Hailing from the East Texas hills of Hallsville, Texas, one of the nation’s premier traditional Rhythm & Blues artist, “Louis James Butler” has truly taken his mark as one of the best of all times. With his roots grounded in the down home blues we all know and love, Louis James Butler has blossomed into one of the most versatile musicians that the world has ever seen. From Top/Pop 40 & jazz to new school R&B, Mr. Butler has entertained some of the most diverse crowds all over the United States and abroad. Louis James is a highly skilled guitarist, whose ability eludes the barrier lines drawn between various genres of music. Currently He has completed multiple CDs ranging from Contemporary R & B to Jazz and Blues. He has mastered some of the most unique techniques and patterns throughout the music spectrum, which will be exhibited on his upcoming double CD/DVD titled “Jammin’ with LOUIS JAMES BUTLER”, set to release in the last quarter. Louis James was introduced to music at the beginning of his childhood through his parents. Heavily influenced by his father’s collections of records, and his mother’s roots in the Church, Louis James began his admiration of music at an early age. The youngest of 10 children, Louis James began playing the bass guitar and gradually moved to the traditional 6-string guitar by the time he was an adolescent.
After performing with numerous small bands and groups as a teenager, Louis James decided to dedicate more time to his craft during his stint at Wiley College, where he joined the Rufus Anderson All-Stars. This ensemble allowed Mr. Butler to learn the skills and ability to lead and direct a band.
After completing college, Mr. Butler moved to Dallas, Texas where he begin to make his mark on the Blues scene with the creation of his own band: The Cool Show Band. For more than 30+ years The Cool Show Band evolved with various members during this time providing a unique sound and performance that thrilled the Dallas fan base to whom they catered. The James Butler Cool Show Band initially started with the traditional 4 member rhythm section, and has blossomed into a full scale concert band featuring a 3-member horn section, two guitarists, a bassist, keyboard player, and drummer.
Louis James has graced the stages of many of the popular Rhythm and Blues acts throughout the nation and abroad. He has opened shows for the likes of legends such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Marvin Sease, Vernon Garrett, Lucky Peterson, and most notably the late great R&B crooner Johnnie Taylor, whom Mr. Butler toured with for more than 5 years as the concert band’s rhythm and lead guitarist prior to Mr. Taylor’s inopportune death in 2000. Louis James has toured and performed in some of the most known Rhythm & Blues cities through out the United States, such as Kansas City, Kansas; Memphis & Nashville, Tennessee; Chicago Illinois; Los Angeles & Oakland California; Biloxi, Mississippi just to name a few.
After touring with the late Johnnie Taylor, Louis James embarked a journey that would lead him from simply being a lead guitarist/band director into the entertainer/artist segment of the entertainment industry. Although Mr. Butler began first writing and recording in the mid-80s, he sharpened his craft for studio engineering at a local recording facility and began volunteering his services at a local radio station: KNON 89.3. While working at the studio, Louis James began perfecting the sound and music quality of his own projects while assisting those who needed his services. His attention to detail, and computer-savvy aided his clients with the aptitude to produce a variety of projects ranging from Jazz & Gospel to Hip-Hop & Rhythm & Blues.
Early in the millennium Mr. Butler branched out even more on his own, by establishing a music production company with the assistance of his musically- inclined daughter and corporate-minded son: A. J.B. KOOL PRODUCTIONS. The facility that was created provided Louis James with the opportunity to take a more hands on approach with his music and enabled him to supply recording needs for other artists and entertainers that sought to have projects recorded. Several independent projects have been seen through completion from renowned Jazz musicians to nationally known vocalists and performers. Currently, the company has the ability to provide full-scale recording, manufacturing, and packaging capabilities thereby providing clients with all of their project needs.
Louis James Butler a.k.a. “The Child-Support Man” started at KNON
89.3 in 2002 as a board operator, and then slowly transitioned into a
radio talk personality after joining forces with one of the country’s
nationally known Rhythm & Blues Radio talk-show host: Cousin
Lenny Henderson. For more than 5 years, Mr. Butler co-hosted on
various shows while operating the stations audio and music
equipment.
Louis James Butler has performed at a mixture of venues, such as alumni reunions, weddings and concerts. Mr. Butler has exhibited his talents at corporate functions and internationally recognized organizations. Louis James has also had the opportunity to have a song retired (“HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. KING) into the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Center archives.
These accomplishments and many more are why Louis James Butler will be a force to be reckoned with the entertainment industry for years to come. All these and more will be fully displayed on the upcoming double CD/DVD to be released later this year entitled “JAMMIN’ WITH LOUIS JAMES”.
