Lester Butler
Lester Butler (November 12, 1959May 9, 1998) was an American blues harmonica player and singer. He achieved fame as the singer and harmonica player for the Los Angeles, California, blues rock band, the Red Devils
Lester Butler
- Name
- Lester Butler
- Born
- 12 November 1959
- Birthplace
- Virginia, U.S.
- Died
- 9 May 1998
- Place of death
- Los Angeles
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- blues
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Lester Butler (November 12, 1959May 9, 1998) was an American blues harmonica player and singer. He achieved fame as the singer and harmonica player for the Los Angeles, California, blues rock band, the Red Devils
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Lester Butler (1959–1998) was a composer, of American nationality. The composer was born in Virginia and died in Columbus. The work spans blues.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q456412 · wikipedia · Lester Butler
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Lester Butler • Born — 12 November 1959 • Birthplace — Virginia, U.S. • Died — 9 May 1998 • Place of death — Los Angeles • Instrument — Harmonica, vocals • Genre — Blues, roots rock • Occupation — Musician • Label — Def American
Biography
Biography
Butler was born in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Red Devils released one album, 1992's King King, which producer Rick Rubin released on his Def American record label. In June 1992, the Red Devils recorded 13 tracks (and numerous alternate takes) with Mick Jagger, again produced by Rubin. Though not issued at the time, one song, "Checkin' Up on My Baby", was officially released in 2007 on The Very Best of Mick Jagger. The Devils also recorded songs with Johnny Cash, which were released in 2003 on the posthumous Cash boxed set Unearthed. After the breakup of the Red Devils, Butler fronted the band, 13, releasing one self-titled album on Hightone Records in 1997. Butler achieved his greatest fame in Europe, especially the Netherlands. He died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine on May 9, 1998, in Los Angeles at the age of 38. Two friends, who were involved in his overdose, were convicted of manslaughter.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1998
Lester Butler died in 1998 at Columbus.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Virginia.
Birth place
Columbus.
Death place
Discography
• King King – The Red Devils (Def American, 1992) • Blackwater Roll (4-song EP) – The Red Devils (This Way Up/Def American, 1993) • 13 Featuring Lester Butler – 13 featuring Lester Butler (Hightone, 1997) • Live @ Tamines 1997 – Lester Butler featuring 13 (Rockbeat, 2015) Butler also recorded harmonica with several other musicians: • Billy Boy Arnold"Shake Your Hips", which appears on the album, Back Where I Belong (Alligator, 1993) • Johnny Rivers"Chicago Bound" and "Rollin' Stone", on Last Train to Memphis (Soul City, 1996 [rel. 1998]) • King Ernest"Black Bag Blues", on King of Hearts (Evidence Music, 1997) • R. L. Burnside"It's Bad You Know", on Come On In (Fat Possum, 1998) • Rancid"Intro", on Life Won't Wait (Epitaph, 1998)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Lester Butler”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q456412: Lester Butler
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ham, Char. Lester Butler Biography. AllMusic.
- 2.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Very Best of Mick Jagger Review. AllMusic.
- 3.Jurek, Thom. Johnny Cash: Unearthed Review. AllMusic.
- 4.Koda, Cub. 13 Review. AllMusic.
- 5.Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars. Chicago Review Press. 397. 2012. 978-1-61374-478-9.
- 6.Alligator Records. Back Where I Belong. Track listing. 1998.
- 7.Ham, Char. King Ernest: King of Hearts Review. AllMusic.
- 8.Fat Possum Records. Come On In. Back cover. 1998.
- 9.Epitaph Records. Life Won't Wait. Inner booklet. 1998.
References
Citations
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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