Jon Butcher

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Jon Butcher
Born 5/5/1955 ??, Alaska
Genre(s) rock, blues
Years active 1970s—present
Website Official site

Jon Butcher is an American rock and blues singer and guitarist and freelance multimedia producer.

Contents

[edit] Early life

When he was 7 years old he picked up his first guitar. Butcher says he was inspired by Gene Autry.... "He had the horse, the gun, the girl and the guitar."[citation needed] When he was 12, he took a year of piano lessons which he said made him never want to play piano due to getting rapped on the knuckles by the instructor. When Butcher was older, his family moved to Pennsylvania, and from there he went to Grahm Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts. He then alienated himself from most of his family as he pursued his dreams. He didn't want where he was from to compromise where he was trying to go. When was the last time he went home to Lancaster P.A. He won't even mention where he's from.

[edit] Johanna Wild

Butcher cut a path through the Northeastern United States rock & roll scene in the early to late 1970s, when his premier Boston based club band, Johanna Wild, garnered a very large following. The most popular Johanna Wild lineup featured Jeff Linscott, Derek Blevins and Troy Douglas Sutler III. Other musicians who participated were Cliff Goodwin,Jamie Pease, Glenn Evans and Kent Pearson in the early years, and later, Sandy Higgins.

[edit] Influences

Many people compared Butcher to Jimi Hendrix initially. Butcher says that all musicians and bands from the 1960s influenced him. He lists among his many major influences John Lennon and Keith Richards. While Butcher is humbled by the comparison to Hendrix, he likes to emphasize that "because I am a black man and play guitar everyone assumes that Hendrix was my one and only influence and he was not."[citation needed]

[edit] Jon Butcher Axis

The fanbase and relentless touring of Johanna Wild enabled Butcher to gain immediate media attention when in the early 80s, he formed Jon Butcher Axis, which consisted of Butcher and Kent Pearson on guitar and vocals, Chris Martin on bass and former Johanna Wild bandmate Derek Blevins on drums. The band frequently played Uncle Sam's, a large nightclub in Nantasket Beach, MA during this era where Jon Butcher would draw huge crowds into the hundreds. It was not uncommon for Jon Butcher to have a half dozen or more Fender Stratocaster guitars on stage, each in a different color, adding allure to his stage presence.

[edit] Opening for J. Geils Band

Jon Butcher Axis was picked to support Boston's already world famous J. Geils Band on their 1982 "Land Of 1000 Dances" American tour, which ultimately led to a major label contract with Polydor. One of the high moments of Butcher's career was the homecoming J. Geils show from that tour. Jon Butcher Axis had the great pleasure of opening a 3 night stand to packed Boston Garden audiences. The band did not disappoint the Boston crowds who were already very familiar with their music.

[edit] 1983

1983 saw the release of their first album titled Jon Butcher Axis. It featured a reworked version of a late 70s Johanna Wild single that had attracted a lot of local Boston radio attention, titled "(It Takes) A New Man". Other notable tracks showing off the band's tight hard rocking sound included "Ocean In Motion" and "Walk Like This". The album reached #91 in Billboard Pop Albums chart and Butcher's video for "Life Takes A Life" was one of the first by a black artist to receive airtime on MTV. The follow-up album, Stare At The Sun, (1984) managed to reach only #160 on the Billboard album chart.

[edit] 1985 - 1986

In 1985, Jon Butcher Axis moved to Capitol Records and released Along the Axis. A song on that album, "The Ritual", earned Butcher a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Singles and videos were released for "The Sounds of Your Voice" and "Stop". "The Sounds of Your Voice" was the only Billboard Hot 100 hit; it reached #94. Jon Butcher Axis frequently toured major venues across the country during this period, opening for INXS.

[edit] 1987 thru 1989

The following releases, Wishes (1987) and Pictures From The Front (1989) were simply under the Jon Butcher name. Wishes was Butcher's most successful album, reaching Gold Album status.

[edit] Barefoot Servants

In 1991, Jon Butcher Axis ceased to exist. Butcher spent the rest of the 90s on several projects. In 1994, he led a group called Barefoot Servants, which released a self-titled album on Epic Records. The band included Leland Sklar (bass), Ben Schultz (guitar) and Ray Brinker (drums). Barefoot Servants 2 was released by ATOM Records in August 2005. Drummer Ray Brinker has been replaced by Londoner Neal Wilkinson.

[edit] Solo endeavors

In the mid 90s, Butcher released two solo blues albums, Positively The Blues and Electric Factory. 1998 saw Razor & Tie issue The Best of Jon Butcher – Dreamers Would Ride. In November 2000, Butcher released a CD via his web site - A Long Way Home.

A Stiff Little Breeze was issued in 2001, and was Jon’s first project with the independent label ATOM Records. This CD resurrected the Jon Butcher Axis name. 2002 brought an additional Jon Butcher Axis release, An Ocean in Motion – Live in Boston 1984.

[edit] Video

Butcher's first DVD video release came in 2004. Live At The Casbah was filmed in December 1984 at a club in Manchester, NH. It contains several never-released songs, and additional music from his first three Jon Butcher Axis releases.

[edit] Multimedia projects

In addition to touring all over the United States and other countries to support various incarnations of both Jon Butcher Axis and Barefoot Servants, Butcher created his own production company and state of the art studio named "Electric Factory". In addition to providing music production services for recording artists, Butcher spends a great amount of his time scoring music for television, film and computer gaming. Recent projects include music for the HBO series Deadwood & A&E’s The Life and Times of Wild Bill Cody.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Tracks Credits Billboard Review
1983 Jon Butcher Axis
Label - Polydor
Producer - Pat Moran		 1. "Life Takes a Life"
2. "It's Only Words"
3. "Ocean in Motion"
4. "Can't Be the Only Fool"
5. "Sentinel"
6. "New Man"
7. "Fairlight"
8. "Send One Care Of"
9. "Walk Like This"
10. "We Will Be as One"		 Derek Blevins - Drums
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Vocals
Christopher Martin - Bass
Pat Moran - Producer, Engineer		 #91 AMG
1984 Stare at the Sun
Label - Polydor
Producer - Pat Moran		 1. "Wind It Up"
2. "Victims"
3. "Dreams Fade Away"
4. "Stay Low"
5. "Can't Tell the Dancer from the Dance"
6. "Don't Say Goodnight"
7. "Walk on the Moon"
8. "Call to Arms"
9. "Eros Arriving"
10. "Breakout"		 Derek Blevins - Drums
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Vocals
Christopher Martin - Bass
Pat Moran - Producer, Engineer		 #160 -
1985 Along the Axis
Label - Capitol
Producer - Spencer Proffer		 1. "Stop!" (4:14)
2. "Electricity" (3:35)
3. "Sounds of Your Voice" (3:38)
4. "Only the Fox" (4:07)
5. "Along the Axis" (3:40)
6. "Two Hearts Running" (4:29)
7. "I've Got Money" (3:45)
8. "Between the Lines" (4:38)
9. "Carrie" (3:34)
10. "That's How Strong My Love Is" (3:29)
11. "The Ritual (Instrumental)" (3:11)		 Randy Bishop - Vocals
Derek Blevins - Drums
Larry Brown - Percussion
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Percussion, Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Ava Cherry - Vocals
Thom Gimbel - Guitar, Arranger, Horn, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Maxtone
Hanspeter Huber - Engineer
Jimmy Johnson - Bass
Moneygrabbers - Vocals
Spencer Proffer - Arranger, Producer		 #69 -
1987 Wishes
Label - Capitol
Producer - Spencer Proffer		 1. "Goodbye Saving Grace"
2. "Living for Tomorrow"
3. "Holy War"
4. "Wishes"
5. "Churinga [Instrumental]"
6. "Long Way Home"
7. "Show Me Some Emotion"
8. "Little Bit of Magic"
9. "Angel Dressed in Blue"
10. "Partners in Crime"
11. "Prisoners of the Silver Chain"		 Derek Blevins - Percussion, Drums
Jon Butcher - Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
Thom Gimbel - Horn, Keyboards
Hanspeter Huber - Engineer
Rob Jefferies - Bass
Spencer Proffer - Producer		 #77 AMG
1989 Pictures from the Front
Label - Capitol
Producer - Glen Ballard		 1. "I'm Only Dreaming"
2. "Might As Well Be Free"
3. "Live Or Die"
4. "99 (May Be All You Need)"
5. "Beating Drum"
6. "The Mission"
7. "Send Me Somebody"
8. "Division Street"
9. "Come And Get It"
10. "Waiting For A Miracle"		 Glen Ballard - Keyboards, Producer
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Vocals
Jammin' James Carter - Bass, Vocals
Thom Gimbel - Guitar, Horn, Keyboards, Vocals
Jamie Hunting - Bass
Ronnie Lee Sage - Percussion, Drums, Vocals
Timothy B. Schmit - Vocals		 #121 -
1995 Positively the Blues
Label - Blues Bureau
Producers - Ben Schultz, Jon Butcher		 1. "Cadillac Limousine" (2:54)
2. "Clean-Up Time" (6:52)
3. "Taxman Blues" (3:39)
4. "Union Hall" (2:19)
5. "Honey Bee" (3:47)
6. "Here I Am" (2:54)
7. "20 Years" (3:47)
8. "I Hate Myself" (3:00)
9. "At the Feet of the Master" (5:53)
10. "Two Penny Nail" (4:13)
11. "High Heel Shoes" (4:07)"
12. "Sail On" (1:44)		 Jon Butcher - Dobro, Guitar, Vocals, Producer
Ben Schultz - Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Slide Guitar		 - AMG
1996 Electric Factory
Label - Blues Bureau Int'l
Producer - Jon Butcher		 1. "Rocket Ship" (6:25)
2. "Chili Sauce" (6:23)
3. "Rather Go Fishin'" (3:14)
4. "Cactus Flower" (7:08)
5. "A Sea of Blues" (5:04)
6. "The Fireman's Ball" (3:19)
7. "Gambler" (5:07)
8. "Yes, She Does" (3:45)
9. "Brian's Electric Factory" (5:24)
10. "The Coleman Mine" (1:04)
11. "By Railroad Line" (3:24)		 Jon Butcher - Multi Instruments, Producer
Kelly Rucker - Harp
Ben Schultz - Multi Instruments, Engineer, Mixing		 - AMG
1998 The Best of Jon Butcher: Dreamers Would Ride
Label - Razor & Tie		 1. "Might as Well Be Free" (4:32)
2. "Life Takes a Life" (3:54)
3. " Goodbye Saving Grace" (4:16)
4. "Holy War" (4:11)
5. "Don't Say Goodnight" (3:23)
6. "Stop" (4:11)
7. "Sounds of Your Voice" (3:41)
8. "Waiting for a Miracle" (5:19)
9. "May This Be Love" (3:08)
10. "Wishes" (4:01)
11. "The Ritual" (2:57)
12. "Whiskey River" (3:47)
13. "If I Love You" (1:42)
14. "Send Me Somebody" (4:07)
15. "This Raging Fire" (4:10)
16. "It's Only Words" (Live) (3:48)
17. "Division Street" (4:45)		 - AMG
1999 King Biscuit Flower Hour
Label - King Biscuit
Producer - Joe Pheifer		 1. "Writing on the Wall" (3:40)
2. "Life Takes a Life" (5:01)
3. "Long Way Home" (4:27)
4. "American Dream" (3:59)
5. "Goodbye Saving Grace" (7:25)
6. "Heaven" (6:43)
7. "Wishes" (3:59)
8. "Fire Down the Well" (7:09)
9. "Holy War" (4:34)
10. "Higher Ground" (5:26)
11. "Interview With Jon Butcher" (12:09)		 Jon Butcher - Main Performer
Kevin Flaherty - Executive Producer
Len Handler - Executive Producer
Joe Pheifer - Producer
Kevin T. Cain - Executive Producer		 - -
2001 Stiff Little Breeze
Label - Orchard
Producer - John Butcher		 1. "Stiff Little Breeze" (2:43)
2. "Tie the Devil Down" (3:37)
3. "Red House" (4:39)
4. "The Tiger in the Tall Grass" (4:42)
5. "Big Guitars" (3:29)
6. "Love Is a River" (3:35)
7. "Bats" (1:27)
8. "High Road to Heaven" (3:17)
9. "Money" (3:35)
10. "The Dreamer" (3:13)
11. "Wicked Woman" (3:57)
12. "A Light Texas Rain" (2:14)
13. "When the Heart Beats Once" (3:14)
14. "Beal St." (1:26)		 Jon Butcher - Producer, Engineer
Jeff Clark - Engineer
Larry Mah - Mastering
 - AMG
2002 An Ocean In Motion: Live In Boston
Label - Atom
Producer - John Butcher		 1. "Ocean in Motion" (2:54)
2. "Victims" (4:56)
3. "Life Takes a Life" (4:42)
4. "Fairlight" (4:42)
5. "Sentinel" (6:24)
6. "Walk Like This" (3:15)
7. "Walk on the Moon" (5:23)
8. "New Man" (4:46)"
9. "It's Only Words" (3:30)
10. "Not Fade Away" (3:11)
11. "Don't Say Goodnight" (4:28)		 Derek Blevins - Percussion, Drums
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Liner Notes, Graphic Design, Art Direction
Thom Gimbel - Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals (Background)
Larry Mah - Mastering		 - AMG
2004 American Dream
Label - Disky		 1. "American Dream"
2. "Fire Down The Well"
3. "Higher Ground"
4. "Long Way Home"
5. "Writing On The Wall"
6. "Holy War"
7. "Heaven"
8. "Life Takes A Life"
9. "Wishes"
10. "Goodbye Saving Grace"		 Derek Blevins - Percussion, Drums
Jon Butcher - Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Liner Notes, Graphic Design, Art Direction
Thom Gimbel - Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals (Background)
Larry Mah - Mastering		 - -

[edit] Singles

Year Single The Billboard Hot 100 Mainstream Rock Tracks Album
1983 Life Takes A Life - #26 Jon Butcher Axis
1985 Stop - Along the Axis
1985 Sounds of Your Voice #94 - Along the Axis
1987 Goodbye Saving Grace - #7 Wishes
1987 Holy War - #25 Wishes
1989 Might as Well Be Free - #38 Pictures from the Front
1989 Send Me Somebody - #7 Pictures from the Front

[edit] External links