He first worked with Charlie McCoy and went on to play with two of his own groups, Barefoot Jerry and Area Code 615.
However, he was best known as a session player and worked with a number of well-known musicians including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young.
He appears on Presley's He Touched Me; Dylan's albums Blonde on Blonde, John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, and Self Portrait; and Young's albums Harvest, Tonight's the Night, Harvest Moon, Unplugged, Silver & Gold, and Tuscaloosa.
Other work included sessions for Joan Baez, Jimmy Buffett, J. J. Cale, Donovan, Dan Fogelberg, Al Kooper, Leo Kottke, Kris Kristofferson, Gordon Lightfoot, Mickey Newbury, Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson, Bob Seger, and Joe Simon.
In 1973, he left the Stray Gators during their tour, with some reports saying he was fired,[3] while others said the fan attention was too much;[citation needed] Johnny Barbata replaced Buttrey in mid-tour.