List of Paul Butterfield Blues Band members
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was an American blues rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in the summer of 1963, the group originally featured eponymous vocalist and harmonicist Paul Butterfield, guitarist Elvin Bishop, bassist Jerome Arnold and drummer Sam Lay.[1] The band was signed by Elektra Records in 1964, with one of the label's house producers, Paul A. Rothchild, convincing Butterfield to add Mike Bloomfield as a second guitarist around the same time.[2][3] The group recorded its planned debut album before the end of the year, although it was scrapped and remained unavailable until it was released as The Original Lost Elektra Sessions in 1995.[4] Shortly after performing at the Newport Folk Festival in July 1965, the band expanded to a six-piece with the addition of keyboardist Mark Naftalin, who had performed with them at the show.[2][3]
With its new lineup in place, Butterfield and his band released its self-titled debut album in October 1965.[5] Shortly after its release, however, Lay was hospitalised after contracting pleural effusion; he was replaced for one show by Billy Warren, who was then dismissed in favor of Billy Davenport, who joined in late December.[6] The group recorded and released its second album East-West in 1966.[7] In February 1967, Bloomfield left the Butterfield Blues Band and moved to San Francisco, California to form a new band called the Electric Flag.[8] By the time the group performed at the Monterey Pop Festival, Arnold had been replaced by Charley "Bugsy" Maugh, and the group had expanded with the addition of saxophonists Gene Dinwiddie, David Sanborn and trumpeter Keith Johnson.[9] Davenport retired shortly thereafter and was replaced by Phillip Wilson.[10]
The eight-piece lineup released The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw in 1967 and In My Own Dream in 1968.[5] Bishop and Naftalin left shortly after the release of the latter, with Howard "Buzz" Feiten brought in as their replacement.[11] Early the next year, Maugh made way for Rod Hicks and Steve Madaio joined as a second trumpeter.[12] By the summer, the group had also added keyboardist Ted Harris and third saxophonist Trevor Lawrence.[3] After the release of Keep On Moving, Feiten and Wilson were replaced by Ralph Wash and George Davidson, respectively, while Johnson also left.[13][14] Late the following year, Harris left the band and Dennis Whitted took over from Davidson on drums.[15] Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' was released in 1971, after which the group disbanded.[5] Butterfield died in May 1987 due to an accidental drug overdose.[16]
Members[]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Butterfield | 1963–1971 (died in 1987) |
|
all Paul Butterfield Blues Band releases | |
| Elvin Bishop | 1963–1968 |
|
all Paul Butterfield Blues Band releases from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) to In My Own Dream (1968), and from The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) onwards | |
| Jerome Arnold | 1963–1967 | electric bass |
| |
| Sam Lay | 1963–1965 (died in 2022) |
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| |
| Mike Bloomfield | 1964–1967 (died in 1981) |
|
| |
| Mark Naftalin | 1965–1968 |
|
all Paul Butterfield Blues Band releases from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1965) to In My Own Dream (1968), and from The Original Lost Elektra Sessions (1995) onwards | |
| Billy Warren | 1965 | drums | none – one live performance only | |
| Billy Davenport | 1965–1967 (died in 1999) |
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| "Brother" Gene Dinwiddie | 1967–1971 (died in 2002) |
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| David Sanborn | 1967–1971 |
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| Keith Johnson | 1967–1969 |
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| Charley "Bugsy" Maugh | 1967–1969 (died in 2015) |
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| Phillip Wilson | 1967–1970 (died in 1992) |
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| Howard "Buzzy" Feiten | 1968–1969 |
|
Keep On Moving (1969) | |
| Rod Hicks | 1969–1971 |
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| Steve Madaio | 1969–1971 |
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| Ted Harris | 1969–1970 (died in 2005) |
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| Trevor Lawrence | 1969–1971 |
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| Ralph Wash | 1969–1971 (died in 1996) |
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| George Davidson | 1969–1970 | drums |
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| Dennis Whitted | 1970–1971 (died in 1993) |
|
Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' (1971) |
Timeline[]
Lineups[]
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 1963 – late 1964 |
|
none |
| Late 1964 – summer 1965 |
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|
| Summer – November 1965 |
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|
| December 1965 |
|
none |
| December 1965 – February 1967 |
|
|
| February – spring 1967 |
|
|
| Spring – summer 1967 |
|
none |
| Summer 1967 – summer 1968 |
|
|
| Summer 1968 – early 1969 |
|
none |
| Early – summer 1969 |
| |
| Summer – late 1969 |
|
|
| Late 1969 – late 1970 |
|
|
| Late 1970 – late 1971 |
|
|
References[]
- ^ Rodack, Jaine. "How a Rule-Breaker Changed Harmonica Forever – The Paul Butterfield Story". Harmonica.com. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Helander, Brock (2001). The Rockin' 60s: The People Who Made the Music. New York City, New York: Schirmer Trade Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-0857128119. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c Lawrence, Wade; Parker, Scott (June 6, 2019). "50 Years of Peace & Music: 30. the Paul Butterfield Blues Band". Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Applegate, Marc (July 27, 2013). "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Impacted A Generation of Young Musicians". KUNC. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c Leggett, Steve. "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Ward, Ed; Gibbons, Billy (September 2016). Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero. Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-1613733318. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "East-West - Paul Butterfield, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Hughes, Rob (October 7, 2018). "The sensational story of Mike Bloomfield: from prodigy to tragedy". Blues. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Reney, Tom (August 2, 2017). "Paul Butterfield at Monterey Pop". New England Public Radio. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Phillip Wilson: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ "Talent On Stage: Butterfield Blues Band" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 30, no. 6. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. September 7, 1968. p. 41. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ "Butterfield Blues Bangs It Out" (PDF). Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications. May 3, 1969. p. 12. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Erlich, Nancy (November 22, 1969). "The Many Faces of Rock 'n' Roll Show Their Hands at Fillmore E." (PDF). Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications. p. 26. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Live - Paul Butterfield, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Fluckinger, Don (October 20, 2017). "Reviewed: Paul Butterfield - Live New York 1970". Rocker. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ "Musician's Death Laid to Overdose". Los Angeles Times. June 13, 1987. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- Lists of members by band
- Paul Butterfield Blues Band members