Information/Write-up
Canadian Pianist, Arranger, and Bandleader
Bill Butler (1927 – ?) is recognized as one of Canada’s foremost pianists, equally at home in solo performance, trio settings, orchestral arrangements, and recording studios. Over a career spanning decades, he brought a distinctive blend of technical finesse, warmth, and accessibility to audiences across Canada and beyond.
Early Life and Musical Foundations
Born in Toronto, Ontario, on November 23, 1927, Butler showed precocious musical talent. He organized his first trio at the age of 13 to play at a summer resort and, while in high school, performed at Toronto’s Masonic Temple. He studied arranging and harmony at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, developing skills that would serve him throughout his career. In his early years, he played with Canadian bandleaders Ellis McLintock, Bobby Gimby, and Bert Niosi.
By the early 1950s, Butler had formed his own band and from 1952 to 1957 held a residency at Club One Two in Toronto. In 1957 he became the opening pianist and leader for the Pump Room at the Lord Simcoe Hotel — a prestigious engagement he held for years — and appeared regularly on CBC television and Toronto radio station CKFH. He became a familiar face to American audiences as well through frequent appearances on the Arthur Godfrey and Dave Garroway television programs.
Recording Debut – Lover’s Hour (1956)
Butler’s first known LP, Lover’s Hour (Decca, 1956), presented him in a set of piano solos with rhythm accompaniment. The album emphasized intimacy and romantic nuance, described in its liner notes as music “bequeathed to the young and the young at heart,” and highlighted Butler’s ability to “make the piano speak alluringly and lingeringly in the dialects understood by the heart.”
Pump Room Residency – At the Pump Room (1960)
In 1960 Columbia Records issued Bill Butler at the Pump Room, capturing his work at the Lord Simcoe Hotel. The repertoire reflected his love of show tunes, mood pieces, and ballads, and the recording helped cement his status as a Canadian lounge and easy-listening favorite.
Canadian Talent Library Recordings – Early to Mid 1960s
Butler became an important contributor to the Canadian Talent Library (CTL), a non-profit initiative dedicated to promoting Canadian artists through radio airplay. His CTL albums include:
Piano Stylings of Bill Butler (CTL 5006, c. 1962) – Smooth interpretations of popular standards.
Piano Stylings of Bill Butler Vol. 2 (CTL 5011 / CTL 1011, c. 1962) – A companion set expanding his repertoire with new arrangements.
The Piano Stylings of Bill Butler (CTL 5027 / CTL 1027, 1964) – Seasonal themes and classic melodies, arranged for piano, bass, and drums.
These albums extended Butler’s reach nationwide, airing on Canadian radio stations coast-to-coast.
Our Love Affair (1963)
In 1963, Butler recorded Our Love Affair, his first album with a large orchestra. He handled both arranging and conducting duties, presenting romantic standards alongside classical adaptations such as Chopin’s Nocturne and “Autumn Concerto.”
Portrait of a Piano: The Exciting Sound of Bill Butler (1964)
This 1964 LP paired Butler’s piano with French horns, woodwinds, and strings in fresh treatments of classical and popular works. Pieces ranged from Chopin and Tchaikovsky to “Canadian Sunset” and “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” showcasing his versatility and refined touch.
The Bill Butler Trio
While Butler was already a noted soloist, he also maintained an active career with his trio, most often featuring Wally Ewanski on bass and Mickey Shannon on drums.
Three for the Music (Columbia FS 522, ca. early 1960s) – A set of romantic standards for piano, bass, and drums, highlighting “romance spiced liberally with nostalgia.”
A Knight in King Arthur’s Court (Columbia Special Products CSP-113, ca. 1968) – A limited-edition LP blending jazz, pop, and easy listening styles, performed by Butler with Ewanski and Shannon.
Mister Tony’s Presents the Bill Butler Trio (Tonbut 72-0055, 1972) – Recorded at Mister Tony’s in Toronto, again with Ewanski (bass) and Shannon (drums). The repertoire mixed swing numbers, ballads, and bossa novas, reflecting the trio’s polished club performances.
Later Work and Legacy
By the 1970s, Butler was a fixture in Toronto’s high-end music scene, appearing regularly in clubs, concert venues, and on television. His albums — whether solo, orchestral, or trio-based — remain a document of a Canadian artist who bridged jazz, pop, and light classical traditions. From his teenage trio beginnings to his long residencies and national broadcasts, Butler left an enduring mark on Canadian easy listening and lounge music.
-Robert Williston
In his third transcription for the Canadian Talent Library, Bill Butler offers a group of seasonal songs — perfect for specific times of the year, or for that matter, just any time that calls for a good standard.
Bill is assisted by:
Hank Monas: guitar
Percy Curtis: string bass
Chris Tipoff: drums
SIDE ONE
JUNE IN JANUARY – Robin, Rainger
From the film Here is My Heart, with Bing Crosby, TV’s To Tell the Truth Kitty Carlisle, and Roland Young.
1934
I LOVE YOU – Cole Porter
A tender ballad from the Broadway production of Mexican Hayride. The cast included Bobby Clark, June Havoc, Wilbur Evans and George (“The Greek”) Givot.
1943
AUTUMN NOCTURNE – Myrow, Gannon
The hues of autumn expressed in musical tones.
1941
SPRING WILL BE A LITTLE LATE THIS YEAR – Frank Loesser
A musical prognostication from the picture Christmas Holiday, which starred Canada’s Deanne Durbin, and Gene Kelly and Richard Whorf.
1944
I’LL REMEMBER APRIL – Raye, De Paul, Johnson
The popularity of this tune out-lived the picture in which it was featured. Ride ‘Em Cowboy was the title, and the stars were Abbott and Costello, Dick Foran and Ella Fitzgerald.
1941
ONE MORNING IN MAY – Carmichael, Parish
Perhaps not quite as immortal as Carmichael’s Stardust, nevertheless an apt description of a Spring forenoon.
1933
SIDE TWO
THE GIRL THAT I MARRY – Irving Berlin
The surprise hit from Irving Berlin’s New York stage production of Annie Get Your Gun. The original cast included Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton.
1946 CAPAC
SUMMERTIME – Heyward, Gershwin
From Porgy and Bess. Anne Brown and Todd Duncan starred in the opening production.
1935
I DON’T STAND A GHOST OF A CHANCE WITH YOU – Crosby, Washington, Young
The best we could do for Hallowe’en.
1932
I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM – Irving Berlin
In his crooner days, Dick Powell sang this one in the film On the Avenue. (But was his love Alice Faye or Madeline Carroll?)
1937
VIOLETS FOR YOUR FURS – Adair, Dennis
A former member of the Tommy Dorsey band and later a star in his own right, Matt Dennis has composed several popular songs — among them Let’s Get Away from it All, Will You Still Be Mine and Everything Happens to Me.
1941
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