"The
Paul Butterfield Fund and Society" (PBFS) was recently
established by Salli Squitieri & Gabriel Butterfield-son of
Paul Butterfield, with the assistance of Dan Aykroyd and his wife
Donna Dixon-Aykroyd and the sponsorship of Fractured Atlas
(www.fracturedatlas.org) a NYC based non-profit art organization.
https://www.fracturedatlas.org
PBFS is membership supported and dedicated to the preservation and
revival of the memory, legacy and many contributions of Paul
Butterfield and to the rich traditions of the Blues styles of music
through the support of the arts and those involved with the arts. As
PBFS grows and secures a sound operational foundation for the long
stand we will strive to assist struggling artists with emergency
relief, project support and cultural enrichment, particularly those
creative endeavors with focus on projects dedicated to
underprivileged and at risk children.
http://www.geocities.com/butterfieldsociety/
Additionally, PBFS is working on a series of ongoing integrated
projects and on the development of The PBFS Educational Archival
Exhibit representing segments of Paul's life and career. Currently,
the exhibit includes memorabilia--posters, handbills, tickets, art
work etc, photographs, music, videos and personal artifacts of Paul's.
The PBFS educational Archival exhibit was unveiled as part of a
three day multi-media extravaganza on Dec 17th, 2004 at the Key West
Hard Rock Cafe on Paul's birthday--a day when radio stations
nationwide joined in memory of Paul & support of PBFS, by playing
Paul's music throughout the day.
We are presently working on our website and newsletter, continued
growth of the exhibit, membership growth and general public awareness.
We are also currently obtaining signatures on a petition for
recognition for Paul for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
** DIRECT LINK TO OUR ON-LINE PETITION IS:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/pb17d42/petition.html
PBFS seeks members, volunteers & warriors, sponsors, funding,
writers, membership incentive rewards, net-workers and..... We can be
contacted at butterfieldsociety@yahoo.com
or butterfieldsociety@hotmail.com
We have just established a brand new intimate and ever growing free
butterfieldsociety yahoo group, and it is our hope to create a warm,
welcoming, interesting and resourceful site bringing together blues
lovers & performers, artists of all walks and art supporters,
individuals & professionals in the arts industries, and a forum
for everyone to network and promote their creative endeavors as well
as meet others doing the same....
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/butterfieldsociety/
We hope that we have enticed your interest in PBFS and possible
interest in involvement with PBFS in any capacity. We would eagerly
welcome your involvement.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With warmth,
Salli Squitieri & Gabriel Butterfield
1107 Key Plaza .. 335 Key West, Florida 33040
305-304-2226
butterfieldsociety@yahoo.com
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/butterfieldsociety/
http://www.geocities.com/butterfieldsociety/
http://www.cafepress.com/pbfs
The Legendary
Blues Man Paul Butterfield was as unique and
diversified as his styles of music. Although influenced by some
specific music giants Paul developed his distinctly recognized own
unique techniques and styles that still continue influence and impact
his fans to present date and continue challenge the musicianship of
many performers. Many continue to try and duplicate his
techniques and his style continually is attempted to be replicated
and yet few come close to manifesting the sounds and passion that
passed through him.
Paul Butterfield
was far ahead of his time continually producing at times sounds that
simply were yet to be a marketable product. Paul was continually
evolving and never satisfied with remaining within the confines of
one set genre of music definitions, hence evolving from style to
style and combining these styles thus altering music as it was once
know and music history to be as we know today. Likewise, Paul was
never satisfied or content with the same instruments or even
musicians hence he brought in horn sections and the influences of
continually new musicians. Paul not only created new work
opportunities for many musicians but also took young musicians under
his wing nurturing and showcasing their talents and manifesting their
careers. The Paul
Butterfield Blues Band was one of the first integrated
bands (comprised of white and black performers) changing the course
of history for performers, music venues, and even record companies
and was a band that the blew the stage apart, had people screaming
and crying and brought the realization about that blues was not
defined by color of skin. Hence this predominantly considered black
style of music entered into households and regions of the world that
would have never listened to this music and opened up doors for
others to follow.
The Following is Taken from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Butterfield
Paul Butterfield
(December 17, 1942 - May 4, 1987) was an American blues harmonica
player and singer, and one of the earliest Caucasian exponents of the
Chicago-originated electric blues style. Paul
Butterfield, a lawyer's son, was born and grew up in
Chicago. After studying classical flute as a teen, he developed a
love for the blues harmonica.... In 1963, a watershed event in
introducing blues to white America occurred when this racially mixed
ensemble was made the house band at the Chicago blues club Big
John's. The Paul
Butterfield Blues Band was signed to Elektra
Records....
The following was Written by Salli Squitieri & Steve Arredondo:
Paul Butterfield
was a dynamic bridge between races and cultures and his impact on the
masses are so vast and so diversified, bringing forth years worth of
quotes reflecting on Paul's instrumental role in the blues or Paul's
overwhelming influences upon that individual and these dominant
documented quote sources include, but are not limited to such
prominent characters as B. B. King, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Rothchild, Bill
Graham, Dave Sanborn, Eric Clapton, Sam Lay, Mike Bloomfield, and
countless others.
There simply is not a record company around that does not recognize
the Butterfield name, particularly as Paul helped put numerous
companies on the map, nor is there a harp player in the world who
does not know who Paul Butterfield is.
The late Paul Rothchild, who brought both The Doors & Paul
Butterfield to Elektra Records in the mid 60's called
Paul Butterfield-- "A SEMINAL AMERICAN MUSICIAN WHO CHANGED THE
COURSE OF MODERN ROCK & ROLL BY FIRMLY BRINGING THE BLUES IDIOM
INTO THE WORLD OF WHITE MUSIC". Musicologist Bernie Pearl told
us "PAUL BUTTERFIELD TOOK A MUSIC THAT WAS DYING ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF CHICAGO & BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO IT".
Renowned publisher Victor Forbes tells us just exactly where Paul
took that music by reminding us of "THE NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL,
MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL, WOODSTOCK, THE LAST WALTZ, FILMORE EAST,
FILMORE WEST, WINTERLAND, & MADISON SQUARE GARDEN".
In Paul's teens he used to go down to the rough neighborhood of the
Southside of Chicago and sit in & perform with many great black
blues players like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Junior Wells.
Muddy Waters and Paul became lifelong friends and it was Paul who was
responsible for bringing Muddy to Woodstock for The Muddy Waters
Woodstock Album. Muddy and Paul additionally worked together for The
Fathers and Sons album...
Paul Butterfield
showcased a plethora of talent and he enhanced careers for many,
performing within the Folk, Blues, Rock & jazz scenes spanning
over two decades of popularity and bringing us to an increased
awareness of a Blues Rock musical revolution. And still after 19
years following his passing there still exists a global following of
those impacted and influenced by Paul's presence and unique style
with fans longing for more.
Although some of the info is not completely accurate material here
are some links to explore:
http://www.bluesaccess.com/No_27/butter.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Butterfield
http://www.amazon.com/East-West-
Paul-Butterfield-Blues- Band/dp/B000002GZ3
http://www.chromeoxide.com/butter.htm
The following Was Written by: Steve Huey, All Music Guide:
http://www.answers.com/topic/paul-butterfield
Paul Butterfield
was the first white harmonica player to develop a style original and
powerful enough to place him in the pantheon of true blues greats.
It's impossible to overestimate the importance of the doors
Butterfield opened: before he came to prominence, white American
musicians treated the blues with cautious respect, afraid of coming
off as inauthentic. Not only did Butterfield clear the way for white
musicians to build upon blues tradition (instead of merely
replicating it), but his storming sound was a major catalyst in
bringing electric Chicago blues to white audiences who'd previously
considered acoustic Delta blues the only really genuine article. His
initial recordings from the mid-'60s -- featuring the legendary,
racially integrated first edition of The
Paul Butterfield Blues Band -- were eclectic,
groundbreaking offerings that fused electric blues with rock &
roll, psychedelia, jazz, and even (on the classic East-West) Indian
classical music. As members of that band -- which included Michael
Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop -- drifted away, the overall impact of
Butterfield's music lessened, even if his amplified harp playing was
still beyond reproach.
Miscellaneous:
Butterfield's
distinctive sound was a result of his flute playing and circular
breathing and although Butterfield
was a harmonica virtuoso he was equally passionate on the flute and
piano. Record companies and management often steered him from his
longing to branch away from the stereotyping, slotting and packaging
of him as a Blues musician and solely a harp player. He was equally
discouraged from producing albums featuring him on piano, as he was
now marketed and recognized for his harp playing. Paul
Butterfield's music has withstood time and crossed the
borders of generations, as his goal was not merely aimed for being at
the top of the pop charts, but rather intended to create long
standing music inspired by the heart, from his love for music and
from the influences and authenticities of his friends and associates
such as Muddy Waters.
The Paul
Butterfield Blues Band was the first electric band
signed to folk-oriented Elektra Records. When the Elektra label
started to record electric rock music in the mid-1960s, it did so
with some baby steps. Richie Unterberger writes, "Really, it
wasn't until the first Paul
Butterfield Blues Band album (in 1965) that they did a
full-length rockin' electric platter, and even that LP was at least
as rooted in blues as rock'n'roll." Elektra had always been
producers of Acoustic and Folk Records until Paul Butterfield. As a
result of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band an historical evolution
took place within the walls of Elektra Records.
Elektra now was in a position requiring a whole new technique of
recording essential for capturing the live electric sound of The
Paul Butterfield d Blues Band and this technical
learning experience was based solely around Paul's
group requiring a process of trail and error until they could
complete a commercially satisfactory record album. And hence
Electra went electric.
In Summary:
Although Paul Butterfield
and his bands were involved with folk, Blues, Rock, Blues Rock, Jazz
and more this US '60's band that broke new ground was most associated
and known for their inventive rock/psychedelic blues style. The
Paul Butterfield Blues Band out of Chicago laid the
groundwork and was pinnacle in the Sixties Blues Revival.
Out of Paul Butterfield's
Bands emerged many of the famed names that we recognize today and
although some may have been performing prior to joining a band with Paul
Butterfield they are most associated with the Butterfield
name and their careers took up off the ground as a result of Paul
Butterfield.
Paul Butterfield's
music decades later continues to impact people on a global basis and
his legacy and contributions continue. It is our hope that through
the establishment of The
Paul Butterfield Fund and Society (PBFS) that we can
honor and continue to bring forth the much deserved recognition of Paul
Butterfield's memory, legacy & many contributions
through the support of the arts and our many ongoing charitable Paul
Butterfield Fund and Society (PBFS) endeavors and projects...
