When I think about the Butlers, the first thought that pops up is Jonathan Butler and his hit Please Stay.
It is understandable that we think this way because Jonathan is one of our biggest musical exports.
With a Grammy under his belt and having Stevie Wonder as a fan, we Capetonians take much pride in Jonathan’s musical journey.
But the legacy of the Butlers began long before Jonathan was even born and is still being kept alive through the Butler Youth Development (BYD).
Sandra Butler is not only your quintessential lovable auntie, but she’s also an artist.
She makes it clear Jonathan is “just the baby” in their musical family, and that music has run in their veins since the beginning of time.
Her son, Michael, says they play Klops today mostly due to their grandfather, Abraham Butler, also know as Oupa Cool, who was one of the best musicians in the minstrel fraternity “en niemand kon banjo speel soes hy nie”.
Michael says today there are many self-proclaimed banjo kings, but his oupa was the original, “and even the late Taliep Petersen introduced him on shows as the King of Klopse”, he adds with a touch of pride.
Aunty Sandra says: “Ons kom van Seventh Avenue in Belgravia en daar het ons grootgeword, twaalf kinders wat almal ’n verskillende talent gehad het, so musiek is in ons bloed.
“Ons was baie trots op my pa se banjo spelery, dit was sy brood en botter want hy het siek geraak en kon nie normale werk doen in daai tyd nie. My ma was basies die broodwinner and I mean it wasn’t easy raising twelve children.
“Een van die saddest dinge is dat vier van my broers nie meer daar is nie.”
The family did a lot of shows and Sandra says: “We soema asked R1 for entry to the shows. It wasn’t about the money, it was more about having fun and the love to entertain, because that is what we Butlers were born to do, to put a smile on people’s faces.
“Daai tyd was daar mos nou nie 7de Laan nie, al het ons groot geraak in Sewende Laan,” she chuckles.
Although Jonathan is no doubt the brightest star in their constellation, it is BYD that’s striving to keep the family’s musical legacy alive at grassroots level.
BYD celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, and although their prime focus is youth development and upliftment, they also wish to be taken seriously as a Klopse team, so now they intend to up their game come Tweede Nuwe Jaar.
Michael says: “Toe ons vyf jaar terug die Klops begin het, was dit baie moeilik. Ons is mos nou nie ’n name lekkertjie Klops nie.
“This year we want to prove we are not just a fly-by-night troupe, we are still here five years later, and the Butler Youth Development is here to stay.”
BYD kicks off their 2019 season with a fundraiser in the form of a jazz evening, which features The Butler Connection band, with Sebastian Butler on lead guitar, the phenomenal Sandra Butler and the legendary Danny Butler.
Danny, or Oom Daan, is known for his roles in District Six - The Musical and Kat and the Kings and is one of my icons.
The jazz extravaganza takes place at Shawco Hall in Elsies River next to the I-Can-Centre this Saturday.
The show starts at 7pm, tickets cost only R50 and you can bring your own XYZ.
Contact Sandra Butler on 073 218 6754 or Michael Sias on 083 669 7623 for more information.
With that said, it’s important for us to support families like the Butlers because they have given so much of themselves to bring joy in times when we needed it most.
So make that call and get your tickets!