Billy Butler (singer)

Billy Butler (June 7, 1945 – March 31, 2015) was an American soul singer and songwriter active principally in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was born in Chicago.^[1]

Butler was Jerry Butler's younger brother. He formed the vocal group the Enchanters while at high school. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1963, and was produced initially by Curtis Mayfield^[2] and later by Carl Davis. On early recordings he was backed by the Chanters, a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman.^[1][2] His first and biggest hit was 1965's "I Can't Work No Longer", which reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart and #60 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] The group disbanded in 1966, and after a minor solo hit with "The Right Track" he left Okeh.^[2] "The Right Track" is placed at number 11 in the Northern Soul Top 500 ^[4]

He later formed a new group, Infinity, with Batts, Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox. They had three minor R&B hits: "Get on the Case" (#41 R&B, Fountain Records, 1969), "I Don't Want To Lose You" (Memphis Records, #38 R&B, 1971), and "Hung Up On You" (Pride Records, #48 R&B, 1973).^[2] He also wrote songs for his brother, as well as for musicians such as Major Lance and Gene Chandler.^[1]

Butler played the guitar in the band of his brother, Jerry. He died in 2015, aged 69.^[5][6]

Singles

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• "Found True Love" b/w "Lady Love" (1963)
• "Can't Live Without Her" (1964)
• "Gotta Get Away" (1964)
• "I Can't Work No Longer" (1965)
• "I've Got A Feeling You're Gonna Be Sorry" (1965)
• "The Right Track" / "Boston Monkey" (1966)
• "(You Made Me Think) You Ain't Ready" (1966)
• "Get on the Case" (1969)
• "Free Yourself" (1971)
• "I Don't Want To Lose You" (1971)
• "Hung Up On You" (1973)^[7]

References