Friday Fun (Interrupted): It’s Friday the 13th

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Friday Fun to note that… it’s Friday the 13th!

So naturally, we have to spin our traditional favorite for such occasions: Les Brown’s 1946 Columbia recording of Bobby Troup’s Triskaidekaphobia, featuring vocalist Butch Stone.

The Sax-Section Side-Character

Butch Stone is a prime example of a big‑band side character who fascinates me - the guy with a fun nickname who ambles over from the sax section to deliver a novelty or rhythm vocal. Think:

• Butch Stone with Les Brown
• Tex Beneke with Glenn Miller
• Sully Mason with Kay Kyser
• Red Ingle with Ted Weems
• Skeets Herfurt with Tommy Dorsey and Alvino Rey
• And the definitively named Saxie Dowell with Hal Kemp

Honorable mention to some guys I like but who don’t quite qualify: Tony Pastor with Artie Shaw (played sax, but regular first name) and Skinnay Ennis with Hal Kemp (great nickname, but played drums).

And let's not forget that the greatest sax/vocal doubler of all, Louis Jordan (regular name), came to prominence with Chick Webb's band!

Butch's Evolution

Butch Stone didn't just appear in 1946; he had a solid pedigree before joining Les Brown and his Band of Renown. He first recorded with Van Alexander’s band in the late 1930s. Here’s the 1939 Varsity side Hot Dog Joe:

Even at this early point, he was a force to be reckoned with!

Butch then moved to Larry Clinton’s band in 1941 and sang on several Bluebird records, including this one, That Solid Old Man (Is Here Again):

Later in 1941, Butch joined Les Brown, and he stayed for fifty years!

The Signature Showcase

His signature song with the Band of Renown was his 1944 Columbia recording of A Good Man Is Hard to Find.

That one has always fascinated me - now I'm not saying Butch is Louis Jordan, but he takes over and gives Louis a bit of a run for his money with personality to spare!

You know, this was originally just going to be a short and simple post… but as we all know, that’s not how I work. One minute it’s Friday the 13th, the next I’m ranking sax‑section novelty vocalists!

Butch is probably thinking: I don't care if Les Brown thinks my nose is big as long as I get to hang out with Doris Day!