- Carl Butler and Pearl
Carl (1924-1992) and Pearl (1927-1989) Butler were American
country music singers.Carl Robert Butler was born in Knoxville,
Tennessee , onJune 2 ,1924 . He grew up influenced byRoy Acuff and the old time music around his home. He began singing at local dances at the age of 12 and, after service inWorld War II , sang with several bluegrass bands and then as a solo act on numerous radio shows, including the “Mid Day Merry Go Round” on WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee. During this period he met Pearl Dee Jones, aNashville native bornSeptember 30 ,1927 , who he married in 1952.In 1961, Carl Butler recorded “Honky Tonkitis” which made it to number 25 on the country charts. The following year, the Butlers were invited to join the
Grand Ole Opry , and the exposure provided by the show helped them push “Don't Let Me Cross Over ” to number one. Their first single as a duo spent almost three months at the top of the country music charts and they remained one of country music’s most popular duos for the next 2 decades. Later chart records included “I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could”, “Too Late To Try Again”, “Loving Arms” and “I’m Hanging Up The Phone”.Carl Butler was also a gifted songwriter, penning classics including “If Teardrops Were Pennies”, a #8 hit for
Carl Smith in 1951 and a top 10 single forPorter Wagoner andDolly Parton in 1973, and “Crying My Heart Out Over You” which becameRicky Skaggs ’ first number one hit in 1981. The Butlers were also amongDolly Parton 's earliest supporters, whom they had worked with in Knoxville in the 50’s, and helped to get her established in Nashville in the early 60’s.The Butlers continued to record throughout the 70’s but essentially retired to their ranch, “Crossover Acres”, near
Franklin, Tennessee , in the early 80’s. They made occasional guest appearances on the Opry until Pearl Butler passed away at the age of 61 onMarch 3 ,1989 . Carl made an unsuccessful attempt at a comeback after her death and died of a heart attack onSeptember 4 ,1992 .Discography
* 1963: "Don't Let Me Cross Over"
* 1964: "Loving Arms"
* 1965: "Old And The New"
* 1966: "The Great Carl Butler Sings"
* 1967: "Avenue Of Prayer"
* 1968: "Our Country World"
* 1968: "Honky Tonkin"'
* 1970: "Greatest Hits"
* 1972: "Temptation Keeps Twisting Her Arm"
* 1979: "Early Classics"
* 1980: "Country We Love"
* 1980: "Honky Tonkitis"
* 1993: "Crying My Heart Out Over You"
* 2004: "A Blue Million Tears"
* 2006: "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could"External links
* [http://flickr.com/photos/83022989@N00/ Hundreds of photos of Carl Butler and Pearl]
* [http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=265837&CONTEXT=cat&cat=10121/ Birthplace of Country Music Alliance]
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