Guitarist O’Donel ‘Butch’ Levy grew up in South Baltimore and attended the Peabody Institute. He worked with Julius Brockington’s groups (We Four Combo, the Variations) and toured throughout the east coast. While in New York Levy hooked up with Jimmy McGriff and George Benson for whom he recorded and toured. Signed to Groove Merchant record label by Sonny Lester, O’Donel insisted on using his band from Baltimore to back him on his recording sessions. Lester was impressed with the talent of the group featuring Chester Thompson (drums), Alarza Lee Collins (bass), William Thorpe (percussion), Arthur ‘Fats’ Theus (sax, flute), Nathaniel Rice, Jr. (conga), Billy Skinner (trumpet), and Charlie Covington (keyboards). This group was featured on O’D’s first album “Black Velvet” in 1971.
O’D’s groups featured many talented Baltimore area musicians in addition to those noted above including Judd Watkins (vocals, percussion), Hugh Walker (drums), Aleta Greene (vocals-see-Tugboat, Bob Brown), Gary Grainger (bass), David Smith (sax, flute), Jimmy Wilson (trumpet), Jimmy Maelen (percussion), Stafford Levy (drums), plus large horn and strings sections in a group known as the Green Machine for the 1976 LP “Windows.”
Chuck Stewart photo from the Unicorn Times
In 1974 he released the album “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky” with backing by Judd Watkins (vocals, percussion), Charles Covington (keyboards, synthesizer), and Hugh Walker (drums).
Levy’s 1977 LP “Time Has Changed” was recorded at Sheffield Studios and featured Aleta Greene (vocals), Bob Wyatt (drums), Bob Butta (keyboards -see- Sussex, Arlingtons, Exit), Marcel Turner (bass), David Smith (sax), and Jimmy Wilson (trumpet). This lineup performed at the 3rd annual End of the World concert and festival in 1977. Turner, Smith, and Wilson also had stints with the groups United Chair and Magic Force. Wyatt, Smith, and Wilson were previously with Essence.
Levy and Greene have since been featured performers at Baltimore Artscape Festivals. Greene went on to sing for the Downstairs Band. Butta later played for The Johnson-Tilley Band… Smith played for Swing Central in the ‘00s. Levy moved to Singapore in the early ‘90s. His 1998 indie CD “1/2 Unplugged” featured the S.S.M. Band and vocalist Lady Rebecca Lilly, and was recorded live at the Saxophone Restaurant & Bar in Singapore. Levy continued to perform, seen at various festivals including the Blues Fest in Jonesboro, AR, the Montreaux Jazz Festival in France, the Idyllwild Jazz Festival in California, a January 2003 Tribute to Charlie Byrd at Peabody…
O’D returned to the area in 2002 and founded Room 302 Studios where he continued his commercial studio work and recordings of musical groups. Levy performed locally at various clubs including Courtney’s Place Restaurant in Randallstown.
In addition to his solo recordings on Groove Merchant and LRC labels, Levy could be heard on Jimmy McGriff albums including “Black Pearl,” “Groove Grease,” and a 2002 CD release of a 1972 concert with McGriff “Friday the 13th Cook County Jail.” His song “New Love” is included on the 2002 CD “The Blues In… Singapore,” and his song “In Walked Amy” is included on the 2002 CD “Jazz In… Singapore.” The 1973 LP “Simba” was also released in the Quadraphonic format.
Singles by O’Donel Levy:
1971 Groove Merchant 1001 Granny
1972 Groove Merchant 1015 Baa Waa / Dawn of The New Day
1974 Groove Merchant 1027 Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
Albums by O’Donel Levy:
1971 Groove Merchant 501 Black Velvet
1972 Groove Merchant 507 Breeding of Mind
1972 Groove Merchant 518 Dawn of a New Day
1973 Groove Merchant 526 Simba
1974 Groove Merchant 535 Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky
1976 Groove Merchant 3313 Windows
1976 Groove Merchant 4408 Hands of Fire
1976 LRC 9313 Windows
1977 LRC 9319 Time Has Changed
1982 ILM 002 Through A Song
1998(CD) ILMOD 002 “½ Unplugged” (I Think)
2004(CD) In the Name of Love
Levy’s work also appears on “Funksoul Brothers,” “Superfly Soul,” “Pulp Fusion 2,” “Cool Jazz Cuts.”
