![]() ![]() His music even provided solace to Nelson Mandela, who later met Butler and told him that listening to his music had helped him endure time in prison. Committed to conveying stirring messages of freedom and unity through his music, Jonathan became a national icon. Touring professionally by age 7, Butler’s first single, “Please Stay,” was the first by a Black artist played on white radio in segregated South Africa and won a Sarie Award (the country’s equivalent to a Grammy). From recording local hits as a teenager growing up during the apartheid of South Africa, Butler went on to become a world-renowned singer, guitarist and songwriter delivering soulful salvos of R&B, gospel, jazz and pop. In a time when artists of optimism are at a premium, Butler is a shining example of purposeful excellence. ![]() The 11 track collection, produced by Marcus Miller (Miles Davis, Luther Vandross) is Butler’s tenth for the label and his twenty-eighth release overall. March 9, 2023: Beloved singer and guitarist Jonathan Butler announces his new album, Ubuntu, available everywhere on April 28th via Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group. National Tour to Follow Including a Special Appearance at South African Freedom Day Celebration in Washington, DC Return to Roots Album Features Special Guests Including Marcus Miller, Stevie Wonder, Keb’ Mo’ & more He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his single "Going Home".Īlso in 2008, Butler guest-starred on George Duke's Album Dukey Treats, alongside the late Teena Marie on the track Sudan, talking about the disasters of Darfur.Renowned South African Musician Jonathan Butler Announces April 28th Release Date For New Work Ubuntu This recording, featuring arrangements by Panion, Tommy Stewart, Michael Loveless, and Ray Reach, rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Gospel chart, and No. 3 on the Classical Crossover chart. In 2006, Butler was a featured vocalist on the album Gospel Goes Classical, produced by University of Alabama at Birmingham music professor Henry Panion. His international breakthrough came in 1987 with his Grammy-nominated hit single, "Lies" which reached #25 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and his cover version of the Staple Singers song "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)", which he performed with Ruby Turner.īutler maintained a loyal following in the 1980s and 1990s, in South Africa, the United States and Europe. All three releases were issued by Mountain Records.īutler was signed to Jive Records in 1977, and in the early 1980s he moved to the United Kingdom, where he remained for seventeen years. Two albums were recorded with the Express personnel, and some Pacific Express songs were later released on the 1988 7th Avenue album. In 1978 he found the inspiration and encouragement to begin expressing himself as a composer and songwriter when he joined Cape Town's best known jazz/rock outfit, Pacific Express. He began touring at the age of seven when he joined a travelling stage show, and was later signed up to perform on a string of hit recordings, turning him into a local teen idol. His first single was the first by a black artist played by white radio stations in the racially segregated South Africa and earned a Sarie Award, South Africa's equivalent to the Grammy Awards. Racial segregation and poverty during Apartheid has been the subject of many of his records. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music.īorn and raised in Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa, during Apartheid, Butler started singing and playing acoustic guitar as a child. Jonathan Butler (born 10 October 1961) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. ![]()
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