Wild Child Butler Passes Away

Contact: Catherine Carpentieri
631-754-8725

Legendary Bluesman George "Wild Child" Butler died Tuesday, March 1 in a Windsor, Ontario hospital. He was 68. No official cause of death has been released.

Wild Child was born in Autaugaville, Alabama on October 1, 1936 and made a name for himself the late 1950s when he took his unique harmonica sound and singing from rural Alabama juke joints to the clubs of Chicago. Willie Dixon was so impressed with Wild Child Butler that he produced 21 cuts for Jewel Records from 1966-1968. Wild Child's recording debut came on the Sharp label in 1964. He later had releases on Mercury, TK Records, Charly, Rooster Blues, M.C. Records, Bullseye Blues and APO Records. His final record, "Sho' 'Nuff" was released in 2001 on APO.

Mark Carpentieri, President of M.C. Records recalled Wild Child fondly, "I'll never forget staying at his house in 1998. He cooked me big platters of fried chicken and ribs and made me feel so welcome. Elaine and George were just two fantastic people. We reissued "Lickin' Gravy" in 1998 and I put together two east coast tours for him as well as playing drums. We played on the syndicated radio program The World Café. Wild Child also plays on two cuts on Big Jack Johnson's "Roots Stew." George loved playing his great originals and always rehearsed, so his sound was right on. This is a truly a sad day in the blues."

Wild Child's performance resume includes tours with Jimmy Rogers, Sam Lay, Lightnin' Hopkins, Cousin Joe, and Roosevelt Sykes. He also played periodically with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmie Lee Robinson, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and many other famous Bluesmen.

George Butler came upon his nickname even before he could walk. The little boy took to harassing the women who visited his mother in their rural Alabama shack. He would crawl across the floor and pull on their skirts and legs until the women began telling Beatrice Butler that her son was "a wild child."

Wild Child was a very talented songwriter who performed and recorded almost all originals. He and APO Records were planning another recording session when he died. Wild Child had finished writing all of the songs.

APO Records contributed to the press release.