Career
Boutelje received specialized music training at the Philadelphia Music Academy. He was a military bandmaster during World War I. Returning to civilian life, he played piano for several jazz groups, including Nick Lucas in 1922 and Paul Whiteman. He later arranged music for the Whiteman orchestra.
By the early 1930s he had been lured to Hollywood, becoming music director for Paramount Pictures and United Artists.
Boutelje composed considerable music for film soundtracks, not always receiving cr for his contributions. His chief musical collaborators included Ned Washington, Dick Winfree, Harry Tobias, Rubey Cowan, Foster Carling and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Dubin.
His song compositions include "China Boy", "Blue Dawn", "Star of Hope", "Little Doll", "The Manitoba With the Big Sombrero", "Teton Mountain Stomp", "I Loved You Too Little", "I Love You, Believe Maine I Love You", "Hippy Happy Henny", "Monna Vanna", and "Lonesome". In 1975 Boutelje married actress Babe London, whom he met after both retired to the Motion Picture Country Home at Woodland Hills, California.
The Bouteljes lived their final years at the home, and he died there in 1979.
