It took shedding my skin, realigning and readjusting myself as a person, honestly looking at how I can become a better person, which affects my family. I had never really dropped my shoulders to embrace it. I need to hold onto the love surrounding me. Seeing God place me in these extraordinary places and opportunities…if I couldn’t see it, I’d really be blind and faithless. I’m living my dream and it’s amazing what God is doing-seeing all these things through tears and pain. “I’ve come to a really good place in my life even if finding my way there was tough. For the past 4 years, he has led a group of 35 guests each fall on the Jonathan Butler Safari, during which he shares his South Africa by visiting important landmarks in his life, as well as historic locales such as the prison on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was jailed. In addition to being a popular draw at headline dates, festival shows and music cruises, Butler thrives on interacting with his fans. In concert, Butler remains a captivating and powerful performer, pouring his heart into selections from his immense catalogue. Golf has become my saving grace and has given me a look inside me. I wasn’t trying to find another passion, but it actually found me. I’m so at peace and calm when I’m out there and so relaxed after playing, which I never thought would be the case since I’ve never been a sports guy. I can go out on the golf course and have ‘guy time.’ I’m completely taken over by this little white ball. “I’m not sure how golf took over, but it attached itself to me. He’s only been playing slightly more than a year, but he’s smitten and plays almost daily, often with other musicians. The music and arts programs serving South African children ages 4-17 operate with the mission statement, “Purpose kills addiction.”Īnother aspect of Butler’s “season of me” is his blossoming love affair with golf. Last fall, he launched the Jonathan Butler Foundation in his native country to fund music education programs that give children the purpose to overcome a life of drugs and poverty just as he did. And I’m grateful, but this is the season of me.”īutler is still taking care of people back home. I’ve spent my whole life taking care of people ever since I was seven. “I don’t think I’ve ever really celebrated these moments in my life. Butler’s 2004 album, Surrender, went gold in South Africa where he remains a superstar. He received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song for his R&B-pop vocal hit “Lies” and for Best Jazz Song for the instrumental “Going Home.” His genre-busting material earned songwriter’s awards and received abundant airplay in multiple radio formats: pop, urban, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and gospel. The self-titled set went gold in 1987 in the United Kingdom and in the USA. More than a decade later, Butler moved to London, England after signing with Jive Records and released his first album internationally. He made history by being the first black artist played on white South African radio while earning three gold records (“Please Stay” went double gold and “I Love How You Love Me” went gold) in 1975 as he became a teenager. I’m a proud South African and I came from nothing.”īutler began his singing career at age 7, releasing his first album in 1973 and winning the Best New Artist Grammy in South Africa the following year at age 12. “I can’t dismiss where I’ve been or where I’ve come from. “I was born poor, but richly blessed with talent and the gift to make music,” he says. The youngest of 13 children, Butler grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, ruled by Apartheid and segregation.
0 kommentar(er)
