Paul Butterfield

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul Butterfield was born in 1942 in Chicago and grew up in the Hyde Park neighbourhood. He first learned classical flute, but a knee injury and his growing love of the blues set him on a different path. He became a harmonica player and singer and found his way into the blues clubs of Chicago, where Muddy Waters encouraged him and let him sit in. With the guitarist Elvin Bishop he formed a band in 1963 with the bassist Jerome Arnold and the drummer Sam Lay, both from Howlin' Wolf's band. After a successful run of performances at the club Big John's, the guitarist Mike Bloomfield joined and the group signed with Elektra Records.

Music and breakthrough

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band released its debut album The Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1965. In 1966 came East-West, on which the band also showed jazz influences. The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw (1967) reached the highest position of any of his albums in the American chart. The band played at the Monterey Pop Festival and at Woodstock. Later he also recorded with his mentor Muddy Waters and with members of The Band. Butterfield died in 1987.

Influence

The group combined electric Chicago blues with the ferocity of rock and was one of the first racially mixed blues bands. This brought the blues to a young, white and wider audience. Butterfield is regarded as one of the best-known blues harp players. In 2006 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2015 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame followed for him and the first band members.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1972Steelyard Blues (soundtrack)
• 1976Put It in Your Ear
• 1980North South
• 1986The Legendary Paul Butterfield Rides Again