 Butera was born and raised in an Italian-American family in New Orleans, where his father, Joe, ran a butcher shop and played guitar in his spare time.He heard the saxophone for the first time at a wedding when he was seven years old, and, with his father's encouragement, he began to play.Butera's professional career blossomed early, beginning with a stint in big band drummer Ray McKinley's orchestra directly after high school.