Pretty Tony

Real Name:Tony Butler
Profile:Tony Butler AKA Pretty Tony was an engineer/producer credited with putting Miami on the map in the eighties before Luther Campbell took over. He is also known as being a member of the group “Freestyle” Tony put the tracks together for Freestyle on every occasion but never was in the group. Tony loved the studio and was very creative, he knew the club scene well and knew what got people moving. His early fame came with a song called “Summer Delight” written by the Mills brothers Calvin & Carlton, and then a song called “Freestyle Express”. everything after that was Tony working with other studio vocalist, musicians etc. that just loved being in the studio. Debbie Deb gave Tony his first real taste of a hit with ” When I Hear Music” now I hared that song originally because I was the musician {keyboard player} and felt it was to elementary…WRONG…it worked for Tony and I give him credit for that. Of course my input on the songs from Debbie Deb to Trinere was never recognized, but they took care of me for that, by the way, my name is Kevin Foster, who was part of the second edition of Freestyle on the records and the musician for…”Fly Freestyle” “Are you Lost” and “The Party Has Just Begun” Tony is also credited a lot for working with Shannon, I’m here to tell you, that never happened, the association came from the sound he used when he did Trinere’s “All Night” hit record, yea he used that same concept when he was trying to get away from that same beat he used on all the other records. Tony gets all the credit, but had it not been for a man named Sherman Neely who put all the money into Music Specialist, you probably would have never heard of a Pretty Tony Butler. My first experience with Tony was a memorable one, I had worked in plenty of studio and was familiar with the way they operated, I walked into the engineering room with Tony behind the board and saw that every track on the MCI 24 track machine was lit up while a band was inside recording, it was a 5 piece band so I was confused on what I was looking at. I came to find out that Tony was just learning how to operate studio equipment, this should let you know how fast he learned, I was only with Music Specialists a couple of years, and he became a well known engineer/producer. You need more info on Tony Butler up till 1986 email me at kjfos@yahoo.com…Kevin Foster.
Aliases:Tony Butler (2)
Name Variations: All | Pretty Tony | "Pretty Tony" | "Pretty Tony" Butler | "Pretty" Tony | "Pretty" Tony Butler | 'Pretty' Tony | Pretty Tony Butler | T. Butler | Tony "Pretty Tony" Butler | Tony Butler | Tony Butler (Pretty Tony)
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Releases:
Computer Language ◄ (2 versions)   Music Specialists 1984
Fix It In The Mix ◄ (8 versions)   Music Specialists ... 1984
Jam The Box ◄ (4 versions)   Music Specialists ... 1984
Get Some ◄ (3 versions)   Music Specialists 1985
Will We Ever Learn? ◄ (2 versions)   Music Specialists 1985
Fix It In The Mix (CD)   Hot Associated Label 1997
Fix It In The Mix / Jam The Box (12", Comp)   Hot Classics 1997
Remixes:
All Night (Remix) (12") All Night (Remix) Jam Packed, Blackout 1985
Alone At Last ◄ (2 versions) Alone At Last (Pretty ... Pandisc 1992
Production:
Freestyle ◄ (2 versions)   Disques Vogue 1983
When I Hear Music (12")   PRT Records, Sunnyview Records 1984
All Night (Remix) (12")   Jam Packed, Blackout 1985
Don't Stop The Rock (CD, Maxi)   ZYX Records 1986
High Fashion Dance Music Vol. 3 (LP, Mixed) I'll Be All You Ever Need High Fashion Music 1986
I'll Be All You Ever Need (12")   TSR Music GmbH 1986
Twenty Four/Seven (12", Promo)   Jam Packed 1986
Power Trax (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) I'll Be All You Ever Need Power Records (7) 1987
They're Playing Our Song (12")   Jam Packed, Blackout 1987
Can't Stop The Beat ◄ (2 versions)   Pandisc 1989
It's Automatic (12", RE)   Pandisc 1989
Forever Yours (LP, Promo)   Pandisc 1990
All Night All Day (12")   Nautica Records 1991
Games / No Matter What The Weather (12") Games (LP Version) Luke Records 1991
Here It Comes (12", Promo)   Effect Records 1991
It's The Music / Come On Let's Dance ◄ (2 versions)   Luke Records 1991
Plain And Simple (12")   Pandisc 1991
U Turn Me On (12", Promo)   Nautica Records 1991
Best Of Freestyle (CD) When I Hear Music Atlantic 1992
Rockin' To The Rhythm (Remix) (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Pandisc 1992
Freestyle's Greatest Hits Volume 1 (CD) Lookout Weekend, I'll ... SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1993
Rare Preludes Volume 5 (CD, Comp) I Want You Back Unidisc 1993
Freestyle's Greatest Hits Volume 2 (CD) All Night, The Party's... SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1994
All Night / How Can We Be Wrong (12", Comp)   Jam Packed, Hot Classics 1997
Don't Stop The Rock (CD, Comp)   Jam Packed 1997
Freestyle Greatest Beats: The Complete Collection Volume 09 (CD) How Can We Be Wrong, I... Tommy Boy Music 1997
It's Automatic / Don't Stop The Rock (12", Comp)   Jam Packed, Hot Classics 1997
Lookout Weekend (CD, MiniAlbum)   Hot Associated Label 1997
Lookout Weekend / When I Hear Music (12", Comp)   Jam Packed, Hot Classics 1997
Electro-Funk Essentials (CD) When I Hear Music (12"... Hip-O Records 1999
FabricLive. 24 (CD, Comp, Mixed) When I Hear Music Fabric (London) 2005
Jon Savage Presents Dreams Come True (CD, Comp) When I Hear Music Domino Recording Company Ltd. 2008
Where Are You Now (12")   Backstage Records (2)  
Mix:
Freestyle ◄ (2 versions)   Disques Vogue 1983
It's The Music / Come On Let's Dance ◄ (2 versions)   Luke Records 1991
Rare Preludes Volume 5 (CD, Comp) I Want You Back Unidisc 1993
If You Got A Lotta Booty (Buck 'Em Down) (12")   Pandisc  
Appears On:
Freestyle ◄ (8 versions)   Music Specialists ... 1983
Summer Delight (12")   Music Specialists 1983
The Christmas Rock (12")   Music Specialists 1983
When I Hear Music (Single) ◄ (8 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1983
Are You Lost? (12")   Music Specialists 1984
Fly Freestyle (12")   Music Specialists 1984
I Know You Love Me ◄ (6 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1984
I Want You Back (12")   Prelude Records 1984
I Want You Back (12")   Prelude Records 1984
I Want You Back (12", Promo)   Prelude Records 1984
Lookout Weekend ◄ (7 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1984
The Party Has Begun ◄ (4 versions)   Music Specialists 1984
Volume 7 Program 1 (2x12") When I Hear Music (Ext... Disconet Program Service, Disconet Program Service, Disconet Program Service, Disconet Program Service 1984
When I Hear Music (7")   Jam Packed 1984
Young Ladies ◄ (3 versions)   Straight Up Records 1984
All Night ◄ (5 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1985
Can't Get Enough ◄ (4 versions)   Jam Packed 1985
Don't Stop The Rock ◄ (6 versions)   Music Specialists ... 1985
Party Has Begun / It's Automatic (12", Comp)   Jam Packed, Blackout 1985
How Can We Be Wrong ◄ (2 versions)   Jam Packed 1986
How Can We Be Wrong / Can't Get Enough (12", Single)   Jam Packed 1986
I'll Be All You Ever Need ◄ (4 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1986
It Must Be Nice ◄ (2 versions)   Jam Packed 1986
It's Automatic ◄ (4 versions)   Music Specialists 1986
Trinere (LP, Album)   Jam Packed 1986
Twenty Four/Seven / It Must Be Nice (12")   Jam Packed 1986
I'm Searchin' ◄ (2 versions)   Jam Packed 1987
They're Playing Our Song (Maxi) ◄ (3 versions)   Jam Packed ... 1987
Blackout Trax (LP, Comp)   Blackout, Power Records (7) 1988
In Your Face (Maxi) ◄ (3 versions)   Pandisc ... 1989
Freestyle (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Pandisc ... 1990
It's The Music / Come On Let's Dance ◄ (2 versions)   Luke Records 1991
Love Ta Love Ya Baby: An NMS '93 Dance Compilation (LP) Rockin To The Rhythm New Music Seminar 1993
Rare Preludes Volume 5 (CD, Comp) I Want You Back Unidisc 1993
All Night (Greatest Hits) (CD)   Hot Associated Label 1997
Love You Down / Freak It (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Columbia 1997
Soulful (CD, Album) Can I Get Your Attention J Records 2003
Digi Snacks (Album) ◄ (2 versions) Straight Up The Block Koch Records ... 2008
FabricLive.38 (CD, Comp, Mixed) When I Hear Music Fabric (London) 2008
Tracks Appear On:
Street Jams: Electric Funk Part 3 (CD) Jam The Box Rhino Entertainment Company 1994
Street Jams: Electric Funk Parts 1-4 (4xCD) Jam The Box Rhino Entertainment Company 1994
History Of Miami Bass (CD, Comp) Fix It In The Mix K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1995
Cash Box Clássicos Do Funk Volume 1 (CD, Comp) Jam The Box Kaskata's 1996
Electro Funk Volume One (CD) Jam The Box Priority Records 1996
Electro Funk Volume Two (CD, Comp, P/Mixed) Fix It In The Mix Priority Records 1996
Electro Vol. 1 (12") Jam The Box Harzfein 1996
Freestyle's Greatest Hits Volume 4 (CD, Comp) Jam The Box SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1996
Freestyle's Greatest Collection (4xCD, Comp) Jam The Box SPG Music Productions Ltd. 1997
Miami Bass Classics Vol. 4 (12", Comp) Jam The Box (Remix) Wicked Mix 1998
Straight Up Detroit Shit Volume 5 (CD, Mixed, Comp) Fix It In The Mix Electrofunk Records 1998
Clássicos Dos Bailes Vol. 4 (CD, Comp) Fix It In The Mix Spotlight Records 1999
Electro-Funk Essentials (CD) Will We Ever Learn? (1... Hip-O Records 1999
Breakdance Nation (CD) Fix It In The Mix, Jam... StreetBeat Records 2000
Trinere & Friends Greatest Hits (CD) Jam The Box, Fix It In... Pandisc 2002
Bass Busters - Freestyle Bass (CD, Comp) Jam The Box Pandisc 2003
FabricLive. 24 (Radio Mix) (CD, Promo) Fix It In The Mix Fabric (London) 2005
Unofficial Releases:
Scratch Master's Jam 5 (12", S/Sided, Mixed) Jam The Box New York Scratchmasters 1985
Space Is The Place (Cass, C-6) Fix It In The Mix DedJedi 2003
Body Rock (2xLP) Jam The Box Not On Label  
Don't Stop The Rock (12", RE)   Jam Packed / Blackout (Bootleg)  
Lookout Weekend (12", RE)   Jam Packed / Blackout (Bootleg)  
Party Has Begun / It's Automatic (12", RE)   Jam Packed / Blackout (Bootleg)  
When I Hear Music (12", RE)   Jam Packed / Blackout (Bootleg)  
User Reviews:
genet, Mar 28, 2004

Tony Butler was awfully self-deprecating when he called the B-sides of "Jam The Box" and "Fix It In The Mix" instrumentals. In fact they are radically experimental, sparse, electrifying freefalls into the echo chamber, with drum sounds occasionally rising to the surface. His basslines were like Moebius strips, in which the beginning was also the end. At the time of release, these versions were considered not merely not commercial but anti<i/> commercial.

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