Arthur Butler, known professionally as Artie Butler, was born on December 2, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. A highly respected figure in the music industry, Butler has made significant contributions as an arranger, composer, songwriter, and session musician. His career, spanning from 1957 to the present, has seen him involved in numerous hit records, earning him over 60 gold and platinum albums.

Butler's musical journey began at a young age when he learned to play instruments such as the piano, clarinet, and drums. At 13, he secured a contract with King Records after auditioning for Henry Glover. Although his early single "Lock, Stock and Barrel" was not successful, it marked the start of his long and prolific career.

In the early 1960s, Butler worked at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, where he met influential songwriters and producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He began working with them in the Brill Building, initially as a pianist and later as an arranger. Butler arranged his first hit, "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" by The Jaynetts, in 1964, and co-wrote "Down Home Girl" with Leiber, which was covered by The Rolling Stones.

His work as an arranger includes classics like The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack," The Dixie Cups' "Chapel of Love," and Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man." In 1967, Butler moved to Los Angeles, where he further expanded his career by working with A&M Records and collaborating with jazz musicians like Herbie Hancock. Notably, he suggested and arranged Louis Armstrong's iconic "What a Wonderful World."

Butler's influence extended into film and television, scoring movies such as "The Love Machine" and "What's Up Doc?" and earning Emmy nominations for his work on the CBS miniseries "Sinatra." His song "Here's to Life" became a standard, recorded by artists like Shirley Horn and Barbra Streisand.

Throughout his career, Butler has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, and Barry Manilow. His contributions to music have left an indelible mark, making him a celebrated figure in popular music history.