

"This is something I have desired throughout my life," he said. His decision to move from jazz and R&B to gospel was not made lightly. "So I think it was predestined that I do this." I'm a musician I go wherever they call."īutler has recorded more than 25 albums and, while he played primarily jazz, his album "Free," released in 2015, makes it clear that he has become more entrenched in worship music.īutler said, "Actually, I wrote some worship songs even for my earliest recordings, before I even became a Christian. "We've done quite a few gigs together, from jazz cruises to Colorado Springs. "I love Earl (Klugh) so much," said Butler. Friday found him headlining at Yoshi's, the premiere jazz club in Oakland. How could he know that, by age 12, he would be a family provider?īutler will co-headline with Earl Klugh at Saturday's closing concert at Lubbock's annual Caprock Jazz Festival. When I was little, all of the Butlers were entertainers, you know? My parents quickly got us involved in the music world." Memories of learning to play date back only to "all the times I tried to grab the guitar when my brothers were not playing it. The guitar just became a second instrument. He eventually would move to the United Kingdom with his wife, Baranese, and, 17 years later, call Los Angeles home.īutler pooh-poohs any discussion about his skills as a guitarist, saying, "I am a singer, man. Not that this meant much to a child who was "not allowed to use the rest room in the building where they gave out the awards." He was the first black recording artist whose music could be heard on segregated South Africa's white radio stations, and would shock many when he earned a Saurie Award, South Africa's equivalent of the Grammy.

He began touring and playing carnivals by age 7 and, before he became a teenager, he had attained teen idol status. yet already performing.Īnd he had a voice even white people loved.

For the latest information on Butler’s tour, please visit Courtesy of years ago, recording artist Jonathan Butler shared a shanty with 11 brothers and sisters inĬapetown, South Africa.
JONATHAN BUTLER GOSPEL FULL
With a massive tour schedule throughout the United States and internationally to support the release of this CD, Butler also gears up for a multi-city promo/media tour including stops at churches and radio stations throughout the country in the coming weeks, including leading worship at the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference in Atlanta and a performance on TBN. “I Stand On Your Word” is available now on iTunes. No matter the situation or circumstance, we need to believe that God will take care of us.” “His Word says all things are going to be good for me, so I’m standing on it. “I believe God is right here with me right now and always, and I’m standing on his Word,” explained Butler. Butler’s experience leading worship in church inspired the lyrics for the single, which he co-wrote with Kurt Lykes. The track is being met with great enthusiasm by radio around the country landing on Gospel’s New & Active radio chart this week, while pushing into the Top 30. The first single from Butler’s self-produced CD is “I Stand On Your Word,” which delivers an uplifting song with a powerful yet simple message of faith. Grace and Mercy features 11 original songs with music and lyrics penned by Butler. Songs like ‘Give it Up To God,’ ‘I Stand On Your Word,’ and ‘Who is Like the Lord’ were written from experiences that I’ve had to go through myself.” I’m hoping this album will bring hope to people. “There have been a lot of people losing their homes, their jobs, enduring the challenges that life brings. “This album really speaks about optimism, faith, belief and hope, especially in the light of what everybody has been experiencing in the last two or three years,” Butler said.
