In 1957, when stationed in Brooklyn as a young serviceman, Butler visited the Empire Roller Rink, then owned by Hector and Henry Abrami.
So I brought my own music with me, and asked Mr [Henry] Abrami if he would play a number I had, Night Train by Count Basie.The skaters responded positively to the disc-jockeyed music, and following this, the rink began to play jazz and R&B records; with "Butler...at the forefront of this new age for skating".
[5][4] Skater Gloria McCarthy, whose father owned the rink, started a "Bounce" night to showcase Butler's new style.
[6] A photograph shows Butler at a Casablanca Records party at Empire, instructing Cher by leading her by the hand.
[6] Butler's "stylish tricks...made the [Empire Roller Disco] a HOT destination" [sic], as it "drew storied celebrities away from the snooty uptown clubs (Studio 54) down to the warm & accepting Brooklyn Rink".