Butch Miles

Butch Miles (born Charles J. Thorton, Jr. on July 4, 1944 in Ironton, Ohio ) is an American jazz drummer. He has played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra, among others.

Miles, who cites Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Jo Jones as favorite drummers, began playing snare drum at the age of 9 and majored in music at West Virginia State University 1962–1966. After receiving his degree, he went on tour with the Iris Bell Trio. Miles was with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1975–1979 and returned for ten years from 1997–2007, and leader of the group Jazz Express in the 1980s and '90s. He has also performed at the Newport and Montreux Jazz Festivals.

Butch Miles is a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame 2011 class of inductees. He is currently a professor in the School of Music at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Selected discography

 * Straight on Till Morning (2003)
 * Cookin' (1995)
 *  Live Montreux '77 (Count Basie Big Band) (1977)