’Yesteryear’, Gregg Butler’s debut album is a bare, skeletal and beautiful glimpse into his soul. Just one year ago, the Alabama-born acoustic-folk singer-songwriter was wearing a battle dress uniform and scrubs working as an aerospace medical...
’Yesteryear’, Gregg Butler’s debut album is a bare, skeletal and beautiful glimpse into his soul. Just one year ago, the Alabama-born acoustic-folk singer-songwriter was wearing a battle dress uniform and scrubs working as an aerospace medical technician, assisting in the successful delivery of nearly 700 infants in his 4 year career in the USAF, but always knew, instinctively, that his path would eventually lead him back to his first-love and his own ’baby’; songwriting and performing his music. " I enlisted shortly after September 11 and although a large part of my reason for doing so was patriotic, I needed the change in my life. I was a razor sharp medic. I didn’t think that the USAF would give me an opportunity to cultivate my music and still remain on active duty. In 2005, I was given that opportunity. Traveling to nearly 30 countries and performing in all 50 states with Air Force’s premier entertainment troupe, Tops in Blue, I learned a lot about life on the road and part of what it takes to make it as professional (touring) musician. " Gregg seems to be very aware of what the universal buttons are-and is not afraid to push them. " I write about what affects me, what I fear the most, what enlightens me- what deeply upsets me. As a songwriter, I pull inspiration from everywhere and everything all the time. Sometimes, I have to write so much, to get so little. Although it may take 20 songs to get the ’one’, I am restless until I do. I want to create music that does push those buttons because life affects me the same way it does everyone else. I hope the way in which I present it offers hope and inspires others, in spite of the hurt, betrayal, abuse and deep, unfulfilled longing, to keep going." "I grew up surrounded by music. My mother loved to listen to motown and the blues when I was younger. In my early teens, I would lock myself in my room and practice singing harmony to Luther Vandross albums. It wasn’t until I started playing guitar at age 14 that I got into music like Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Dave Matthews. Their music opened a whole new world of musical possibilities for me. I aspire to be an artist that is on someone else’s influence list and that I would have that sort of impact on the world."
