My professional career started when I was 19 in L.A & Hollywood. I joined a great band called “Reverend Boogie (or as we called it Rev. Boogie). It had some pretty famous musicians pass thru it Like guitarist Rick Vito and bassist Bob Glaub for starters. In the Eighties I was living in Texas and played with Sam Neely who at that time was on MCA Records. Sadly, Sammy died in July of 2006. I learned a lot about work ethics and being a band leader from Sam. I did a lot of session work during that period as well and I played on three LP’s for Freddy Fender (whom we also lost last year) and a number of major Spanish artists and local rock & blues bands.

Over the last 7 years I’ve been the main guitarist and harmony singer for the #1 John Lennon act “Working Class Hero”. The band features Tim Piper as John Lennon. Tim has been in numerous movies, TV shows and radio shows as John Lennon. We have played all over the United States, Canada, Great Britain and even a couple tours of India. Tim & I were featured on KPFK and KABC radio. We are the only “Tribute Act” to ever play inside on the main stage at the “Rock`n Roll Hall of Fame” in Cleveland which we did in celebration of John’s Birthday in 2001.

Besides doing shows, concerts and private functions, we have also been involved in two theatrical productions based on John Lennon. The first was a show that ran for a month with rave reviews at the “Stella Adler Theater” in Hollywood called “One Night Only”. The second is still ongoing and has been since late 2003. It’s called “A Day In His Life- The John Lennon Anthology Concert”. It is more of a real, multi-media concert than a theater-type production. We are represented by Guy Richard @ “The William Morris Agency”. We were the Headliners for Liverpool’s annual “International Beatleweek” in 2004 where our final show was in front of 350,000 fans. No trip to Liverpool would be complete without playing “The Cavern” which we did that trip. I was also the guest “News Presenter” on “BBC-TV’s News From The North”.

I have played nearly every major venue in the Los Angeles area (House of Blues, The Roxy, The Palamino, etc.) and a few legendary venues such as “Wolf Trap” in Vienna, Virginia and “The Paramount Theater” in Aurora, Il. Working Class Hero was voted #1 Tribute Act in L.A. by the readers of “The Rock City News” starting in 2001. Daily Variety said of me: “Don is able to instill a great deal of creativity into his solos while not over-powering Tim Piper’s vocals”. Backstage West Magazine said: “ The wailing guitar solos were provided by a very fluid, gutsy Don Butler on Lead Guitar”. Brian from “VoxTalks” website said: Our own Don Butler played some extraordinary guitar. His rig by the way is what you would expect God to sound like”.

Working Class Hero recorded, a yet to be released CD of Tim Piper’s originals last year with Doug Fieger (The Knack) engineering and Co-producing. Doug said it is one of the best projects he’s ever done… Look for a future release date. A couple tracks here are for your enjoyment.

Over the last few years I’ve appeared with and played with many great musicians such as Jimmy Vivino from Conan O’Brian, Coco Montoya, the Yardbirds, Gordon Waller from Peter & Gordon, Chris Montez (who toured with The Beatles in 1963), Spencer Davis, members of The Allman Bros. Band & Govt. Mule to name a few. Recently I’ve joined a Pretenders tribute act called “Tattooed Love Boys” with the amazing Susan Ball, and as well, Paul Shortino’s Rhythm Junkies. Paul was “Duke Fame” in “This is Spinal Tap” and was a member of “Quiet Riot”. The band does Sixties and Seventies “British Rock”!

I’ve also rejoined with my first band from 1971 called “Reverend Boogie” with our co-founder Stormy Rice (Stormy was with the legendary Michigan band “The Woolies”). Stormy and I are also working on an acoustic project. I contributed a track to former Journey leader Robert Fleischman’s newest CD(2007) called “When You’re Not Around”. I’m on the Editorial Board for “The Tonequest Report” magazine and I have been a contributor to Vintage Guitar magazine, co-sponsor of “The Gretsch Pages” and had a column on “The Rickenbacker Forum”. I use Gibson Guitars as well as Rickenbacker, Gretsch and Epiphone instruments and play thru Vox and Marshall amplifiers (both new and vintage of both). These are just some of the highlights friends….

I love playing music and I love to travel. Here’s a list of some of the folks I’ve played guitar with….

• Coco Montoya
• Joe Houston
• Smokey Wilson
• Gregg Allman
• Warren Hayes
• Allen Woody
• Matt Abts
• Jamio
• John Popper
• Jimmy Vivino
• Mark Karan
• Simon Phillips
• Plas Johnson
• Butch Trucks
• Joe Scherme
• Floyd Sneed
• Delaney Bramlett
• Hook Herrea

To Name a Few...

Check out the 'Working Class Hero'
website at:Working Class Hero A Day In His Life

and keep in touch by email at: info@workingclasshero.us

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