Charles J. Thornton, Jr. (July 4, 1944 – February 2, 2023[1]), known professionally as Butch Miles, was an American jazz drummer.

He played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Tony Bennett.

[2] Miles, who cited Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Jo Jones as favorite drummers,[1] began playing snare drum at the age of nine and majored in music at West Virginia State University (1962–1966).

He was a real crowd pleaser, like Buddy Rich and Sonny Payne, and he picked up on things very nicely, and he was also interested in sticking around for a while, which he did, for about four years.” Miles was leader of the group Jazz Express in the 1980s and 1990s.

[6][7] With Count Basie With Phil Bodner With Dick Hyman With Flip Phillips With Sal Salvador With Bob Wilber With others