GUESTBOOK

Thanks for all of the great sounds for all of these years Artie. Everything from Paul Revere and the Raiders to Joe Cocker’s “Feelin’ Al-Right.” You are the man Artie Butler. I once owned a record store so I know the name Artie Butler real well. Best of luck to you from all of us at the Jersey Shore. We still rock to your music. Real cool website. Lots of great memories for me.Tommy Chiccario Egg Harbor, NJ

Hello Artie.Forever I have been a fan of yours. I just found your fantastic website and spent an hour or so looking back at the last thirty five years of my life and of my favorite music. You have made some great records Artie. “Feelin’ Al-right” by Joe Cocker is just the greatest of them all.The absolute greatest. Your piano playing on that record will live forever as one of the all time greatest rock and roll records in my opinion.. There are so many other cool records that you made too Artie. Just had to tell you. What a great musician you are. Thanks for all of the great music for all of these years my good buddy. George Fuller | Orlando, Florida

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Artie, You are such a talented guy. I grew up listening to many of the cool records you made. Paul Revere and The Raiders, Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond, Jay & The Americans etc. What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong is a great one also. However your piano playing on “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker is one of the all time greatest rock & roll records in my opinion. It just never quits rockin’ Artie. In addition, your work with Barry Manilow is superb as well. You are the best Artie, you’re one of my musical heroes man. Your site is great too. Full of musical history and good stories. I just discovered that you co-wrote a song with Jerry Leiber that was recorded by the Rolling Stones called “Down Home Girl.” How cool is that? You are really quite an amazing guy. Keep rockin’ Artie. New York, NY

Hi Artie, I think your song “Here’s To Life” is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It is a song for all time Artie. I was a musician in the Las Vegas, Reno – Tahoe area in the 70’s. I played many of your arrangements throughout the years for Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams and many other singers as well. Your arrangements are just the best. The musicians always loved working for you, because we knew the music would be good when your name was on it. First class always. I am still a big fan of yours. I listen to many of the records you have made with many of my favorite singers. Your arrangements are timeless.Here’ to life Artie.Anne Groetz | Boston

Hello Artie Butler, What a pleasure for me it is to be able to contact you, the composer of “Here’s To Life.” This song is one of the most beautiful songs of all time. I am well aware of all of your many achievements over the years, as I am a big music fan and record collector. Please write more songs like that. I know of your work through the records of Janis Ian, Neil Sedaka, Peggy Lee and others. I especially love your very beautiful arrangements for Barry Manilow and others. Your website is terrific as well. Keep making beautiful music Mr. Butler. What a gift you have. Toms River, New Jersey

Hi there Artie, Quite by accident I found this great website of yours and what a surprise it was. It is fantastic and loaded with memories of most of my shall we say “younger days.” I grew up listening to so many of these records that you made Artie, that I feel as though we are friends. I was a musician when I was a kid, but that lasted only through high school. I never had any of your talent or any chance of being in your league. However I still love music, and I am very much a fan of yours. That is why I am writing to you. My son has just decided to chase his passion for music and I thought that after reading some of your thoughts about your dreams and passions a little of your luck might rub off on him. You’re really an inspiraion there Artie to the next generation of dreamers. Keep on dreaming. So far so good. Feelin’ Al-right by Joe Cocker is the greatest blues- rock and roll piano playing I have ever heard. Man can you play. I wish I could play that piano lick. Holy S**T it is the greatest. So are you. You are one a gifted man.Terrence DanielsBaltimore

Hi Artie, Thanks so very much for all the great music you have given us for all of these many years. I really love your stuff. “Here’e To Life” is a masterpiece. Keep doin’ it Artie.

Hello Artie, Let me say what an incredible musician I think you are. That piano playing of yours on “Feelin’ Al’Right” by Joe Cocker still is one of the best records of all time. Whenever I hear it even today it never sounds old to me. It still rocks. As us “old guys” say you’re out of sight. I’m a big fan, and have been for awhile. I thought of myself as a piano player in my youth for a time until that Joe Cocker record came out. When I heard you play, I knew I had to get a day gig. Now I own two computer stores in the Cleveland area. Love your other stuff through the years as well Artie. Your arrangements for Barry Manilow are outstanding. You are just great. You website is real interesting and has a nice human touch to it. Very different than most. I found it most refreshing. Ed Bello Cleveland, Ohio

Hi Artie, “Here’s To Life” is my all time favorite song. If I could write one by myself that would be it. It has such heart felt meaning and depth as do you I am sure. Upon looking at your website and your great career, I see how many of my favorite records you have made. WOW. Indian Reservation, Neither One Of Us, Even Now. The list just goes on and on. In my “YOUNGER DAYS” I had dreams of being a musician myself, but they were only dreams. You got to live it man, how great for you. I must tell you that a few years ago my wife and I lost our only daughter, and your song “Here’s To Life” helped get us through it Artie. Today we still listen to that song and find some strength to go on through the absolute beauty of it. It is art in it’s highest form. Simple, to the point and breathtaking. It is very very spiritual in nature. It was a gift to us and to many others I am sure. God bless you for your talent and your ability to share your soul with the rest of the world. Paul Rousseau St. Louis, MO

Hi Artie, I have been a fan of yours forever. I became aware of you arrangements years ago, and have kept up with your accomplishments and credits. What an amazing body of work. I know of your arranging talents because I wanted to be an arranger also. I never had the talent that someone like you had. I remember bringing some recordings you made into my music classes in school, and going over them with the teacher. He was an arranger himself, and he really admired your talent. He used to say that you were one of the real great contemporary arrangers. I love the work you did with Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Neil Sedaka, Joe Williams and many others. However two of my favorite things that you did was your amazing piano work on “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker, and the very special arrangement you wrote on “Even Now” for Barry Manilow. So many times I would hear a record on the radio, and guess that is was an Artie Butler arrangement. Your string writing is just so special. In addition to all of that, your song “Here’s To Life” has to be one of the most beautiful touching songs of all time. Artie keep up the good work. You have enriched the life of so many with your talent.With great admiration and respect,Bob Gordon | Chicago

Hello Artie, I am sure that in order to have written a song like “Here’s To Life” you are an old soul, and that we have met before. Perhaps not even in this lifetime Artie. That is how powerful I believe your song is. I am not some kind of a weirdo Artie. Just a HUGE fan of both your song and of you. The first time I heard it, it made such an impact and an impression on me that I can honestly say that it helped me through some very difficult times. It has stayed with me Artie and always will. I can’t thank you enough for the pure joy and beauty it brings me and to the rest of the world I am sure. When I found this great website of yours I discovered what a musical career you have had. You made some of my favorite records as well. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong and “Feelin’ Alright by Joe Cocker. How interesting it was for me to find out that you were the piano player as well on that Joe Cocker record. I grew up in the South and when that record played on the radio we used to say “that piano player on that record can make a dead man dance.” What a vast assortmant of musical talents you have Artie. Now I get the chance to write to the man who wrote “Here’s To Life” and who made some of those recordings that really were a part of my growing up years, and who played the piano that made the dead man dance. Write more songs and make more records Artie. I am sure you have heard this before, but perhaps one more time may not be too much. You are really great, and thanks for the pleasure you brought to us through your music as we were growing up. In addition, I feel “Here’s To Life” deseves it’s own sentence of praise. It’s just that special.Best regards,June Rawlins | Leesburg, VA,

Hello Artie, I am ending this year by listening to your beautiful song “Here’s To Life.” I can’t think of a better song that says what is in my heart and most likely in a lot of other folks hearts as well. What heart and soul you yourself must have. That melody is so beautiful it just gets to me Artie … every time I hear it. What a loss Shirley Horn’s death was to the musical world this past year. The two of you were a great combination. The way she sang your song was so special. I also liked her version of another of your fine songs, “May The Music Never End.” Happy New Year Artie. I will think of you and your talent when I listen to your great song. Musically yours,Dorothy Bellington West Stockbridge, MA

Artie, I have wanted to know where to reach you for the longest time. A friend told me to look you up on Google. I did, and found your website. Artie you are one hell of a talented guy. You cover the entire scope of music from funky blues (Feelin’ Alright) to beautiful string writing to Jazz to Rock & Roll.Your sensitive string writing is really touching. You know just where not to write. I am a singer, so I know. About 16 or 17 years ago I saw Frank Sinatra in concert and he credited you as being one of the fine young breed of arrangersout there. I forgot what tune it was but the arrangement was superb. Keep up the great work. Please also let me tell you that your song “Here’s To Life” is so special. When I hear it I just have to sit and regain my composure. It is that special. Again Artie, continued success, and keep giving the world your music and your soul. If I ever get to Los Angeles, I will write to you and let you know. I would love to meet you and talk about music.

Bravo Mr. Butler. It has taken me many many years to find out how to contact you. I think that “Feelin’ Alright” by Joe Cocker has probably one of the most special and significant piano solos in American Rock & Roll recordings. I have studied it and tried to duplicate it.No way can I even come close. Then when I found your great site and discovered that you made many of the recordings that my wife and I grew up listening to, I was really impressed. The Barry Manilow records and the work you did with the girls groups of the 60’s like the Shangri-Las really are among my favorites. I am a salesman during the week, and a piano player on the weekends. However I still love music and I am happy to get a chance to play when I can. Please accept my thanks for bringing me such a huge amount of joy & pleasure and please do continue on doing more of the same. Best of luck to you in all you do.

Hello Mr.Butler, May I just say what an admirer of your talent I have been for the longest time. At one time in my life I was a singer and I was so aware of your beautiful arrangements. The work you did with Barry Manilow was great. Thanks for all of the years of great music in my life, and “Here’s To Life” as an extra added attraction. What could be better?

Artie, Thank you for your music.

Mr. Butler,I’m just listening to the Ken Berry album, “RFD” and found your website. Thank you for many, many wonderful listening experiences. I have enjoyed your musical gifts for a long while and hope you’ll do another musical revue show. You’re a talented man!

Hi Mr. Butler, I am 37, primarily a drummer,but in music I usually listen out first for great/surprising chord changes and sneaky key shifts,etc.So,a lot of what’s in my music collection has the “Butler” stamp on it.I enjoyed your work on Paul Williams’ “Someday Man” album,as well as a co-arranging effort with Jimmy Wisner on The Tradewinds'(Anders/Poncia)song “Catch Me In The Meadow”.Now there was a minute and a half- 60’s pop Debussy confection.I Love the slowly fizzling out ending-it sounds like a peaceful brook in the spring.Thanks for the beautiful dots on paper

all i can say is..there is no one withan unfailing ear and graciousness likeartie butler!thank you for being you!

Dear Artie: Anthony Bennet tells me that you are going to be with us for the Educational Fundraiser for our Jazz Foundation on February 14th, 2004. Ramsey Lewis will be doing a special performance for us that night. We look forward with great anticipation and humility to meeting you that evening. Our very best to you and dont ever stop!!!