It’s Tony Butler’s birthday today.

“Tony who?”

No, not the pitcher. This Tony Butler.

You’re forgiven for not having heard of Butler if you’re not seriously into unsung musical heroes.  But that’s certainly Butler.

He’s most famous as the long-time bassist for Big Country.  Before, during and after that, he served as a session bassist, most notably in concert with longtime pal and bandmate Mark Brzezicki.

In the late seventies, he edged into the limelight as part of “On The Air”, a band with Brzezicki and Simon Townsend,  younger brother of The Who’s Pete Townsend.  From there, the Butler/Brzezicki rhythm section gigged with all manner of British heavyweights, including Simon’s Sweet Sound, the elder Townsend’s classic Empty Glass and All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, the Pretenders (with whom he recorded the hit “Back On The Chain Gang” in the wake of Pete Farndon’s death) and many more.

Bass players are, by nature, support players (leaving out the odd Geddy-Lee-like bass-playing frontman or John-Entwistle-like superstar).  And Butler was a support monster – not only as a very capable bass player, but as a seamless yet distinctive backup singer.  Listen to the greatest moments for Big Country or Simon Townsend’s first album; right behind Townsend or Stuart Adamson, singing his trademark, “loosely-tight” dropped fifth harmonies, was Butler.  Most casual music fans don’t give a second thought to backup vocals – which, in a sense, is as it should be, since great backup vocals reinforce the lead without drawing attention from it.

But think about it.  Would “In A Big Country” or “Where The Rose Is Sown” been the same had their hooklines been nothing more than Adamson’s earnest yelp?

Would  “I Am The Answer” packed the same on-the-edge thrill with just Townsend’s thin tenor?

No – the hooks – and the songs built around them – are memorable because of Tony Butler’s support; seamless and unostentatious, and yet tense and musically-inventive and unique and just-plain-thrilling.

So happy birthday, Tony Butler.  And though I’m sure you’ve heard it a zillion times, please, stay alive.