Kenny Butler was born in 1957 into a family of 13, where music was an outlet of joy. His father often played music on the record player. One of his fondest memories is the family gathering in a circle and seeing who could outdance the others. He studied classical music in college and found that the classics and American music complement each other. In New York he continued with private lessons. He still sings in his church choir and does gigs in nursing homes and senior centers. He believes that the arts can help uplift humanity and bring peace and healing.