Country Music Producer, Songwriter. Best known for his association with Kenny Rogers. A child prodigy, he had mastered the piano by the age of six and during his teenage years he was hosting his own radio show. In 1963, he made the career changing decision to move to Nashville and while there he wasted no time making a name for himself as a sessions musician with country greats Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty (playing the piano on "Hello Darlin'"), Roger Miller, George Jones and Bobby Goldsboro (playing the piano on "Honey"). He teamed up with producer and songwriter Chips Moman to form the ensemble The Gentrys and scored a Pop Chart Top-10 hit with "Keep On Dancing" (1965). In 1973, Butler began the second phase of his career signing on as head of the United Artists Records' Nashville division. He distinguished himself as a songwriter, when he shared a Grammy Award with Chips Moman for the B.J. Thomas hit "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975). His collaborations with Kenny Rogers yielded the album "The Gambler" (1978) and secured Rogers status as a superstar. He followed this up with Rogers' "Kenny" (1979) and "Gideon" (1980, which featured the duet with Kim Carnes "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer"). In 1980 he was the recipient of a Grammy for Best Producer of the Year and during the decade, he established his own company and worked with John Denver and Mac Davis. Butler died from natural causes.
Country Music Producer, Songwriter. Best known for his association with Kenny Rogers. A child prodigy, he had mastered the piano by the age of six and during his teenage years he was hosting his own radio show. In 1963, he made the career changing decision to move to Nashville and while there he wasted no time making a name for himself as a sessions musician with country greats Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty (playing the piano on "Hello Darlin'"), Roger Miller, George Jones and Bobby Goldsboro (playing the piano on "Honey"). He teamed up with producer and songwriter Chips Moman to form the ensemble The Gentrys and scored a Pop Chart Top-10 hit with "Keep On Dancing" (1965). In 1973, Butler began the second phase of his career signing on as head of the United Artists Records' Nashville division. He distinguished himself as a songwriter, when he shared a Grammy Award with Chips Moman for the B.J. Thomas hit "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (1975). His collaborations with Kenny Rogers yielded the album "The Gambler" (1978) and secured Rogers status as a superstar. He followed this up with Rogers' "Kenny" (1979) and "Gideon" (1980, which featured the duet with Kim Carnes "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer"). In 1980 he was the recipient of a Grammy for Best Producer of the Year and during the decade, he established his own company and worked with John Denver and Mac Davis. Butler died from natural causes.
Bio by: C.S.
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