Erskine Butterfield

Erskine Butterfield (February 9, 1913 – July 11, 1961) was an American pianist, singer, bandleader and composer, active in the 1930s to the 1950s, and best known for his boogie-woogie and swing piano style. Butterfield was credited with "helping to invent the style of 'cocktail piano.

Biography Born in Syracuse, New York, Butterfield played piano at an early age when his family moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he later studied piano. In the 1930s, he regularly appeared on radio, including WOR in New York City, and played with Noble Sissle's orchestra. He made his first sound recording and reproduction in 1937 on the Variety record label. In 1938, he signed with Decca Records, for which he recorded over forty titles between 1940 and 1942, many of which were released. Butterfield was called the "Singing Vagabond of the Keys" by the Chicago Defender in 1939. He "was innovative in utilizing black and white musicians together in his combo", which included session musicians such as Jimmy Lytell (clarinet), Carmen Mastren (guitar), and Haig Stevens (bass).

After World War II, Butterfield formed a trio and toured extensively, but his music style was less successful commercially. He recorded for a number of small labels in the late 1940s, after which his recording activity dropped off. In 1956, however, he again recorded a number of titles for Joe Davis with a reformed group, Butterfield and his Blue Boys, including musicians such as Sam "The Man" Taylor (saxophone) and Panama Francis (drums).

Butterfield made appearances on The Nat King Cole Show, The Tony Martin Program and The Jo Stafford Show.

He died on July 11, 1961, in New York City.

Partial discography

78s Decca Records Popular series Tuxedo Junction b/w Salt Butter No. 3042A&B Feb. 21, 1940 Darn that Dream b/w Inconvenience No. 3043A&B Feb. 21, 1940 Your Feet's Too Big b/w What's Cooking No. 3209A&B May 27, 1940 The Down Home Blues b/w Nothin' to Do No. 3252A&B May 3, 1940 Boogie Woogie St. Louis Blues b/w Chocolate No. 3356A&B Aug. 9, 1940 Pushin' the Conversation Along b/w Don't Leave Me Now No. 3357A&B Aug. 9, 1940 Sleepy Town Train b/w You Made Me Care No. 4360A&B July 23, 1942 Birmingham Special b/w Jumpin' in the Julep Joint No. 4400A&B July 23, 1942

Sepia series Beale Street Mama b/w Whatcha Know, Joe? No. 8510 Nov. 15, 1940 Jivin' the Missouri Waltz b/w Stayin' at Home No. 8524A&B Nov. 15, 1940 Paradiddle Joe b/w All the Time No. 8539 Feb. 28, 1941 Blackberry Jam b/w Monday's Wash No. 8543 Feb. 28, 1941 Because of You b/w You Might have Belonged to Another No. 8551A&B Apr. 29, 1941 I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem b/w Jelly, Jelly No. 8552 Apr. 29, 1941 Foo-Gee b/w You Should Live So Long No. 8569A&B July 24, 1941 You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now b/w Cheatin' on Me No. 8576A&B July 24, 1941 I was a Fool to Let You Go b/w Honey Dear No. 8588 Oct. 23, 1941 If Money Grew on Trees b/w Mama Long and Tall No. 8596 Oct. 23, 1941 The Devil Sat Down and Cried b/w Boogie De Concerto No. 8600 Jan. 13, 1942 Lovin' Man b/w Crazy Blues No. 8620 Jan. 13, 1942

Vinyl Erskine Butterfield and his Blue Boys, Tuesday at Ten. Probably recorded in 1941 by World Broadcasting, Inc., for radio broadcast, and released on vinyl in 1983 by Circle Records, No CLP-62. (Music written by Butterfield is indicated by his name in parentheses following the title.) Tuesday at Ten A Zoot Suit (Butterfield) Blackberry Jam (Butterfield) Something's Bound to Happen Lighthouse (Butterfield) Monday's Wash (Butterfield) J.P. Dooley, III The Boogie Beat'll Get You Flying Home You Should Live So Long 1944-1956/Part-Time Boogie. Eight titles recorded at WOR Studios, New York, on August 17, 1944, and 10 titles recorded at Mastertone Studios, New York, on June 13, 1956, but released in 1957. Harlequin Records, 1986, No. HQ 2050. All are original Butterfield compositions. (1944) Lighthouse Part Time Boogie Saturday Night Twist Piano Cocktail Boogie Woogie Barcarolle Fantasy in Blue Six-Thirty Express Dream Time

(1956) Blackberry Jam Light-House Part-Time Boogie Piano Cocktail Saturday Nite Twist Chocolate Monday's Wash (Butterfield's theme song on WOR radio) Six-Thirty Express Piano Time Movin' Along