Butch Miles


Butch Miles is an American jazz drummer. He has played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra.

Career

Miles, who cites Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Jo Jones as favorite drummers, began playing snare drum at the age of nine and majored in music at West Virginia State University. After receiving his degree, he went on tour with the Iris Bell Trio. He was Mel Torme's drummer for 3 1/2 years and it was Torme and Buddy Rich who recommended Miles to Count Basie when a drummer was needed. Miles was with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1975 to 1979, returning for ten years from 1997 to 2007, and was also leader of the group Jazz Express in the 1980s and 1990s. He has performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Miles is a member of the 2011 class of inductees. He is currently a professor in the School of Music at Texas State University-San Marcos.
In March 2014 Miles was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis which has no treatment other than a lung transplant. He received a lung transplant and went into a period of recovery.

Discography

As leader

With Count Basie
With Phil Bodner
With Dick Hyman
With Flip Phillips
With Sal Salvador
With Bob Wilber
With others