Butler (singer): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American singer and songwriter (1945–2015)}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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| name = Billy Butler |
| name = Billy Butler |
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| death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[songwriter]], [[guitarist]] |
| occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[songwriter]], [[guitarist]] |
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| years_active = |
| years_active = 1963–1977 |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Billy Butler''' (born '''William E. Butler'''; June 7, 1945 – March 31, 2015) was an |
'''Billy Butler''' (born '''William E. Butler'''; June 7, 1945 – March 31, 2015) was an American [[soul music|soul]] singer and [[songwriter]] active in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]].<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-butler-mn0001060509/biography|title=Billy Butler|author=Unterberger, Richie|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref> His elder brother, [[Jerry Butler|Jerry]], was also a singer and songwriter for whose band Billy played the guitar. |
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==Career== |
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Billy Butler formed the vocal group the '''Enchanters''' while at high school. He first recorded for [[Okeh Records]] in 1963, and was produced initially by [[Curtis Mayfield]]<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=59}}</ref> and later by [[Carl Davis (record producer)|Carl Davis]]. |
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Billy Butler formed the vocal group the '''Enchanters''' while at high school. He first recorded for [[Okeh Records]] in 1963, and was produced initially by [[Curtis Mayfield]]<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|authorlink=Joel Whitburn|year=2004|publisher=Record Research|page=59}}</ref> and later by [[Carl Davis (record producer)|Carl Davis]]. |
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On early recordings he was backed by the '''Chanters''', a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="whitburnr&b"/> His first and biggest [[hit record|hit]] was 1965's "I Can't Work No Longer", which reached #6 on the [[United States|U.S.]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Singles]] [[record chart|chart]] and #60 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite web| |
On early recordings he was backed by the '''Chanters''', a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman.<ref name="AMG"/><ref name="whitburnr&b"/> His first and biggest [[hit record|hit]] was 1965's "I Can't Work No Longer", which reached #6 on the [[United States|U.S.]] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Singles]] [[record chart|chart]] and #60 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="VF">{{cite web|title=Billy Butler Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|url=https://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Billy+Butler|website=Music VF|access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref> The group disbanded in 1966, and after a minor solo hit with "The Right Track" he left Okeh.<ref name="whitburnr&b"/> "The Right Track" is placed at number 11 in the Northern Soul Top 500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/northern_soul_top_500.htm|title=Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Northern Soul 500|publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk|accessdate=2015-04-03}}</ref> |
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He later formed a new group, Infinity, with Batts, Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox. They had three minor R&B hits: "Get on the Case" (#41 R&B, Fountain Records, 1969), "I Don't Want |
He later formed a new group, Infinity, with Batts, Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox. They had three minor R&B hits: "Get on the Case" (#41 R&B, Fountain Records, 1969), "I Don't Want to Lose You" (Memphis Records, #37 R&B, 1971), and "Hung Up on You" (Pride Records, #48 R&B, 1973).<ref name="whitburnr&b"/><ref name="VF2"/> He also wrote songs for [[Jerry Butler (singer)|his brother]], as well as for such musicians as [[Major Lance]] and [[Gene Chandler]].<ref name="AMG"/> |
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Billy Butler died in 2015, aged 69, in his native Chicago.<ref name=" |
Billy Butler died in 2015, aged 69, in his native Chicago.<ref name="SoulTracks">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.soultracks.com/story-billy-butler-dies |title=Soul singer Billy Butler dies at age 69|magazine=[[SoulTracks]]|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/3317-billy-butler-dies.html|title=Billy Butler Dies|publisher=Soulandjazzandfunk.com|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=April 2, 2015|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027131138/http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/3317-billy-butler-dies.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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== |
==Discography== |
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===Studio albums=== |
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{{Expand list|date=August 2008}} |
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* ''Right Track'' (1966) |
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*"Found True Love" b/w "Lady Love" (1963) |
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* ''Hung Up on You'' (1973, with Infinity) |
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*"Gotta Get Away" b/w "I'm Just a Man" (1964) |
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* ''Sugar Candy Lady'' (1977) |
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*"Can't Live Without Her" b/w "My Heart Is Hurting" (1964) |
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*"Nevertheless" b/w "My Sweet Woman" (1964) |
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===Singles=== |
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*"I Can't Work No Longer" b/w "Tomorrow Is Another Day" (1965) |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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*"(You Made Me Think) You Ain't Ready"/ "I've Got A Feeling You're Gonna Be Sorry" (1965) |
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|- |
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*"The Right Track" / "Boston Monkey" (1966) |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year |
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*"Help Yourself" / "Sweet Darling" (1966) |
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! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Single |
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*"Come Over To My Side" / "Love Grows Bitter" (1967) |
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! scope="col" colspan="2"|Peak chart positions |
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*"I'll Bet You" /" Careless Heart" (1967) |
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|- |
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*"Burning Touch Of Love" / "Thank You Baby" (1968) |
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! style="width:45px;"|<small>[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]</small><br><ref name="VF"/><ref name="VF2">{{cite web|title=Infinity [soul group] Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Infinity+%5Bsoul+group%5D.art|website=Music VF|access-date=7 April 2022}}</ref> |
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*"Get on the Case" (1969) |
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! style="width:45px;"|<small>[[US Billboard Hot 100|US Pop]]</small><br><ref name="VF"/><ref name="VF2"/> |
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*"Soulation" (1970) |
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|- |
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*"Free Yourself" (1971) |
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| rowspan="1"| 1963 |
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*"I Don't Want To Lose You" (1971) |
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| "Found True Love" / "Lady Love" |
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*"Dip, Dip, I've Got My Hands Full" (1972) |
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| align=center | ― |
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*"Hung Up On You" (1973) |
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| align=center | 134 |
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*"400 girls ago" (1974) |
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|- |
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*"Boston Monkey"(1975) |
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| rowspan="3"| 1964 |
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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/211454-Billy-Butler |title=Billy Butler Discography |publisher=[[Discogs.com]] |date=1945-06-07 |accessdate=2015-04-03}}</ref> |
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| "Gotta Get Away" / "I'm Just a Man" |
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| align=center | 38 |
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| align=center | 101 |
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|- |
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| "Can't Live Without Her" / "My Heart Is Hurting" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 130 |
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|- |
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| "Nevertheless" / "My Sweet Woman" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 102 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2"| 1965 |
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| "I Can't Work No Longer" / "Tomorrow Is Another Day" |
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| align=center | 6 |
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| align=center | 60 |
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|- |
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| "(You Made Me Think) You Ain't Ready" / "I've Got a Feeling You're Gonna Be Sorry" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | 103 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2"| 1966 |
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| "The Right Track" / "Boston Monkey" |
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| align=center | 24 |
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| align=center | — |
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|- |
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| "Help Yourself" / "Sweet Darling" |
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| align=center | — |
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| align=center | — |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2"| 1967 |
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| "Come Over to My Side" / "Love Grows Bitter" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "I'll Bet You" /" Careless Heart" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="1"| 1968 |
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| "Burning Touch of Love" / "Thank You Baby" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="1"| 1969 |
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| "Get on the Case" |
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| align=center | 41 |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="1"| 1970 |
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| "Soulation" |
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| align=center | — |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="2"| 1971 |
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| "Free Yourself" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| "I Don't Want to Lose You" |
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| align=center | 37 |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="1"| 1972 |
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| "Dip, Dip, I've Got My Hands Full" |
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| align=center | ― |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| rowspan="1"| 1972 |
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| "Hung Up on You" |
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| align=center | 48 |
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| align=center | ― |
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|- |
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| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
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|} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* {{Discogs artist}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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Latest revision as of 19:08, 29 October 2023
Billy Butler | |
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Birth name | William E. Butler |
Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | June 7, 1945
Died | March 31, 2015 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 69)
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
Years active | 1963–1977 |
Billy Butler (born William E. Butler; June 7, 1945 – March 31, 2015) was an American soul singer and songwriter active in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.[1] His elder brother, Jerry, was also a singer and songwriter for whose band Billy played the guitar.
Career
[edit]Billy Butler formed the vocal group the Enchanters while at high school. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1963, and was produced initially by Curtis Mayfield[2] and later by Carl Davis.
On early recordings he was backed by the Chanters, a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman.[1][2] His first and biggest hit was 1965's "I Can't Work No Longer", which reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart and #60 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The group disbanded in 1966, and after a minor solo hit with "The Right Track" he left Okeh.[2] "The Right Track" is placed at number 11 in the Northern Soul Top 500[4]
He later formed a new group, Infinity, with Batts, Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox. They had three minor R&B hits: "Get on the Case" (#41 R&B, Fountain Records, 1969), "I Don't Want to Lose You" (Memphis Records, #37 R&B, 1971), and "Hung Up on You" (Pride Records, #48 R&B, 1973).[2][5] He also wrote songs for his brother, as well as for such musicians as Major Lance and Gene Chandler.[1]
Billy Butler died in 2015, aged 69, in his native Chicago.[6][7]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- Right Track (1966)
- Hung Up on You (1973, with Infinity)
- Sugar Candy Lady (1977)
Singles
[edit]Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B [3][5] |
US Pop [3][5] | |||
1963 | "Found True Love" / "Lady Love" | ― | 134 | |
1964 | "Gotta Get Away" / "I'm Just a Man" | 38 | 101 | |
"Can't Live Without Her" / "My Heart Is Hurting" | ― | 130 | ||
"Nevertheless" / "My Sweet Woman" | ― | 102 | ||
1965 | "I Can't Work No Longer" / "Tomorrow Is Another Day" | 6 | 60 | |
"(You Made Me Think) You Ain't Ready" / "I've Got a Feeling You're Gonna Be Sorry" | ― | 103 | ||
1966 | "The Right Track" / "Boston Monkey" | 24 | — | |
"Help Yourself" / "Sweet Darling" | — | — | ||
1967 | "Come Over to My Side" / "Love Grows Bitter" | ― | ― | |
"I'll Bet You" /" Careless Heart" | ― | ― | ||
1968 | "Burning Touch of Love" / "Thank You Baby" | ― | ― | |
1969 | "Get on the Case" | 41 | ― | |
1970 | "Soulation" | — | ― | |
1971 | "Free Yourself" | ― | ― | |
"I Don't Want to Lose You" | 37 | ― | ||
1972 | "Dip, Dip, I've Got My Hands Full" | ― | ― | |
1972 | "Hung Up on You" | 48 | ― | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "Billy Butler". AllMusic. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 59.
- ^ a b c "Billy Butler Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Northern Soul 500". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Infinity [soul group] Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Soul singer Billy Butler dies at age 69". SoulTracks. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ "Billy Butler Dies". Soulandjazzandfunk.com. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
External links
[edit]- Billy Butler discography at Discogs