South African-born guitarist/vocalist known for his Christian-based, smooth jazz and R&B sound. Jonathan Butler - Love Songs, Candlelight and You - YouTube South African-born guitarist Jonathan Butler is a hugely popular performer known for his crossover blend of R&B, pop jazz fusion, and worship music. But fans eager to see his melodic, romantic acoustic guitar side will be pleased with the memorable pieces that dominate the set -- which compare favorably to the kind of smooth jazz tunes popularized by guitarist Peter White. CD: $18.98 MP3: $8.99. Learn More. Most of his recordings include a few light acoustic guitar instrumentals amid a gathering of more memorable vocals, but on the Jonathan collection -- his debut for Rendezvous, an indie label co-owned by saxman Dave Koz -- Butler reverses the trend, to pleasing effect. Although he was never a hardcore protest singer à la Gil Scott-Heron, Peter Tosh, or Bob Marley, he wrote some anti-apartheid songs here and there. One of his biggest releases came in 1987, when Jive released a self-titled album that contained a hit cover of the Staple Singers' "If You're Ready (Come with Me)" (which found him performing a duet with British urban contemporary singer Ruby Turner). End User Agreement. As a Christian, many of Butler's albums, like 2012's Grace and Mercy and 2015's Free, showcase his faith and love of gospel music, along with his groove-based jazz chops. ~ Alex Henderson. Butler returned in 2018 with Close to You, which found him reinterpreting classic songs by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Song for Elizabeth - Jonathan Butler; $0.99 on iTunes 6. An internationally recognized artist, he has lived in England and California, and remains a star in his native South Africa where his 2004 album, Surrender, achieved gold status. Listen to music from Jonathan Butler like Surrender, Surrender (feat. It's hardly surprising that, despite the likeable instrumentals, smooth jazz radio gravitated first to his robust cover of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," one of two songs featuring lead vocals. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Thank god for youtube. He was the youngest of about 12 children and absorbed a variety of music when he was a kid. ... BUTLER,JONATHAN. His music is often classified as R&B, jazz fusion or worship music Listen to songs by Jonathan Butler for free with Amazon Music Unlimited trial. Find Jonathan Butler song information on AllMusic. He was an admirer of South African stars like singer Miriam Makeba, but he was also hip to the American soul and jazz artists who lived thousands of miles away in the United States. For close to two decades, the vibrant South African singer/songwriter Jonathan Butler has become so well known for his impassioned vocals that it's easy to take his formidable guitar talents for granted. South African-born guitarist Jonathan Butler is a hugely popular performer known for his crossover blend of R&B, pop jazz fusion, and worship music. Jonathan Kenneth Butler (born 10 October 1961) is a South African singer-songwriter and guitarist. Don't Wait for Love (feat. Like a fool gave that away as well. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. View Jonathan Butler song lyrics by popularity along with songs featured in, albums, videos and song meanings. Instead of George Benson, picture Peabo Bryson playing like Ottmar Liebert. Jonathan Butler: R&B, Jazz Fusion, Contemporary Worship Music Vocalist, Guitarist, Musician, & Songwriter♪ ★Website: Jonathan Butler.com★ Your Amazon Music account is currently associated with a different marketplace. © 2020 Rhapsody International Inc. All rights reserved. Pop Songs; Breaking and Entering; Digital Song Sales; All Weekly Charts; YEAR-END . Jonathan Kenneth Butler (born 10 October 1961) is a South African singer-songwriter and guitarist. These songs are some of his early material that is worth the money. The following year, he was joined by bassist Marcus Miller, saxophonist Elan Trotman, and others for Living My Dream, and in 2015, he delivered the gospel-infused Free. Butler maintained a loyal following in the '80s and '90s, not only in his native South Africa, but also in the U.S. and Europe. napster.com requires JavaScript. At the time, Butler was often compared to Benson, a man who, like Butler, has been praised for both his singing and his guitar playing.