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BLACK MUSIC MONTH FEATURE: Jonathan Butler's spirituality permeates his music.
Plus, the South African believes Africans pursue God more than Westerners
Black Music Month is an opportune time to perpetuate the excellent musical heritage of African Americans. Born of our struggles and triumphs as a people, with gospel or spirituals as its base our music gave America its music and enriched the lives of people all over the world.
Individuals who stand in a class by themselves, tributaries to our thoughts and feelings about the art form of gospel music will be saluted this month.
Among them Gospel Maestro Richard Smallwood, Opera Singer Morris Robinson, Music Executive Miller London, Lady Tremaine Hawkins, Karen Clark Sheard of the Clark Sisters and South African born Jonathan Butler.
Each subject represents an essential attribute of Gospel music: Spirit, Message, Purpose, Power, and Influence. Their stories will read like pages from a gospel encyclopedia as each subject is a vat of gospel music history.
With his grand amalgam of musical recordings, emerging from the Motherland, internationally acclaimed Jonathan Butler represents the roots of Black music -- tribal, gospel, jazz all intertwined to make up his library of songs. For Butler, a self-taught guitar virtuoso and vocal contortionist, music is spiritual. Moaning, whaling, spouting unintelligible scat mimicked on his guitar, his music is embraced universally.
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Jonathan Butler and Andrae Crouch (photos: Mona Austin)
A "Brand New Day" for Worshippers: The Jonathan Butler Interview
Nature has a way of inspiring beauty. Jonathan Butler's "Falling in Love with Jesus" autographed by nature is beautiful.
While on a routine hike through the placid Santa Monica Mountains, he began to take in the wonder of his surroundings as he prayed. (He finds praying at home too distracting). Awed by the Creator's handy work, a reflection drizzled from his heart: Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I've ever done. As the words kept flowing, to gospel music fans perhaps the next "best thing" he did was to rush home to complete the song. It became an overnight standard from his Worship Project CD with saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
"I had no idea the song would have such an impact around the world and on my life, so I'm really, really thankful to God for touching me like that."
The God-breathed song is a hit from the Worship Project that widened his fan base beyond the world of jazz (in which he is a formidable voice) and introduced him to scores of new appreciators as a "minister of music."
He continues to share gospel music with his jazz fans during live performances on the same ticket as mega jazz acts like Dave Koz. Gospel Goes Classical a project he recorded with Juanita Bynum was a flourishing follow-up in 2006 that yielded the tenderly submissive "I Need You Lord," which also hit home with worshippers. Butler's second Maranatha! Music project, Brand New Day, released in June keeps him close to the classic styling for which he is best known.
He was born with a distinct sound and style, which was presented as a vocalist only when he began. His mastery of voice and guitar are God-given talents. "I'm not trained in music, I'm self taught. When you love music you will find a way. Guitar became that something I gravitated to later in my career." Tune in to any smooth Jazz station his music is a staple on the run down, but he is not fond of categories. He says they are too restrictive.
To appreciate Jonathan Butler's music is to understand both the squalor and peace of graffiti. His music is an extension his life now and as it was in his painful past.
As a lad he wallowed through apartheid and endured poverty. Unable to handle his fame, the renowned musician became addicted to drugs (and music spending up to 10 hours daily lost in the land of notes). Back then the artist carried a lot of resentment and didn't like church, although he was raised in a Christian home. He rejected the idea of revering a blond haired, blue-eyed God, who reminded him of their oppressors.
He is an icon, a hero of his people. Receiving his first record deal at age 12, Butler landed a hit record. He was the first Black to have his music played on South African mainstream White radio and first to be nationally televised. Nelson Mandela acknowledged Butler's music as an inspiration during his imprisonment.
Feeling empty during early part of his career, there were thoughts of suicide he confessed.
It wasn't until Butler's late teens that he began to know God for himself after receiving an invitation to a youth meeting from a fan (now his brother-in-law) persisting to lead him to Christ. That night he received Jesus Christ into his heart. Instantly, Butler remembers, the anger, spirit of suicide and depression were lifted and his life was never the same.
Destiny fulfilled, God gave the Jonathan Butler beauty for ashes and turned his mourning into dancing with a 30-year career that boasts multiple Grammy award wins, and what he counts as his major blessings: a his 24-year marriage "and 3 wonderful children." (He is sure to roar the fact that his son plays college football in Nevada.) His daughter, Jodie has inherited his vocal gifting as shown on "Mercy" performed as a duet on "Brand New Day."
The passion of his music is indicative of his belief that we must hunger and thirst after God. This excerpt taken from my interview best illustrates the spirit Jonathan Butler's music embodies:
When our conversation veers into worship he is sensitive and very concerned.
Mona Austin: What is your definition of authentic gospel music?
Jonathan Butler: As a South African, it's music that has American Heritage that has an African Root. There is a real connection to tribal music.
MA: What is your perspective on the American worship experience in comparison to South Africa?
JB: I like the though of being led by worship instead of leading worship. I think that some of us are born as songwriters. We are born as worshippers. We are born with that gift and there has to be a hunger. You have to be a worshipper to hear form the Lord that word he has to give to you. So it is one that I don't take lightly and don't think that anyone should.
MA: I've been told that the church experience in various parts of the Continent is very spirited.
JB: It is more spirited, but there's a hunger for God. People live simple lives in Africa, not complicated like here in the West. . . You will find people who have just enough to survive and they love the Lord very deeply. He's there source of survival, their source of hope. The name of Jesus is very powerful. There is a real cry there for God.
Here in America I've noticed people come to church with their cell phones and their Dolce and Gabanna or Prada ... and the Rolls Royce in the parking lot. It's hard to focus on what you're in church for. That to me is a little alarming.
MA: I think those same people would say they've been blessed by those material things by God.
JB: Well, I'm talking about worship here in the U.S. versus in the other countries and when you have nothing there is a much deeper thirst and hunger for God. A touch from God. A word from God.
I don't mind having a car or Prada shoes. The main thing is God is my all.
MA: You're saying that those material things can be distracting?
JBI think it is in many was. There ahs to be a balance.
MA: With "prosperity gospel" some people associate material things with whether or not you're truly connected to God.
JB: ... there may be some truth to that, but there may not be ... I know in African there is a deep hunger for God.
MA: How often do you visit?
JB: Not as much as I'd like to ... (He expounds on the previous question.) We have to go by what the Bible says and the Bible says 'man can not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of the Lord.' My Grammy nominations can not sustain me. My Gold records can not sustain me, but God has. We're just more hungry.
MA: Where did that hunger for God start in your own life?
JB: It starts daily.
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