Jonathan Butler

Every now and then, an artist creates a special project so rich in content, so joyous in emotion, so fresh and inspired, that it becomes almost impossible to find a title that fully embraces the range and heart of the project. Such was the challenge when the gifted singer, two-time Grammy nominated songwriter, guitarist, and producer, Jonathan Butler, delivered his latest CD to his new label, Rendezvous Entertainment.



After numerous creative meetings between artist, managers, and the label, to find just the right title to convey the essence of the music, it became evident that the challenge was so difficult because Mr. Butler is such a truly unique talent. So, the album is simply titled Jonathan, reflecting exactly what this album is: pure Jonathan Butler. And that says it all.



Jonathan is the product of South Africa. Born and raised in Cape Town, Jonathan Butler spent his youth under the shroud of apartheid, an official government policy of political, legal, and economic discrimination against non-whites. His escape was music. The youngest of twelve children, he began singing publicly in South African townships at the tender age of seven. Not even in his teens, Butlers talents as a singer and guitarist were recognized and he soon found himself touring his poverty-stricken country in a traveling variety show. Though his musical abilities would soon take him away from the world he grew up in, Jonathan would neither forget the plight of his fellow South Africans nor the man who ultimately led them to freedom. Mandela Bay, the second track on Jonathan, is a lively instrumental tribute to the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The song exudes optimism - the joy of liberation, the celebration of life. Akin to a musical sunny day, Mandela Bay will raise spirits and stamp a smile on faces, guaranteed to last at least four minutes and eleven seconds, though no one will be blamed for putting it on repeat.



Jonathan is the product of the Western World. At thirteen, Jonathans talents caught the ears and eyes of British record producer Clive Caulder. He was signed to Caulders Jive Records and as the old cliché goes, the rest is history. Jonathans first single broke down racial barriers, becoming the first song by a black artist to be played by white radio stations in South Africa. Because Jive was headquartered in England, Jonathan decided to move there to focus on his recording career. His commitment to his craft paid off with his self-titled debut album, which received a Grammy nomination for the pop hit Lies. Jonathans ability to blend his roots in African music with western pop sensibilities would be a trademark of many albums to follow, though never more refined than in his latest release. For example, the first single from Jonathan is a rendition of the folk-rock classic Fire and Rain. Butler breathes new life into this classic, infusing the vocals with intensity, as subtle as it is powerful. The musical arrangement is lively and soulful, indicative of his roots in World music. Fire and Rain is already garnering accolades from top radio programmers. Lori Lewis, program director for WSMJ in Baltimore states, It literally gave me a lump in my throat. I walked into the studio and introduced it live on air. Vocals this great are really rare.



Jonathan is the product of faith. Spanning twenty-eight years, fifteen albums and over one million records sold, Jonathan Butler the artist is undeniably one of the most successful Jazz musicians of the last quarter century. However, to Jonathan Butler the man, success is measured on a higher plane. A devoutly religious and spiritual man, Butler has devoted his life to being a better husband to his wife of twenty years, a better father to his three teenage children, and a better citizen of his homeland, South Africa.



He has released several religious-themed albums, including 2002s Surrender, which features several gospel-influenced tracks. The grooves, Butler explains, are incredibly soulful, sensual, and emotional yet the music and the message are deeply spiritual. In 2004, Butler built upon the momentum of his previous release with The Worship Project, his first true gospel record. On Jonathan, his sound drifts away from gospel, yet the source of his faith remains the same. This has been a great journey thus far, Butler states. I think that Im a more sensitive man due to the hardships and trials that Ive faced. While there have been some very dark days, Ive never lost my faith and never lost hope.



Jonathan is the product of community. As a variety show performer Jonathan traveled across South Africa witnessing first hand the horrors of apartheid. The systematic destruction of his culture by poverty and oppression left a lasting impression on the young man. On occasion he would perform at lavish concert halls for whites where he wasnt even allowed to use the bathroom, and the very next night he would perform in a decrepit township. Music had given him the means to escape from the clutches of apartheid, but time has given him perspective on his past, and brought him back to Cape Town. Butler has returned to South Africa numerous times, leading humanitarian and charity efforts for the less fortunate. Jonathan serves on the Board of Directors for the Acres of Love organization, a South African non-profit that cares for abandoned, HIV positive infants and children. He performs at numerous benefit concerts for Acres of Love, including the Third Annual Sunset Serenade. An inspiration to his people, Jonathan acknowledges the challenges of growing up in a nation still recovering from decades of subjugation, but believes in the potential of his people to overcome.



Jonathan is a product of the stage. From his early days as an entertainer in South Africa to his numerous world tours to support his records, one thing is for certain; Jonathan is meant to perform.



Despite enduring real pain, I know Im blessed. Ive got an incredible wife for twenty years now, three beautiful children, and I make a living making music. Life is sweet. -Jonathan Butler