However, to Jonathan Butler, success is measured on a higher plane.Ī religious and spiritual man, Butler dedicates his life to being a devoted father and grandfather, and a caring citizen to his homeland, South Africa.Īnd in spite of all the hardships, Jonathan Butler has an air of playfulness and quiet resilience that is easily visible in his passionate performances. His commitment to his craft came to fruition with his self-titled debut album, which received a Grammy® nomination for the pop hit “Lies.” An instrumental “Going Home” earned him another Grammy® nomination and the mid-tempo ballad “Sarah, Sarah” confirmed Butler’s place in popular music. Jonathan’s first single broke down racial barriers becoming the first song by a black artist played by white radio stations in South Africa and won the South African equivalent to a Grammy®. He was signed to Caulder’s Jive Records and the rest is history. Ultimately, his ticket to a new life was music.Īt thirteen, Jonathan’s talents caught the eyes and ears of the British record producer Clive Caulder. Jonathan Butler next concert is set for July 14th, 2023 at 8:00pm. Get ready to see Jonathan Butler perform live in concert because the hit singer has 12 upcoming shows planned for 2023. On occasion he would perform at lavish concert halls for whites only, where he would not be allowed to use the bathroom, and the very next night he would perform in a dilapidated local township. Catch the musical extraordinaire in festivals like the Cincinnati Music Festival and the Riverfront Jazz Festival in Houston.
In his early teens Butler won a local talent contest, affording him the opportunity to perform with a touring musical company throughout South Africa. From then on, Jonathan’s musical gifts grew by leaps and bounds. Little did his father realize that he was giving way to a musical phenomenon. Jonathan’s story begins at a very young age when his father presented him with a homemade one-string guitar. In more ways than one, Jonathan Butler is representative of South Africa. It is for this reason Nelson Mandela credits Butler’s music as having inspired him during his imprisonment. Though his musical abilities would take him away from the world he grew up in, Jonathan would neither forget the plight of his fellow South Africans, nor the man that led them to freedom.
Born in South Africa under the shadow of apartheid and raised in poverty, Butler was the first non-white artist to be played on South African radio and appear on national television. Jonathan Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who leads a life few can imagine.
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