Remembering Dr.
George T. Butler
George Butler was a prominent
jazz record executive for the Columbia/SONY, Blue Note and United Artists
labels from the late 1960’s to the late 1990’s. He died on April 9,
2008, in Castro Valley, Calif., at the age of 76.
The Chicago Tribune
called Dr. Butler “the most powerful force in jazz,” and the New York
Times recognized him as a primary force in jazz music’s “Young
Lion” movement of the 1980’s. It was Butler’s vision that made
Columbia Records a nexus for the young lions, and it was Butler himself who was
instrumental in signing Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Kent and Marlon Jordan,
Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison.
In the years Dr. Butler worked
for Blue Note Records, he oversaw albums by such jazz legends as Horace Silver,
Donald Byrd, Elvin Jones and Bobby Hutcherson. He also worked on developing
commercial avenues for the music with fusion artists like Donald Byrd, Earl
Klugh and Ronnie Laws.
Over the course of his career, Butler received
an impressive sixty-six gold and platinum records and won eighteen Grammy
Awards with such artists as Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Harry Connick, Jr., and
Wynton Marsalis.
In addition to his sister, Ms. Jacqueline Hairston of
Hayward, California, Mr. Butler is survived by his daughter, Bethany Butler of
Manhattan.
Wynton Marsalis stated, "George Butler worked very
hard to help create quality music and strongly believed in music education. He
was engaged with the music and with musicians. He had eclectic tastes and
embraced a philosophy that accommodated all different types of people and
styles of music."
Jet Magazine – May 5, 2008 |
