 He began singing at local dances at the age of 12 and, after service in World War II, sang with several bluegrass bands and then as a solo act on numerous radio shows, including the "Mid Day Merry Go Round" on WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee.During this period he met Pearl Dee Jones, a Nashville native born September 20, 1927, whom he married in 1952.In 1961, Carl Butler recorded "Honky Tonkitis", which made it to number 25 on the country charts.