Career[edit]

Billy Butler formed the vocal group the Enchanters while at high school. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1963, and was produced initially by Curtis Mayfield^[2] and later by Carl Davis.


On early recordings he was backed by the Chanters, a renamed version of the Enchanters; other members were Errol Batts and Jesse Tillman.^[1][2] His first and biggest hit was 1965's "I Can't Work No Longer", which reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart and #60 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] The group disbanded in 1966, and after a minor solo hit with "The Right Track" he left Okeh.^[2] "The Right Track" is placed at number 11 in the Northern Soul Top 500^[4]


He later formed a new group, Infinity, with Batts, Larry Wade and Phyllis Knox. They had three minor R&B hits: "Get on the Case" (#41 R&B, Fountain Records, 1969), "I Don't Want to Lose You" (Memphis Records, #37 R&B, 1971), and "Hung Up on You" (Pride Records, #48 R&B, 1973).^[2][5] He also wrote songs for his brother, as well as for such musicians as Major Lance and Gene Chandler.^[1]


Billy Butler died in 2015, aged 69, in his native Chicago.^[6][7]