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Billy Butler was born William Butler Jr. on December 15, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began his career in the 1940s behind the Harlemaires. The 1950s saw him as a member of a trio led by Doc Bagby and accompanied keyboardist Bill Doggett.

Butler worked with Al Casey, King Curtis, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Bill Davison, Tommy Flanagan, Panama Francis, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Hodges, Floyd “Candy” Johnson, David “Fathead” Newman, Houston Person, Sammy Price, Jimmy Smith, Norris Turney, and Dinah Washington.

He is credited as the guitarist on the 1961 Peppermint Twist, Parts 1 & 2 by Joey Dee and the Starliters at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City. He co-wrote Honky Tonk, an R&B hit for Doggett.

Guitarist Billy Butler transitioned on March 20, 1991 from a heart attack at home in Teaneck, New Jersey.

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