Jonathan Butler

Jonathan Kenneth Butler was born on October 10, 1961, in Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up during the apartheid era, Butler began his musical journey at a young age, singing and playing acoustic guitar. His early career saw him touring with a stage show by the age of seven. His talent was recognized early, leading to a record deal as a teenager. In 1975, his cover of “Please Stay” by The Drifters reached number 2 in South Africa, followed by “I Love How You Love Me” reaching number 4 the same year. He then achieved further success with “I’ll Be Home” in 1976, peaking at number 16. These early successes were significant, as his first single was the first by a Black artist broadcast on white radio stations in racially segregated South Africa, earning him a Sarie Award, the South African equivalent of a Grammy.

Butler’s international breakthrough occurred in 1987 with his Grammy-nominated single “Lies,” which charted at No. 27 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and No. 18 on the UK Official Singles Chart. He also found success with his cover of the Staple Singers’ “If You’re Ready (Come Go with Me),” performed with Ruby Turner. From the mid-1980s through the 1990s, Butler maintained a dedicated following across South Africa, the United States, and Europe. In 2006, he was a featured vocalist on the album “Gospel Goes Classical,” which attained commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Gospel chart and No. 3 on the Classical Crossover chart. His single “Going Home” also received a Grammy nomination.

His career shows a consistent output of albums across different genres, including studio albums like “Jonathan” (2005) which charted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums charts, and gospel-infused projects such as “Grace and Mercy” (2012) and “Free” (2015), both reaching No. 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and charting on the Top Gospel Albums chart. Butler’s music is often noted for blending his South African heritage with his Christian faith, creating a unique sound that resonates with diverse audiences.