On this day (March 26) in 1942, Larry Butler was born in Pensacola, Florida. Butler’s career was long and full of highlights. He wrote several hit songs and produced classic albums. His work with the likes of Kenny Rogers, Debby Boone, and Don McLean made him the only Nashville-based producer to win the Producer of the Year Grammy Award. More importantly, his production work and songwriting helped shape the country music world for decades.
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Butler’s career began early. He performed with the Harry James Orchestra when he was only six years old. A few years later, he shared the stage with Red Foley. In his teens, he hosted a radio show, was a regular on a local TV show, and worked with multiple Florida-based bands. It was while he was a member of Jerry Woodward and the Esquires that he met Buddy Killen, who managed Tree International, a major Nashville publishing company. Killen convinced Butler to relocate from Florida to Nashville. At the age of 21, he became a resident of Music City…