Jonathan
Butler at Vista Lounge
When
Jonathan Butler performs onstage there is magic in the air. Jonathan was
born in Athlone a township of Cape Town, South Africa. He was invited to
London by the record label Jive. "Introducing Jonathan Butler"
in 1986 was his first solo album. Jonathan never denied his South
African heritage and when he sings he prefers South African flavored
tunes. He delivers these songs with an extraordinary expressiveness
and emotion. When he sings in his native language Zulu the audience
experiences the authenticity of the culture. Jonathan doesn't just play
guitar and sing along, he lives his music. "For me, it's about
surrendering to the will of the music and just letting it flow through
me, whichever direction it may go." Miriam Makeba's "Pata,"
a major hit in South Africa in the 1960's, was revived and matured by
his incredible emotional voice.
His
most popular song is undoubtly "Sarah, Sarah" which he
performed on his show with masterly
routine.
On
his show Jonathan was joined by Kim Waters, Norman Brown and Wayman
Tisdale.
After
Jonathan Butler's show Cameron Smith, host of Smooth Jazz TV,
congratulated Jonathan on his performance and presented him a $5.000
check donated by the promoters of the cruise for his fund raising
efforts for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in South
Africa.
