Charles J. Butler was born in Brooklyn in 1958, and began his writing career at the age of eleven. He participated in the legendary downtown readings held by Emilie Glen in the 1970’s, read at the original Newyorican Poet’s Café, and was a part of a poet’s collective in Brooklyn called The Seventh Avenue Extension. This was followed by a hiatus in which he did not write. He has emerged in the last few years and has returned to the thriving New York City literary circles, where he has become a moving force on the poetry scene.
First published in Erato, Mr. Butler’s work has subsequently appeared in Abestos Poetry Journal, Stained Sheets, The Brownstone Poets Anthology 2007, The Brownstone Poets Anthology 2008, Soul Fountain, as well as online at the web site of Rogue’s Scholars. He will appear in Dinner With the Muse, and upcoming issues of Asbestos Poetry Journal. Mr. Butler has performed at venues throughout the metropolitan area, including The Park Slope Poetry Project, The Spoken Word Café, The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, The Back Fence, The Green Pavilion, Cornelia Street Café, The Newyorican Poet’s Café, Munch Café, Vox Pop, Senona’s Den, The Pine Tree Lodge, The Saturn Series at the Nightingale Lounge, The Fifth Avenue Diner, Gathering of the Tribes, The Uptown Arts Stroll 2006, The Bowery Poetry Club, The Perch Café, and ABC No Rio. In addition, he has appeared on the radio program City Watch on WBAI.
Mr. Butler can also be seen hosting the popular Brooklyn reading series, The Park Slope Poetry Project, begun by Bill Duke in the 2000’s as well as the reconstituted series Your Word Open Mic at the Brooklyn Lyceum; and as co-host at The Poetry at Ozzie’s reading series (also in Park Slope) with S. David. Mr. Butler is also the Associate Publisher of the Park Slope Poetry Project’s publication, Erato.
The poetry of Charles J. Butler has a distinct rhythm, and he counts Hank Williams, Sr. among his various influences, as well as Langston Hughes, Miguel Piñiero, and Townes van Zandt. His work is powerful and intense. He has said of poetry that, “you should do it because you love it. it should be about passion, truth, love or darkness, and it should be well-told.” Charles J. Butler is currently working on his first book of poetry to be published in the near future.
