About Me

I am J. T. Butler, a singer/songwriter, and guitarist. I also play Bass and Piano. I love Jazz, Soul and Blues. If you found this page you are probably a fan of one of these styles also. I am the former Vice-President of the Kern  River Blues Society, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop. I am currently the Director of Blues Tiba (Therapy) an open jam session and musicians networking venue that includes all styles of music.  

I am the Owner/Manager of jtButler Music an independent entertainment company that specializes in Jazz, Soul and Blues and Horizon Blues Publishing.

I am also a Business Associate of The Blues Foundation and a supporter of The National Rhythm and Blues Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My family has been musicians, singers, and dancers for the last five generations.  My Mom taught us how to sing to keep us busy on trips when I was about 7 and music has been almost a daily part of my life since that time. We had a family gospel group that performed off and on for almost 20 years in the area I grew up in. I took piano lessons at 11 or 12, but only for about 3 months. I became a member of the glee club in High School and stayed with it for three years. When I was 18 and in the Air Force, a friend of mine named Joe DeLong, taught me my first guitar chords and helped me find my first guitar. After I damaged my hand at 27, I used guitar scales and chord progression exercises to restore the health of that hand (guitar therapy, …” music is a healer”). I have been in vocal groups (R& B cover groups, glee, gospel choirs), sung solos at church, in one theater production, and been a guitarist and singer for bands.

Music is a lifelong pursuit, once you start to play or sing, it becomes
a part of your daily life in one form or another from that time on.

Note: On October 14th, 2017, JT Butler won the 2017 Battle of the Blues Bands (The Road to Memphis) at the Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society (regional International Blues Challenge, in the solo/duo category.

“Memphis was a lot of fun. The music was great, the people were friendly and entertaining!”

I hope you enjoy the website.

J. T. Butler

 

J T Butler at The Crest

 

 

 

 

 

Written by J.T. Butler