Carl Butler

Carl Robert Butler was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 2 1924. He grew up inluenced by Roy Acuff and the old time music around his home. He began sining at local dances at the age of 12 andafter service in World War II, sang with several Bluegrass bands and then as a solo at on numerous radio shows, including the "mid Day Merry Go Round" on WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee. During this period he met Pearl Dee Jones, a Nashville native born September 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 mosy 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 eas also a gifted songwriter, penning clasics including "If Teardrops Were Pennies", a #8 Hit for Carl Smith in 1951 and a top 10 single for Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton in 1973, and "Crying My Heart Out Over You" which became Ricky Skaggs' first number one hit in 1981. The Butlers were also among Dolly Parton's earliest supporters, whom they had worked with in Knoxville in the 50's and helped to get her establishrd 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 ubtil Pearl Butler passed away at the age of 61 on March 3, 1989. Carl made an unsuccessful attempt as a comeback after her death and died on September 4, 1992.