Years ago I had the honor of meeting Keith. He was an aspiring drummer playing with my friends band, Mike Blair and The Stonewalls. Watching Keith play I could tell he had the “bounce”. He played in the pocket and he looked like he felt what he was playing. Anyone who knows anything about drumming understands that that’s something that’s missing in a lot of bands today.

Keith is a hard-working musician and a humble one at that. Check out the interview and take some time to look up his recent projects and where he will be performing.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Keith Butler and I am a working drummer located in Wilmington North Carolina.

How and when did you get into drumming?

I’m not exactly sure about either of those two questions. I remember having a kiddie drum set when I was really young, but I got my first “big kid” drum set when I was about thirteen years old. For whatever reason I just like the way the drums sounded. They command so much attention in music and I’ve always had this urge to replicate that. It seems like the drums have just always been around me and I’ve always been connected to them.

What projects/bands are you currently working with?

I am a part of several groups locally. Temple 5, Mike Blair and The Stonewalls, Justin Lacey and The Swimming Machine, Onward Soldiers, Snake Malone and The Black Cat Bone, and my own group the Keith Butler Trio. I also play Benny Hill’s weekly jazz jam, as well as gigs with the Doug Irving Trio/Quartet. I play the occasional musical/theater gig too.

If you were stranded on an island and you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage.

What is your goal with drumming? Basically, What do you hope to accomplish with drumming when you look back on your life?

My goal with drumming is to learn the instrument inside and out so I can help make the most beautiful and complete music that I can. Excellence is the goal. People use music as a means of navigating life sometimes, and I want to put beautiful music out there so people can make good decisions in life. Good decisions that honor the beauty that created us all. You know

To find out more about Keith Butler and where he’s playing go follow his blog http://keithbutlerjr.tumblr.com/

music links