Billy Butler

Billy Butler (born June 7, 1945, Chicago, Illinois)^[1] is an American soul singer and songwriter active principally in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Butler is 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]

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]

Today, Butler plays the guitar in his brother, Jerry's, band.

Singles

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

• "Can't Live Without Her" (1964)
• "I Can't Work No Longer" (1965)
• "The Right Track" (1966)
• "Get on the Case" (1969)
• "Free Yourself" (1971)
• "I Don't Want To Lose You" (1971)
• "Hung Up On You" (1973)
• "Boston Monkey" (?)

References