Jazz legend Jonathan Butler gets honorary doctorate: 'Not bad for a laaitie from Belgravia Estate'

Lester Kiewit speaks to renowned Cape Town born musician Jonathan Butler about being awarded an honorary doctorate by Stellenbosch University.

Last week Stellenbosch University conferred Honorary Doctorates to multiple recipients - among them renowned Cape Town born musician Jonathan Kenneth Butler.

The GRAMMY®-nominated jazz singer-songwriter and guitarist received the Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree, for his musical influence and contribution to arts and culture.

Despite living under the shadow of apartheid and raised in hardship, Butler was one of the first artists of colour whose music was played on South African radio and who appeared on national television during that time.

Butler became one of the key voices in the international arena advocating for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.

Butler had made his name in Africa and Europe (England), but it was not until 1987, when he toured as pop star Whitney Houston’s opening act, that he was noticed in the United States of America (USA), where he had released an all-instrumental album.

Butler's international success was realised with his 1987 Grammy nominated hit single, "Lies" which reached #27 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and his cover version of the Staple Singers song "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" which he performed with Ruby Turner, writes Stellenbosch University.

Butler also became the first Global Entertainment Ambassador for the Lalela Foundation which provides educational arts for at-risk youth. Through Lalela’s arts curriculum and critical messaging communities, Lalela directly serves more than 5 000 South African learners per week.

In 2013, Butler launched the 'Jonathan Butler Foundation,' which runs programmes to give disadvantaged children hope and purpose through the arts – especially through music, while giving kids a purpose to overcome a life of drugs and poverty.

Butler explains how 'honoured and very grateful' he feels about this prestigious award.

"I am extremely humbled and deeply moved by the honour... it's been the best news. I am deeply deeply moved and grateful to God for this season in my life."

- Jonathan Butler, Musician

Butler explains that he would never have imagined this feat growing up as a 'laaitie from Belgravia.'

"I come from very humble beginnings, my parents were very poor, I am the baby of 13 brothers and sisters, grew up in a sinkhok in Belgravia."

- Jonathan Butler, Musician

"I said to some friends of mine, not bad for a laaitie from Belgravia Estate who didn't go to school, who found education through music, travelling and listen to conversations by great men and women in the music industry and outside it."

- Jonathan Butler, Musician

Butler explains that he travelled from the Cape to Durban at five years old to release his first hit in 1974.

Since then, Butler became a 'child star,' carrying that stardom into legacy status as an adult whose music is celebrated locally and internationally.

Butler recalls, 'being an Afrikaans laaitie in Durban' was difficult 'so everything I learnt - even English - was through music' so to be here now with this honour is something Butler could never have imagined or asked for, he explains.

"The Butlers were born into music and it's all we've ever known as a family... I just turned 63 years old and I've been singing, travelling and making music since I was five years old, working for my parents, helping my parents raise 13 children so I cannot tell you that this is more than I could've ever imagined or asked for."

- Jonathan Butler, Musician

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the conversation.