Frank Butler (February 18, 1928 – July 24, 1984) was an American

jazz drummer Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion (predominantly the drum kit, which includes a variety of drums and cymbals) in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz fusion and 1980s-era Latin jazz. The techniques an ...

Early life

Butler was born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, but later moved west and was associated in large part with the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

school. He played the drums in multiple high school bands (including one in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

), in local jazz combos, and in USO shows during World War II.Feather, p. 150.

Career

Butler never became well known, but was highly regarded by fellow musicians (in 1958, veteran drummer Jo Jones proclaimed him "the greatest drummer in the world")Goia, p. 323. and performed with numerous jazz notables. Early in his career he played with the Dave Brubeck combo at a 1950 engagement in San Francisco, before Brubeck's group gained a national following in the mid-1950s.Chadbourne. He went on to perform and record with

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of br ...

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Career Early life and career A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...

Harold Land Harold de Vance Land (December 18, 1928 – July 27, 2001) was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/ Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style, often rivalling Cliffor ...

Hampton Hawes Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. (November 13, 1928 – May 22, 1977) was an American jazz pianist. He was the author of the memoir ''Raise Up Off Me'', which won the Deems-Taylor Award for music writing in 1975. Early life Hampton Hawes was born on ...

and

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

in the 1950s and 1960s. He performed on several television series, including '' Stars of Jazz'' with bassist

Curtis Counce Curtis Counce (January 23, 1926 – July 31, 1963) was an American hard bop and West Coast jazz double bassist. Biography Counce was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to California in 1945. He began recording in 1946 with Lester Young ...

. The

Contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

label noticed Butler and Counce, and, from 1956 through 1958, captured them together on several Curtis Counce Quintet albums. Sidelined for many years by an addiction to heroin, Butler did not record albums under his own name until the 1970s, when he released two highly regarded albums titled '' Wheelin' and Dealin''' and ''

The Stepper ''The Stepper'' is an album by drummer Frank Butler which was recorded in 1977 and released on the Xanadu label.Fitzgerald, M.Frank Butler discography accessed May 2, 2014 Reception The Allmusic review recommended the album awarding it album 4 ...

''.

Death

Butler died in

Ventura, California Ventura, officially named San Buenaventura (Spanish for "Saint Bonaventure"), is a city on the Southern Coast of California and the county seat of Ventura County. The population was 110,763 at the 2020 census. Ventura is a popular tourist des ...

after a short battle with lung cancer at the age of 56.

Discography

As leader

*''

'' ( Xanadu, 1977) *'' Wheelin' and Dealin''' (Xanadu, 1978)

As co-leader

Co-led with

Curtis Amy Curtis Amy (October 11, 1929 – June 5, 2002) was an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Amy was born in Houston, Texas, United States. He learned how to play clarinet before joining the Army, and during his time in service, picked up the teno ...

*''

Groovin' Blue ''Groovin' Blue'' is an album by saxophonist Curtis Amy and drummer Frank Butler recorded in late 1960 and early 1961 for the Pacific Jazz label.Dolo Coker Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983) was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and extensively as a sideman, for artists like Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper, ...

*''

Dolo! ''Dolo!'' is the debut album by pianist Dolo Coker which was recorded in 1976 and released on the Xanadu Records, Xanadu label.California Hard'' (Xanadu, 1976) *''

Third Down A down is a period in which a play transpires in gridiron football. The down is a distinguishing characteristic of the game compared to other codes of football, but is synonymous with a "tackle" in rugby league. The team in possession of the ...

'' (Xanadu, 1977) With

Joyce Collins Joyce Collins (born 5 May 1930, Battle Mountain, Nevada - died January 3, 2010) was a jazz pianist, singer and educator. Collins began playing piano professionally at the age of 15 while still attending Reno High School in Nevada. Later, while s ...

*''

Girl Here Plays Mean Piano A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary.c ...

'' (Jazzland, 1961) With

*'' Kulu Sé Mama'' (Impulse, 1967) With

*''

The Curtis Counce Group ''The Curtis Counce Group'' (later released as ''Landslide'') is an album by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1956 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1956) *''

You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce! ''You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce!'' (later released as ''Councelation'') is an album by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1956 and 1957 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.Carl's Blues'' (Contemporary, 1957) *'' Sonority'' (Contemporary, 1957-8 989 *'' Exploring the Future'' ( Dooto, 1958) With

*''

Seven Steps to Heaven 7 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 7 or seven may also refer to: * AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era * 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era * The month of July Music Artists * Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artis ...

'' (Columbia, 1963) With

Kenny Drew Kenneth Sidney "Kenny" Drew (August 28, 1928 – August 4, 1993) was an American-Danish jazz pianist. Biography Drew was born in New York City, United States, and received piano lessons from the age of five.Feather, Leonard, & Ira Gitler ( ...

*''

Home Is Where the Soul Is ''Home Is Where The Soul Is'' is a jazz album by pianist Kenny Drew, recorded in 1978 for Xanadu Records.For Sure!'' (Xanadu, 1978) With

Teddy Edwards Theodore Marcus Edwards (April 26, 1924 – April 20, 2003) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Edwards was born in Jackson, Mississippi, United States. He learned to play at a very early age, first on alto saxophone and the ...

*'' Feelin's'' (Muse, 1974) With

Victor Feldman Victor Stanley Feldman (7 April 1934 – 12 May 1987) was an English jazz musician who played mainly piano, vibraphone, and percussion. He began performing professionally during childhood, eventually earning acclaim in the UK jazz scene as ...

*'' Soviet Jazz Themes'' (Äva, 1962) With

Red Garland William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984) was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in jazz ...

*'' Red Alert'' (Galaxy, 1977) With

*'' For Real!'' (Contemporary, 1958

961 Year 961 (Roman numerals, CMLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * March 6 – Siege of Chandax: Byzantine forces under Nikephoro ...

*''

Bird Song Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs (relatively complex vocalizations) are distinguished by func ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Books * ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: T ...

With

Elmo Hope St. Elmo Sylvester Hope (June 27, 1923 – May 19, 1967) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, chiefly in the bebop and hard bop genres. He grew up playing and listening to jazz and classical music with Bud Powell, and both were ...

*'' The Elmo Hope Quintet featuring Harold Land'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) *'' Elmo Hope Trio'' (Hifijazz, 1959) With

Helen Humes Helen Humes (June 23, 1913 – September 9, 1981) was an American singer. Humes was a teenage blues singer, a vocalist with Count Basie's band, a saucy R&B diva, and a mature interpreter of the classic popular song. Early life She was born on ...

*''Helen Humes'' (Contemporary, 1960) *''Swingin' with Humes'' (Contemporary, 1961) With Fred Katz *''

Fred Katz and his Jammers ''Fred Katz and his Jammers'' is an album by Fred Katz originally released on Decca in 1959.Fred Katz Catalog< ...

'' (Decca, 1959) With

*'' Harold in the Land of Jazz'' (Contemporary, 1958) *'' The Fox'' (Hifijazz, 1959) With

Big Miller Big or BIG may refer to: * Big, of great size or degree Film and television * ''Big'' (film), a 1988 fantasy-comedy film starring Tom Hanks * '' Big!'', a Discovery Channel television show * ''Richard Hammond's Big'', a television show present ...

*''Revelations and the Blues'' (Columbia, 1961) With Red Mitchell *''Rejoice!'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) With

Paul Moer Paul Moerschbacher (July 22, 1916 – June 9, 2010), better known as Paul Moer, was an American jazz pianist. Moer attended the University of Miami, graduating in 1951, and following this played frequently on the West Coast jazz scene with Benny ...

*''The Contemporary Jazz Classics of the Paul Moer Trio'' (Del-Fi, 1959) With

Phineas Newborn Phineas Newborn Jr. (December 14, 1931 – May 26, 1989) was an American jazz pianist, whose principal influences were Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Bud Powell. Biography Newborn was born in Whiteville, Tennessee, and came from a musical fami ...

*'' The Newborn Touch'' (Contemporary, 1964) With

*''

Smack Up ''Smack Up'' is a 1960 jazz album by saxophonist Art Pepper playing with Jack Sheldon, Pete Jolly, Jimmy Bond and Frank Butler. Leonard Feather's sleeve notes include two quotes by Pepper which throw light on his approach to playing jazz: :"K ...

'' (Contemporary, 1960) *'' Intensity'' (Contemporary, 1960) *'' Among Friends'' ( Interplay, 1978) With

*''

Ben Webster at the Renaissance ''Ben Webster at the Renaissance'' is a live album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in California in 1960 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.985 Year 985 ( CMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Henry II (the Wrangler) is restored as duke of Bavaria by Empress Theoph ...

With

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a ...

*'' Everywhere'' (Pacific Jazz, 1968) With

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...

*'' In Blues'' (Society, 1964) With Xanadu All Stars *'' Xanadu in Africa'' (Xanadu, 1980) with

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

Billy Mitchell William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force. Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, command ...

and

Leroy Vinnegar Leroy Vinnegar (July 13, 1928 – August 3, 1999) was an American jazz bassist. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, the self-taught Vinnegar established his reputation in Los Angeles, California, during the 1950s and 1960s. His trademar ...

*''

Night Flight to Dakar ''Night Flight to Dakar'' is an album by saxophonists Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (saxophonist), Billy Mitchell, pianist Dolo Coker, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Frank Butler (musician), Frank Butler recorded in Dakar in 1980 for Xanadu Recor ...

'' (Xanadu, 1980) with Al Cohn, Billy Mitchell and Leroy Vinnegar

Notes

References

* *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Frank American jazz drummers West Coast jazz drummers 1928 births 1984 deaths Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Xanadu Records artists 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Jazz musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians