During his career, he recorded with Linda Ronstadt, Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold, Olivia Newton-John, Peter Cetera, Anne Murray, Warren Zevon and Dan Fogelberg, among many others.

While in college, he began playing with a band called The Travellers Three and working as a studio musician.

[1] While working with Bill Medley, Botts was invited to join Gates's band, Bread, for its second album, On the Waters.

[1] Two years later, he began touring and recording with Dan Fogelberg while continuing his session work, and also writing jingles and music for children's albums.

[1] Botts died in Burbank, California, one day after his 61st birthday, having suffered from colon cancer.