Simply Six: Gene Butler

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you?

when i was a little kid in macon, georgia, i used to sneak out of the church i was attending and run down to the afro-american church three blocks away.  i'd sit outside on the steps of that church and listen to the gospel choir through the open doors.  the way those amazing voices made me feel is hard to explain.  it was like i was transported from this world and into a different world where everything was safe and all dreams were allowed and encouraged.  there was a higher power at work and i wanted to be a part of it.  and it was while sitting on those steps that i decided i wanted to be a singer. 

 

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites?

 i listen to so many different types of music that it's damn near impossible to list them all.  there is hardly any kind of music i don't give a listen.  however, some of my favorite singers are john prine, merle haggard, dwight yoakum, adele, tonny bennet, k.d. lang, bruce springstein, andrea bocelli, and the list goes on and on.  

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?

i'd have to say that one of my greatest moments was when i was in the studio doing my first album and all of a sudden i looked around and there were five musicians and two engineers all working as hard as they could on a song that i wrote.  the only words that came to mind was "holy crap!" 

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?

 it's been said that "music is the international language" and i believe that to be true.  go to a neal diamond concert or a john prine concert, look around at all the different types of people and for two hours or more there is "peace" among us.  no war, no hunger, no greed, no suffering....just the beautiful, singular language of the music.  life would be so much better if the whole world attended the same concert at the same time. 

 

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?  since i don't have a clue as to how to fix a car, build a ship, cook lobster thermidor, run a bank, or run for office, i'd have to say my career as a musician is about the only career i have a handle on. 

 

 

 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?  actually, i'd be a barbara walters type of shoe.  that way i'd get to ask the questions.