Mischke Butler

American singer, songwriter, vocal producer, vocal arranger

  • R&B
  • pop
  • soul
  • hip-hop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • vocal producer
  • vocal arranger
Labelsmischkemusic inc. / Windswept Music [1] / Universal Music Publishing Group [2]
Musical artist

Mischke Butler is an American singer, songwriter, vocal producer, vocal coach and vocal arranger, best known for his work with Michael Jackson, The Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Keke Palmer, and Little Mix.

Career

1990s: Early career

Butler, raised in Detroit, appeared as a singer in 1994 television film Madonna: Innocence Lost, and released his debut single "Ready Fa Luv" in 1996, nominated for Best R&B/Soul video at the Canadian Much Music Video Awards.[3][4] Butler was subsequently discovered by producer Rodney Jerkins, who would mentor him for several years.[5] Originally a member of Jerkins' "camp" of lyric and melody writers, he soon began to branch out into vocal arrangements and production.[6]

2000s: Vocal production and Michael Jackson's Invincible

One of Butler's first opportunities as a composer was to participate in the writing process of the third Spice Girls album Forever. His mentor Jerkins was commissioned to executive-produce the album, and Butler would contribute to three songs, including one that was initially chosen to be the second single, "Tell Me Why".[7] Butler's next opportunity within the Jerkins camp was to co-write and provide background vocals on "Heartbreaker", a song that made it onto Michael Jackson's tenth and final studio album Invincible.[8] Butler would also contribute to seven songs on En Vogue vocalist Rhona Bennett's eponymous debut solo album, including lead single and dance chart hit "Satisfied", and co-write "Gots ta Be", the top-20 charting second single from boyband B2K's eponymous debut album.[9][10] His next opportunities included placements on the Barbershop soundtrack, as well as co-writing "Who Will I Run To?", the second single from artist Kiley Dean's shelved album Simple Girl, and "I Like That", the #11-peaking debut single from R&B artist Houston.[11][12][13] Butler would also co-write "Anything", the UK top 25-peaking third single from 2006 Jojo album The High Road, and R&B hit "In My Bedroom" for boyband B5's second album Don't Talk, Just Listen.[14][15]

2010s: Grammy nomination and Little Mix "Wings"

"Second Chance", the title track and one of two Butler contributions to 2010 El DeBarge's album Second Chance, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song.[16] Butler also contributed to songs on Jojo's mixtape Can't Take That Away From Me.[17] He next co-wrote "Wings", the anthemic debut single of XFactor UK winners Little Mix, which would go number one in the UK and chart internationally.[18][19][20]

In 2015, Butler was spotted in the studio with Britney Spears, who was working on what would become Glory, her ninth studio album.[21][22][23] Butler was the principal vocal producer on the project eventually released in 2016, working on fourteen out of seventeen tracks of the deluxe edition.[24]

Selected songwriting, production, background vocal and arrangement credits

Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Spotify, and AllMusic.

Title Year Artist Album
"Tell Me Why" 2000 Spice Girls Forever
"Get Down with Me"
"Time Goes By"
"Get with Me" Shorty 101 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (soundtrack)
"Dame (Touch Me)" (With Jennifer Lopez) Chayanne Simplemente & J.Lo
"Heartbreaker" (Featuring Fats) 2001 Michael Jackson Invincible
"Satisfied" Rhona Bennett Rhona
"Take What Comes To You"
"The First Time"
"Last Goodbye"
"Time Will Tell"
"I Will"
"Look To The Sky"
"Imagination" Jessica Simpson Irresistible
"I Never"
"What Your Name Is" 2002 Mario Mario
"Holla Back"
"Could U Be"
"Shady Holiday" 3LW Naughty or Nice
"Gots ta Be" B2K B2K
"What's Come Over Me?" Glenn Lewis & Amel Larrieux Barbershop (soundtrack)
"Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" 2003 Blu Cantrell Bittersweet
"All About Nothing" Christina Vidal Chasing Papi: Music From The Motion Picture
"Let Your Hair Down" Dwele Subject
"Happy" (Featuring B2K) Jhené Aiko You Got Served (soundtrack)
"Down 4 U P.2" (Featuring Lil' Fizz) You Got Served (soundtrack) & My Name Is Jhene (Shelved)
"Who Will I Run To?" Kiley Dean Simple Girl
"I Like That" 2004 Houston It's Already Written & Robots (2005 soundtrack)
"Jus Anotha Shorty" O'Ryan O'Ryan
"In A Bad Way"
"Bad Situation"
"Going Out Your Way"
"45 Minutes"
"She Loves The Club"
"Shorty"
"Gone" 2005 Frankie J The One
"Ooo" Trey Songz I Gotta Make It
"Wassup" 2006 Javier Colon Left of Center
"Anything" JoJo The High Road
"Keep It Movin" (Featuring Big Meech) 2007 Keke Palmer So Uncool
"First Crush"
"In My Bedroom" B5 Don't Talk, Just Listen
"Already Gone" 2008 Girlicious Girlicious
"Inside Out" Prima J Prima J
"Space" Melody Thornton Doll Domination
"Don't Wanna Fall in Love" Kimberly Wyatt
"Played" Ashley Roberts
"Let It Go" Brit & Alex Step Up 2: The Streets (soundtrack)
"Outta Here" 2009 Esmée Denters Outta Here
"Bigger than the World"
"When I See You" 2010 El DeBarge Second Chance
"Second Chance"
"Can't Take That Away from Me" JoJo Can't Take That Away from Me
"Running on Empty"
"Top of the World" 2011 Keke Palmer Awaken
"New Boyfriend"
"Keke's Love"
"Get Out My Head"
"Addicted" Nick Carter I'm Taking Off
"Falling Down"
"I'm Taking Off"
"Make You Mine" Talay Riley Going To California (Shelved)
"Wings" 2012 Little Mix DNA
"Stain on My Heart" Stefanie Heinzmann Stefanie Heinzmann
"Second Time Around"
"Ain't No Way"
"Make Me" (Featuring G-Eazy) 2016 Britney Spears Glory
"Private Show"
"Clumsy"
"Slumber Party"
"Company" Tinashe Nightride
"Heartless" Keke Palmer Waited To Exhale
"Getting to Me" 2022 Orianthi Rock Candy
"The Beautiful Unknown" Matt Goss The Beautiful Unknown

Album Vocal production and arrangement credits

Album Year Artist
Fight the Feeling 2002 Luis Fonsi
Mario Mario
It's Already Written 2004 Houston
O'Ryan O'Ryan
2U 2006 Keshia Chanté
Second Chance 2010 El DeBarge
Glory 2016 Britney Spears

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 Madonna: Innocence Lost Doo-wop Singer TV Movie [3]
2015 Jem and the Holograms Vocal Coach [25]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Ceremony Award Result Ref
1996 1996 MuchMusic Video Awards Best Soul/R&B Video (Ready Fa Luv) Nominated [4]
2010 2010 Soul Train Music Awards The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award (Second Chance) Nominated [26]
2011 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (Second Chance) Nominated [27][28]

References

  1. ^ "Windswept Steps Up New Business". Billboard. April 8, 2000. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Universal Music Publishing Group | US". Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews, 1993-1994. October 11, 1996. ISBN 978-0-8240-3797-0 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b "iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards (1996)". IMDb. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  5. ^ "Greater Detroit nabs 30 Grammy nods". Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Avid Panel and Breakout Sessions at Connect Live during Summer NAMM 2019". Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Revisiting the Spice Girls' 'Forever' (2000) | Retrospective Tribute". November 2, 2020. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Allard, François; Lecocq, Richard (October 4, 2018). Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Octopus. ISBN 9781788401234. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Reviews & Previews: New & Noteworthy - Rhona "Satisfied"". Billboard. April 21, 2001. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 (Dated April 27, 2002)". Billboard. April 27, 2002. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "'Barbershop' Soundtrack Offers Cuts From Ginuwine, Others". Billboard. August 31, 2002. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Pop Reviews - "Who Will I Run To?" (Kiley Dean)". Billboard. October 25, 2003. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Dated September 4, 2004)". Billboard. September 4, 2004. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Billboard Singles Reviews: JoJo "Anything"". Billboard. March 31, 2007. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. January 12, 2008. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Facing The Music: El DeBarge Gets Ready To Take His Second Chance". Billboard. July 3 – September 25, 2010. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Mixtape Premiere: JoJo - 'Can't Take That Away from Me'". Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Britney Spears Hits the Studio with Producer BURNS & Songwriter Mischke Butler". October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "The month of August 2012, with Jesy Little Mix • Popjustice". December 29, 2012. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Flashback 2012: Little Mix spread their Wings and fly to Number 1". Official Charts. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "Britney Spears back in studio for new album". Business Standard India. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  22. ^ "BURNS Reveals His Intention Behind Producing Britney Spears' 'Make Me'". July 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "Britney Spears is in the Studio with Burns and Mischke Butler: Meet Her Newest Album Nine Collaborators". October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "Review: Britney Spears' 'Glory' is Another Fantastic Comeback". Rolling Stone. August 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mischke Butler". TCM.
  26. ^ "Alicia Keys and Usher Lead Soul Train Awards Nominees". BET. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Mischke". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times. March 12, 2014. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2023.