BIOGRAPHY
Artie Butler was born in Brooklyn, NY, and as a teenager was discovered by the legendary songwriting and producing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Artie was hired to replace a pianist for a recording session and as they say… “the rest is history.”
Artie is one of the most respected arrangers and composers in the music business. He has been involved in every phase of the music industry: arranging, composing, producing, supervising and playing. He has arranged over seventy-five hit records and played on hundreds of other recordings. He has been awarded over sixty gold and platinum albums. His arrangement and featured piano work on the hit record “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker remains a true classic in American pop music and rock and roll.
Artie’s song “Here’s To Life” is well on its way to becoming one of the new standards. He received a Grammy nomination for his arrangement of “I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again” for Dionne Warwick. He is a three-time Emmy nominee, including a nomination for his outstanding work as composer and music supervisor on the CBS mini-series “Sinatra” based on the life of Frank Sinatra. He is a recipient of a Cannes Film Festival award for his outstanding music For Eastman Kodak.
A small sampling of Artie’s associations includes such classic records as “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, “Copacabana,” “Even Now” and “Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow, “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker, “Up On The Roof” and “On Broadway” by The Drifters, “I Know I’ll Never Love This Way Again” by Dionne Warwick, “Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye” by Gladys Knight & The Pips,” “Laughter In The Rain” by Neil Sedaka“ “Cherry Cherry” and “Solitary Man” by Neil Diamond, “The Boy From New York City” by The Ad-Libs, “Indian Reservation” by Paul Revere and the Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay, and “Arizona” by Mark Lindsay, “Sally Go ‘Round The Roses” by The Jaynets, “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia” by Vicki Lawrence, “Chapel Of Love” by The Dixie Cups and “Society’s Child” by Janis Ian.
He has worked with the best of the best including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Louis Armstrong, Peggy Lee, Joe Cocker, Bernadette Peters, Neil Diamond, Natalie Cole, Neil Sedaka, Lou Rawls, Liza Minelli, Johnny Mathis, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Julio Iglesias, Bob Dylan, Bobby Darin, B.B. King, Dinah Washington, Engelbert Humperdink, Shirley Bassey, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Nancy Wilson, Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Eartha Kitt, O.C. Smith, Billy Preston, Van Morrison, Carol Burnett, Dusty Springfield, Stephen Bishop, Anne Murray, Al Hirt, Joe Williams, Errol Garner, Roger Williams, Frankie Laine, Rita Coolidge, Helen Reddy, Tony Orlando, Vikki Carr, The Fifth Dimension, Janis Ian, Stan Getz, Roberto Carlos etc.
Artie Butler’s songs have been sung by Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Peggy Lee, Lainie Kazan, Helen Reddy, The Coasters and Engelbert Humperdink, to name a few.
He has worked extensively with the best artists of the Golden Era of Rock ‘n’ Roll – the 50’s and 60’s. Paul Revere and The Raiders, Jay & The Americans, Paul Anka, Ruby & The Romantics, Mark Lindsay, Ben E King, Gene Pitney, Jackie Wilson, Bill Medley, Connie Francis, Dion & The Belmonts, Chubby Checker, Roy Hamilton, The Shangri-Las, The Chiffons, The Monkees, The Coasters, The Drifters, Lou Christie, Lesley Gore, The Shirelles, Del Shannon, Anita Humes and The Essexs, The Tokens, The Exciters, The Ad-Libs, The Crystals, Tommy James and The Shondells, The Jaynetts, Solomon Burke, The Platters, The Cadillacs, The Ronnettes, etc.
One of the most prolific people in the music business, Artie has scored numerous TV films and series, radio and TV commercials and has been musical director for many TV specials and events such as “The 1989 Special Olympics,” “The 1990 Goodwill Games” for Turner Broadcasting, and “The 2000 Republican National Convention.” His movies include “What’s Up Doc” and “For Pete’s Sake” starring Barbra Streisand, “The Rescuers” animated feature for Walt Disney Studios, “Rafferty And The Gold Dust Twins,” “O’Hara’s Wife,” “The Love Machine,” “At Long Last Love” and “The Harrad Experiment.”
Artie traveled as arranger and musical conductor for Neil Sedaka, Peggy Lee and Joe Williams. He also conducted at the White House for presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and George H. Bush as well as for the Royal Family in London with Peggy Lee.
He is also well known for his wonderful sense of humor. Like many musical talents from New York, Artie started in the famous Brill Building. He has made some of the most significant contributions to that fabled and historic time in American pop music.
In 2002, to his great surprise and delight, Artie was an “answer” in the NY TIMES crossword puzzle.
At 6 AM one morning, my phone started ringing. Friends on the East Coast called to tell me that I was in the New York Times crossword puzzle. I thought that it was a gag, and that they were just kidding. Around 8 AM the phone started ringing off the hook. It was from family and friends all over the country. It was true. I really was in the New York Times crossword puzzle. I could not believe it. I ran down and bought a copy. I thumbed through the paper, and there I was .. 45 across. I’ve been called many things in my life, but 45 across was not one of them. I stood there in total shock. I’ve often said that the journey we take in life is filled with surprises. This sure surprised the hell out of me.
I even got a call from a gal in New York who brushed me off when I was out in the world dating. It seems that she had second thoughts about me. How coincidental. I wonder if she reads the New York Times.
In 2002, Artie received a commendation from the City of Los Angeles.
Okay … here is the honest to goodness truth. A commendation from the City Of Los Angeles? Give me a break! This I never expected. Here’s the way I see it. To live in Los Angeles and make a living writing music … that’s special enough for me. To be honored for it … wake me up please, I’m dreaming. I am very grateful and proud to have been given this. Please know that something like this I keep in proper perspective, and it will never go to my head. However, I do think I am ready for my close up Mr. DeMille…