About The Ralph Butler Band

After 25 years and more than 7,500 performances The Ralph Butler Band is still one of the most sought after bands in the country for venues ranging from festivals to fairs; weddings to anniversary parties; corporate functions to college campuses.

Butler, a tall, silky-voiced man is a bridge to a rich musical history that has swept younger generations into a large pool of loyal fans. Always fresh and exciting The Ralph Butler band seamlessly blends traditional Motown sound to the most popular songs of today. That explains why after a quarter century the ensemble, ranging from five to seven pieces depending upon the size and needs of the event, keeps a very full calendar and why Ralph Butler continues to be acknowledged as Public Entertainer Number One.

The Ralph Butler Band has been evolving, improving and thrilling audiences throughout the country for all of it's 25 year run. The St. Louis based ensemble has had an enormous fan base at home and has built the same relationships from San Francisco to New York.

Butler, a native of the Gateway City, began singing in grade school to impress the girls. It worked. So, he kept at it and by 1968 he found himself joining Jay Barry. Butler would expand his musical interests by working with local St. Louis club bands Pulse, F-Troop, Isaiah and Sunrise. But as Butler says, "Everyone wants to paint their own pictures, strike out on there own, see who they can be." So began the Ralph Butler Band in 1972.

Butler is the only original member of that particular grouping as the other original members have gone on to 'paint their own pictures'. That's just fine with Butler. It has given him the rare opportunity to continually add new and exciting elements to the band, keeping it fresh and popular with audiences who want to shake their stuff to the hottest contemporary pop or snuggle up and float across the dance floor on a magic carpet of music and memories fueled by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Tyrell, Martha and the Vandellas, Smoky Robinson and the Miracles, The Temps and The Tops.

Although I'm in the music business I really believe I'm in the feel good business", says Butler. Audiences surely do feel good when movin' and groovin' to sound of The Ralph Butler Band.

Today, musicians crossing three generations, including his daughter Jessica, who is following in her father's footsteps, influence The Ralph Butler Band. "New people and new energy excite me," says Butler who is happiest helping younger artists hone their craft and giving them a forum to explore their talents within a structure that encourages innovation, commitment and discipline. And does it ever show. The band is always recording and is looking forward to hitting the road on tour, again.