Larry Butler

Larry Lee Butler was born on March 26, 1942, a Pensacola native and child musical prodigy. He played the piano at four years old, and at six years performed with the Harry James Orchestra. At nine years, he had his own show on WEAR-TV 3. As a teenager, he won a five-state talent contest in classical music and hosted his own local radio show. At age twenty-one, he was playing sessions in Nashville with George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. He later joined both Ronny and The Daytonas, and The Gentrys - probably best known for their radio hit "Keep On Dancin'", and following became Johnny Cash's in-house producer, pianist, and musical director. In 1975, he won a Grammy Award for co-writing BJ Thomas' radio hit and Song Of The Year "(Hey, Won't You Play Another) Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song". Butler co-wrote the song with Chips Moman. In 1980, Butler won a Grammy for Producer Of The Year - the only Nashville producer to win the award - for his studio work. Altogether, he earned more than one-hundred gold and platinum record awards. His closest Nashville relationship was with Kenny Rogers, and the two remained close throughout Butler's life. After Hurricane Ivan decimated Pensacola in 2004, he coaxed Rogers to Pensacola to play a benefit for Rebuild Northwest Florida. He also brought Willie Nelson to Pensacola for a benefit. Larry stayed involved with local musicians as well as stars. He helped with charities, also lending his voice to radio ads, and was helpful in the production of the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival on Perdido Key. Mr Butler died at 69 years old, on Friday Jan 20, 2012. (Special thanks to Troy Moon of the Pensacola News-Journal)