Joseph Campbell Butler (born September 16, 1941)[1] is an American drummer, singer and actor. He is best known as a member of folk-rock band the Lovin' Spoonful, where he was their drummer and later lead vocalist, the group had seven top 10 hits between 1965 and 1966.[2] Outside of his work on music he is an actor, having acted in several plays, being best known for the musicals Soon and Hair.
Butler would replace the bands original drummer Jan Carl, after the band's first performance in 1964, He would play drums on all of the band's album's and he would occasionally sing lead vocals. After frontman John Sebastian left the band in 1968, he took over full lead vocal duties. He would sing fully on their album Revelation: Revolution '69, the album was made without the other members of the band, the album failed to sell, after the album the band would break up.
In 1991 the band would resume touring, Butler reunited with members Steve Boone and Jerry Yester, along with adding new touring members. Butler would tour and front the band, singing, playing autoharp, percussion and acoustic guitar. In 2000 Butler would reunite with the original lineup for the final time and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Besides music Butler also is an actor and has appeared in the musicals Soon in 1971 and played Neil and Hair in 1968 as a replacement for the musicals author James Rado in the role of Claude. Butler has also helped create the Circle Theatre Company.[3] Butler is also the father to actress Yancy Butler and would appear in one episode of her show Witchblade in 2002. Butler has acted in several other projects.[3]
Early life
Joeseph Campbell Butler was born on September 16, 1941, in Long Island, New York. He began playing drums at age 10 and started playing professionally at 13.[4] During his teen years Butler formed many bands, Butlers bands would play gigs at various places.[3]
Butler would later join the Air Force and was in it until 1963. While in the air force, he met Steve Boone and his brother Skip. Butler, Skip and Steve would form a group called The Kingsmen (not to be confused with another band also with the same name). While in the band Butler would drum and sing for the band.[4] The Kingsmen's name was later changed to the Sellouts and the band started playing in Greenwich Village.[3]
In 1967 Yanovsky would leave the band and was replaced by Jerry Yester, the group would record Everything Playing, which was the first to feature Yester and last to feature Sebastian. In 1968 Sebastian would leave the band, Butler became the lead vocalist for their last album, Revelation: Revolution '69. The album was recorded without Boone or Yester, instead various other musicians would play on the album. The album performed poorly and after the album the band would break up. During the time the band was split up Butler would go on to pursue an acting career.
In 1980 Butler would first reunite with the original line up of John Sebastian, Zal Yanovsky and Steve Boone, to appear in the movie One-Trick Pony.[6]
In 1991 the group reformed and started touring with original member Steve Boone and Jerry Yester. Butler has continued to perform with Boone in and has retained his position as lead vocalist.[7] He also plays the guitar, autoharp and percussion instruments, while Butler fronted the band Mike Arturi would take over drums, joining the band in 1996.[8][9][10] Butler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Lovin' Spoonful in 2000[11][12] and performed with the original line-up for the last time. Butler also was inducted into the vocal group hall of fame with the band in 2006.[13]
In 2020 he would reunite on stage with John Sebastian and Steve Boone, singing the Spoonful's hits, this was the first time Boone and Butler played with Sebastian since their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.[14]
Acting
Besides his career with the Spoonful, Butler is also an actor. After the Lovin Spoonful would break up in 1969 Butler started acting, he got his first role in the 1971 rock opera Soon, playing the character of Neil.[15][16][17] Butler currently plays with several musical ensembles. Butler for his second role He replaced the author James Rado in the leading role of Claude, joining the original Broadway cast of Hair.[12][18] Butler created the role of Alaska Wolf Joe for the off-Broadway production of the Brecht-Weill social opera the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
In 2002 Butler would appear in the show Witchblade, the show starred Butler's daughter Yancy. In the show he would play the former police officer Arthur Buck. This was Butler's first time acting on TV.[19][20]
Butler is a founding member of the Circle Theatre Company.[21] Alongside award-winning and renowned director Marshall W. Mason and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lanford Wilson, Butler has written and directed numerous projects. Recently Butler has written a play called Hearts in the City.[3]
Personal life
Butler was married to theater manager Leslie Vega, the two married on September 2, 1967. He later divorced her and subsequently married Kim Ablondi. His daughter from his first marriage is actress Yancy Butler,[19][22] star of the 1992 televisions series Mann & Machine and the 1993 series South Beach, as well as films Hard Target and Drop Zone.[23]
^"Names". Detroit Free Press. January 24, 2003. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2010. ... protection relating to her father Joseph Butler the drummer for the 1960s. band Lovin Spoonful While in custody on that charge Butler headbutted a ...
