Joe Butler
Joseph Campbell Butler (born September 16, 1941) is an American drummer and stage actor. He was a founding member of The Lovin' Spoonful, who had seven top 10 hits between 1965 and 1966.[1]
Joe Butler | |
|---|---|
 Butler, 1967 | |
| Born | Joseph Campbell Butler September 16, 1941 |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Actor |
| Spouse | Kim Ablondi |
| Children | Yancy Butler |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Rock, psychedelic rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, drums, autoharp, percussion |
| Years active | 1964 – present |
| Labels | Kama Sutra |
Early life
Joe Butler was born on September 16, 1941, in Long Island, New York. He began playing drums at age 10 and started playing professionally at 13. Butler was in the Air Force until 1963. While in the air force, he met Steve Boone and his brother Skip.
The Lovin' Spoonful
He was a principal member of the pop rock band The Lovin' Spoonful, founded by John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky in 1965. Drummer Jan Carl was replaced by Joe after their first gig at the Night Owl in Greenwich Village. Eventually, Steve Boone joined the group and they later signed with Kama Sutra Records. The Lovin' Spoonful's most well known hits are Do You Believe in Magic, Summer In The City and Darlin' Be Home Soon.
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", while he was with the Spoonful.
After Sebastian left the band, Butler became the lead vocalist for their last album, Revelation: Revolution '69. However, the album was a complete flop – most likely because of the absence of Sebastian – which lead to the band's dissolution only months later.
Joe was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Lovin' Spoonful in 2000[2] and performed with the original line-up for the last time. Since its reforming in 1991, Joe has continued to perform with founding member Steve Boone in The Lovin' Spoonful, and has retained his position as lead vocalist. He also plays the guitar, autoharp and percussion instruments.
Acting
He also was in the 1971 rock opera Soon. Butler currently plays with several musical ensembles. He replaced the author James Rado, in the leading role of Claude, joining the original Broadway cast of Hair. Butler created the role of Alaska Wolf Joe for the off-Broadway production of the Brecht-Weill social opera The Rise and Fall of Mahogonny.
Butler is a founding member of the Circle Theatre Company. Alongside award-winning and renowned director Marshall W. Mason and Pulitzer prize winning playwright Lanford Wilson, Joe has wrote and directed numerous projects.
Personal life
Butler was married to Leslie Vega on 9/2/67. He is currently married to Kim Ablondi. His daughter from his first marriage is actress Yancy Butler, star of TV series' Mann and Machine and South Beach and films Hard Target and Drop Zone.[3] He currently resides in Greenwich Village.
The Lovin' Spoonful Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Do You Believe in Magic |
|
| Daydream |
|
| Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful |
|
| Everything Playing |
|
| Revelation: Revolution '69 |
|
Live Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Live at the Hotel Seville |
|
| The Lovin' Spoonful Live |
|
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind |
|
| Jug Band Music |
|
| Summer in the City |
|
| Day Blues |
|
| Nashville Cats |
|
| Lovin' You |
|
| Something in the Night |
|
| Summer Sounds |
|
Singles
| Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Year | Certifications | Albums |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Do You Believe in Magic"
b/w "On the Road Again" |
1965 | Do You Believe in Magic | |
| "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice"
b/w "My Gal" (from Do You Believe In Magic) |
Daydream | ||
| "Daydream"
b/w "Night Owl Blues" (from Do You Believe in Magic) |
1966 | ||
| "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?"
b/w "Didn't Want to Have to Do It" (from Daydream) |
Do You Believe in Magic | ||
| "Jug Band Music"
b/w "Didn't Want to Have to Do It" (from Daydream) |
Non-album singles | ||
| "Baldheaded Lena"
b/w "On the Road Again" (from Do You Believe in Magic) |
|||
| "Summer in the City"
b/w "Butchie's Tune" (from Daydream) |
|
Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful | |
| "Rain on the Roof"
b/w "Pow" (from What's Up, Tiger Lily) |
|||
| "Nashville Cats"
b/w "Full Measure" |
|||
| "Goodtime Music"
b/w "Almost Grown" |
What's Shakin' | ||
| "Don't Bank On It, Baby"
b/w "Searchin'" |
1967 | ||
| "Darling Be Home Soon"
b/w "Darlin' Companion" (from Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful) |
You're a Big Boy Now | ||
| "Six O'Clock"
b/w "You're a Big Boy Now (The Finale)" (from You're a Big Boy Now) |
Everything Playing | ||
| "You're a Big Boy Now"
b/w "Lonely (Amy's Theme)" |
You're a Big Boy Now | ||
| "Girl, Beautiful Girl"
b/w "Wash Her Away" (from Do You Believe in Magic) |
|||
| "She Is Still a Mystery"
b/w "Only Pretty, What a Pity" |
Everything Playing | ||
| "Money"
b/w "Close Your Eyes" |
|||
| "Never Goin' Back (to Nashville)"
b/w "Forever" (from Everything Playing) |
1968 | Revelation: Revolution '69 | |
| "('Til I) Run with You"
b/w "Revelation: Revolution '69" |
|||
| "Me About You"
b/w "Amazing Air" |
1969 | ||
| "Younger Generation"
b/w "Boredom" |
1970 | John Sebastian Song Book Vol.1 |
References
- "Names". Detroit Free Press. January 24, 2003. Retrieved October 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 ...
- "Lovin' Spoonful | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- "Yancy Butler". IMDb. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
External links
- Joe Butler at lovinspoonful.com
- Joe Butler interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
- Joe Butler discography at Discogs
- Joe Butler at IMDb