Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Buttler.
Hi Joey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is actually twofold. As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed performing and entertaining. I grew up in Lebanon, Oregon and some of my earliest memories are of me going to the beauty shop with my mother and singing for all the ladies while they got their hair done. I continued singing throughout my childhood and into college, both in choirs and accompanying myself on the guitar. When I finally met some like-minded folks that enjoyed playing the same kind of rockabilly and classic country that I did, being in a band (both in Portland, Oregon and here in LA) was just natural. However, my lifelong dream was to be an actor. After obtaining a degree in theatre from the University of Oregon, I moved to Portland to pursue acting. I lived there from 1993 – 2002, working in theatre, film, tv, and commercials. Once I made the move to Los Angeles, I was blessed to find a good network of supportive actors and started working pretty quickly. I did a number of television shows – most notably the role of Mr. Stern on NIckelodeon’s “iCarly” and the polygraph examiner in F/X’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” which got my name and picture in TV Guide and was a People Pick!
My favorite role, though, may have been the evil doctor in the indie horror film, “Stripped.” As a life-long fan of monster movies, the opportunity to play the killer in one was a dream come true, believe me! During this time I was still playing music, both at church (I’m currently the English service music director at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church in La Crescenta) and in a rockabilly band, The Stardust Ramblers. In 2018, The Stardust Ramblers put out an album and went on tour. About that same time, I started to lose interest in acting. I filmed a pilot at the end of 2017 and that was the last acting thing I did. I suppose I may go back to acting someday. I don’t miss it yet, though. I’m having too much fun playing music! And in a way, it’s like theatre – we rehearse the songs, we have banter; it’s a true ensemble and we all have the same objective – to play fun music.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As most actors can tell you, you’re fortunate to book one out of every 20 auditions. I had a lot of success, but it was also a lot of work, a lot of classes, a lot of networking, and a lot of being a business person. It’s the same thing with music. There’s a lot of calling clubs, setting up gigs, trying to get your foot in the door. It’s all worth it in the end, though. We strive to put on a great show and we always feel fortunate to play in front of new crowds and make new fans.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
The two main things people tend to say about The Stardust Ramblers are 1) “You look like you’re having so much fun on stage!” and 2) “No other band sounds like you do.”
We play a unique blend of traditional country and western, rockabilly, hillbilly boogie, jump blues, and a little bit of rhythm and blues thrown in for good measure. A lot of 2 and 3 part harmonies. That’s the thing I enjoy most about this band. We blend a lot of different styles and have been able to make our own sound while keeping the integrity of the original styles.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I always try to have fun and make sure the audience is having fun, too. That’s what it’s all about. Even at church, where I also have the privilege of getting to play a number of different styles of music, we try to make it fun. Singing should be fun, even if it’s a slow song or a sad song.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thestardustramblers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_stardust_ramblers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestardustramblers
- Linkedin: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2176464/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestardustramblers9014
- Other: https://www.stlukeslacrescenta.org/
Image Credits
Billy Bennight, Delton Buttler, Didier Chevalier, Douglas Coulter, Ray Mickshaw.
