Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942 – May 4, 1987) was an American
blues harmonica player, singer and band leader. After early training as a classical flautist, he developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his native Chicago, where he met
Muddy Waters and other blues greats, who provided encouragement and opportunities for him to join in jam sessions. He soon began performing with fellow blues enthusiasts
Nick Gravenites and
Elvin Bishop.
In 1963, he formed the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, which recorded several successful albums and was popular on the late-1960s concert and festival circuit, with performances at the
Fillmore West, in San Francisco; the
Fillmore East, in New York City; the
Monterey Pop Festival; and
Woodstock. The band was known for combining electric Chicago blues with a rock urgency and for their pioneering
jazz fusion performances and recordings. After the breakup of the group in 1971, Butterfield continued to tour and record with the band Paul Butterfield's Better Days, with his mentor Muddy Waters, and with members of the
roots-rock group
the Band. While still recording and performing, Butterfield died in 1987 at age 44 of an accidental
drug overdose.
Music critics have acknowledged his development of an original approach that places him among the best-known
blues harp players. In 2006, he was inducted into the
Blues Hall of Fame. Butterfield and the early members of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band were inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Both panels noted his harmonica skills and his contributions to bringing blues music to a younger and broader audience.