| Author |
Message |
 
Vonnie (vonnie)
3-Pundit
Username: vonnie
Post Number: 44
Registered: 3-2004
Posted From: 205.188.116.138
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 4:04 pm: �� |     ���  |
I just got off the phone speaking with Billy Butler, the writer of "God Bless Our Love". Billy is also the husband of the late singer Miki Farrow and the brother of singer Jerry Butler.
Billy is back living in Chicago, near his brother and sisters. He is doing fine, and is doing gigs with his brother Jerry and still writing songs. He is quite an accomplished writer of gospel songs, he told me he is working on songs that he and Mikki had written together.
I gave Billy the Soulfuldetroit forum information and hopefully he will drop in on us.
Billy is such a wonderful person and I'm glad he is a friend and I also consider him to be a brother.
I told him everyone on SD would love to hear from him, so please Billy, let us hear from you. |
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo)
4-Laureate
Username: kevgo
Post Number: 83
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.115.136.66
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 4:14 pm: �� | ��� |
Vonnie:
Billy Butler as you know is one of the most underrated heroes in soul music.
As a performer he cut several tunes for labels such as Okeh and Brunswick that have become classics here and abroad - "The Right Track", "Nevertheless (I Love You)", "Burning Touch Of Love", "Love Come On Up".
As a songwriter he collaborated with many folks including his own brother Jerry. His guitar work is excellent as well - he learned how to play the instrument from Curtis Mayfield.
When Jerry Butler was recording in Philadelphia, Billy played guitar on the session for "Never Gonna Give You Up." According to Billy in an interview with Leo Sacks, his guitar line for the song was a variation of "Jingle Bells"! When Leon Huff told him not to play it that way, Kenny Gamble defended Billy and overruled Leon!
I met Billy Butler in 1995 and he is a very gentle soul. It was an honor to have met a fine contributor to Chicago-based soul.
Kevin Goins - KevGo |
Don (don)
4-Laureate
Username: don
Post Number: 71
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.59.193
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 10:45 am: �� | ��� |
Hi Vonnie,
Ask Billy does he remember playing guitar on session by The Vows "When A Boy Loves A Girl" and "Lost In A City" and The Kittens "Somebody New". He should remember their managers Ruth Moore and Al Williams. Moe and Al. Vonnie, please let him know they are still around. |
Robb_K (robb_k)
4-Laureate
Username: robb_k
Post Number: 111
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.81.17.62
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 7:09 pm: �� | ��� |
That'll be fantastic if he posts on SD. I've been one of his biggest fans for over 40 years. I hope I don't scare him away by asking a lot of questions about his early career (working with Curtis Mayfield and Carl Davis, and his group the 4 Enchanters/Enchanters/Chanters ). |
mel(andthensome) (mel)
4-Laureate
Username: mel
Post Number: 88
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 81.152.20.77
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 12:21 am: �� | ��� |
Did Billy and Mikki
ever get to do a duet a=t any time?
mel |
roger (roger)
3-Pundit
Username: roger
Post Number: 40
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 217.35.87.17
| | Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 4:45 am: �� | ��� |
Hello Everyone.
I'd like to mention BILLY BUTLER's work for Curtom records in the '70s.
I recently bought the C.D. release of his 1977 L.P. "Sugar Candy Lady" ( SEQUEL NEMCD 361 ).
Its a nice collection of (mainly) mellow-funk .. similar to the sort of material LEROY HUTSON was also doing for the label. There is also a bizarre track on it called "The Ballad of Sadie Lee" about a "lady of the streets" who meets a gruesome end .. plus a nice bouncy Modern/Northern dancer called "My Love for you Grows" on which he sounds vocally similar to his brother Jerry!!
Well worth tracking down.
Roger |