He played the drums in multiple high school bands (including one in Omaha, Nebraska), in local jazz combos, and in USO shows during World War II.
[3] He went on to perform and record with Duke Ellington,[1] John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ben Webster, Harold Land, Hampton Hawes and Art Pepper in the 1950s and 1960s.
He performed on several television series, including Stars of Jazz with bassist Curtis Counce.
[3] Butler died in Ventura, California after a short battle with lung cancer at the age of 56.
Co-led with Curtis Amy With Dolo Coker With Joyce Collins With John Coltrane With Curtis Counce With Miles Davis With Kenny Drew With Teddy Edwards With Victor Feldman With Red Garland With Hampton Hawes With Elmo Hope With Helen Humes With Fred Katz With Harold Land With Big Miller With Red Mitchell With Paul Moer With Phineas Newborn With Art Pepper With Ben Webster With Gerald Wilson With Jimmy Witherspoon With Xanadu All Stars