Ronnie Butler, the iconic musician, singer and recording artist known as the "Godfather of Bahamian music" has been inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame.
He was honored for the 50 years he has been entertaining fans by the Caribbean Development for the Arts, Sports and Culture Foundation which honors Caribbean nationals who have excelled at the highest level in their fields and are recognized by the public. The 12th version of the event was held on Saturday, October 25 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Butler, who is ill, was not present for the ceremony. He was represented at the event in Jamaica by Bahamian Deandrea Hamilton from Magnetic Media, a firm based in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hamilton had nominated Butler for the award. Butler was presented with the award yesterday.
"I am honored and humbled to be able to receive such an honor, being inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame," said Butler
He is the fourth Bahamian to be inducted into the Hall after Eddie Minnis (performing and recording artists category), the country's first Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling (government officials, deceased) and Sir Sidney Poitier (performing and recording artists category), Butler said he was "keeping good company" and thanked Hamilton for putting his name forward. He added that the honor is for the Bahamian people.
"All-in-all I would like to say to the Bahamian people, this one for you," said Butler, who is wheelchair-bound.
Butler who has recorded 15 albums and whose sound is a mix of humor and storytelling songs, is known for hit classics like "Burma Road", "Bahama Rock", and "Crow Calypso". His newer songs include "Sweet Emily, Look What you Do", "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" with Count Bernadino, "Bahamian Thing", "Bang Bang Lulu", "Bungy On Fire", "Married Man", "Going Back to the Island" and "Pretty Brown Eyes". His single "Married Man" was featured in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?" which was shot in The Bahamas.
During his career, when he wasn't recording as a solo artist, Butler was a part of two groups under his name. The first group was Ronnie & The Ramblers with Charlie Dean, Sidney Darling and Carl Rodgers. They became a household name for 17 years. In the 1980s he headlined the group Ronnie Butler & Fire.
"I would like to thank my God for allowing me the time on this earth and I'd like to also thank my mom who when I told her I wanted to be a musician said 'go for it' in so many words. I am so blessed."
Butler was among inductees this year that included Jamaicans Rita Marley, Beres Hammond, Bennie Man, Gem Myers, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica, Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Paul Campbell, Bill Edwards, Patsy Ricketts, Lennie Little-White, Barbara Blake-Hanna and Kahnai Condison, as well as sports personalities Grace Jackson, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn and Andrew Price. John Holt, who recently passed, was honored posthumously.
Butler has also been given the Cacique Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
He started out playing the maracas at the age of 16. He did not let his job as a construction worker get in the way of him playing music. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. he would work on construction sites, and then play music from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Butler also credits Island FM CEO Charles Carter, who is described as a culturalist, with largely being responsible for the name Ronnie Butler.
"He came to the Rum Keg Room and recorded 'Burma Road' on a two-track recorder, and that song played all day everyday for about six months before I could scrape up the money to go to Florida to record it in a studio properly," he said. That recording was done over 40 years ago.
Carter also described Butler as the voice of the 20th century and the leading voice in the second wave of Bahamian musicians as today marks the 100th anniversary of recordings being made of Bahamians singing the music of The Bahamas -- music that he said is not known to Bahamians and have not been heard by today's generation, because most of it is in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
"It's great music," said Carter. "And the best part about that music is it's a straight-line descendant to Bahamians who were here.
"The second wave after Joseph Spence and Blind Blake and George Symonette and that great wonderful crew of people and names that I could call that wouldn't be recognizable today has been led by Ronnie Butler. He is the voice of our 20th century," Carter added. "If you listen to his music you will see how we have evolved -- our manners, our standards, what we have aspired to and where we have come from, and you will also see where we can go. He [Butler] has gone world class. This man is the architect of our art and culture in this country today. He is the leader of the second wave and he has been consistent from 1958 to now."
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