Don Butterfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Butterfield
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| Birth name | Don Kiethly Butterfield |
| Born | April 1, 1923 |
| Origin | Centralia, Washington, US |
| Died | November 27, 2006 (aged 83) Cedar Grove, New Jersey, US |
| Genres | Jazz, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Tuba |
| Years active | 1940s–2005 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Associated acts | Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jimmy Smith, many others |
Don Kiethly Butterfield (born April 1, 1923 – died November 27, 2006) was an American musician. He was famous for playing the tuba in both jazz and classical styles. He was known for making the tuba sound like a lead instrument, not just a background one.
Contents
About Don Butterfield
Early Life and Music
Don Butterfield started playing the tuba in high school. He actually wanted to play the trumpet. But his band teacher thought the tuba would be a better fit for him.
From 1942 to 1946, Don served in the United States Army Air Forces. After his time in the military, he went to the Juilliard School. There, he studied the tuba even more.
A Busy Musician
Don began his music career in the late 1940s. He played for big radio networks like CBS and NBC. He also performed in orchestras, including the American Symphony. He even played on albums for famous artists like Jackie Gleason. Later, he became a full-time musician at the Radio City Music Hall.
In the 1950s, Don started playing more jazz music. He played with many legendary musicians. These included Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Jimmy Smith. He even led his own music group, called a sextet, for an album in 1955. He also performed at the famous 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.
Playing for Movies and TV
In the 1970s, Don worked as a session musician. This means he was hired to play on many different recordings. He played on albums for various artists. He also played on music for television shows and film soundtracks. One famous movie he played for was The Godfather Part II.
Don's way of playing the tuba was very special. Music experts said he could play the tuba in a "florid" way. This means he played with lots of fancy notes and quick movements. He was one of the first jazz tuba players to make the instrument sound as skilled as a trumpet. He didn't just play the bass line; he made the tuba sing!
Don even showed off his unique skills on TV. On May 21, 1962, he appeared on the show I've Got a Secret. He played an 8-foot-long trumpet on the program!
Later Years
In 2005, Don Butterfield had a stroke. This made it impossible for him to play music anymore. He passed away in 2006 from an illness related to his stroke.
Notable Recordings
Don Butterfield played on many important jazz albums. Here are a few examples of the artists he recorded with:
