See: My Musical Journey<\/a> for more info.<\/p>\n Anyway, let me tell you about THAT self titled album that Jonathan Butler signed for me:<\/p>\n In my misspent youth I fancied myself as a bit of a budding radio DJ and collected Long Playing records. It was always of great concern to me that South African artists didn\u2019t receive much airplay and that their records were even harder to find. I spent some time on Campus Radio \u2013 Rhodes Music Radio and Radio Uppie \u2013 and spent much time sourcing music that I thought would stand the test of time. Butler\u2019s 1985 LP was one.<\/p>\n Jonathan Butler was born in Athlone, Cape Town<\/a> in 1961 and started touring South Africa at the age of 7. In 1974, and just into his teens, Butler shot to fame by winning a Sarie Award with a song titled \u201cPlease Stay\u201d.<\/p>\n In the early 1980\u2032s Butler moved to England and finally released his first solo album, Introducing Jonathan Butler, in 1985. Butler\u2019s move to England was one more incident that completely p*ssed me off as another example of our stupid system that forced people with talent to leave South Africa and be recognised elsewhere.<\/p>\n I took solace in the fact though that now Jonathan was playing with luminaries such as Billy Ocean, Ruby Turner and South Africa\u2019s own Hugh Masekela. It never would have happened here in those times.<\/p>\n 1985 was the time of the second state of emergency, the then UPE was a hyper conservative institution (the male students had to wear ties and the females \u2018sensible\u2019 dress) and the thought of playing \u2018die duiwel se musiek\u2019 in the form of music by South African artists of colour was heavily frowned upon but I perpetuated artistic freedom by slipping many a Butler (and other) tune onto the decks giving me a smug sense of having flipped the bird to our conservative government.<\/p>\n Fast forward to last week Friday morning and all the above memories came flooding back as I placed his album on the turntable for a listen \u2013 my favourite tracks still are; If You\u2019re Ready (with Ruby Turner) and African Breeze (with Hugh Masekela).<\/p>\n Before the press conference I placed my Jonathan Butler album on the table where Jonathan would sit. Of course he wanted to know who had brought it in and it was quite a thrill to acknowledge responsibility. And then I went all groupie on him and asked him to sign it!<\/p>\n Jonathan has had a long journey and dealt with demons but still loves his music 40 odd years on and I still feel as though I helped him become that giant that he is. Thanks for the autograph, Jonathan, it really is special AND the only one I have ever collected.<\/p>\n Jonathan Butler holds his 1985 Long Playing record in his hand prior to signing the inside sleeve for me.<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/61837_Jonathan_Butler_Album.jpg\")
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![\"Jonathan](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/9879c_Jonathan_Butler_Alan_Straton_Boardwalk.jpg\")
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