RIP Butch Mudbone 

Butch lived in Venice for many years and leaves behind his ex-wife Cheryl, son Chris, and many friends. In Venice, he performed solo, with his Blues band, with Uncle Bill Crawford, and with the Canaligators. Legend! Memphis Tribute: Butch Mudbone: Native Blues Legend The global community lost a beautiful soul and a great player and contributor when Beale Street legend Butch Mudbone was killed in a multi-car accident on January 2 (2023). Butch, Bear Clan, was a Sundancer for 16 years, a Road Man for the Native American Church (NAC) and leader of other ceremonies. Butch was always a rebel, fiercely opposed to war and occupation of Native Land, and marched to the beat of his own drum. When he married his wife Caroline, he already had one beautiful son, Christopher Mance and the couple later had two more children: Zyanya Hawk, and Willie EagleDancer. He also leaves three grandchildren, David, Carter, and Marilyn. Butch instilled in his children a love for their culture; and his eldest son, Chris is a proud father and the founder of Born x Raised; his daughter Zyanya is a community organizer and jingle dancer; and his youngest son Willie is an amazing athlete and jokester like his father.

Butch was an amazingly talented blues guitarist. He came to Memphis with his young family on a school bus in 1993, and played a set at Proud Mary’s that night, as part of the old Sun Studio Revue. He quickly became a popular fixture on Beale Street, leading his own bands, and working as a sideman for other Memphis Blues artists.

Butch wrote and performed true Blues music throughout the U.S. and many parts of the world. He opened shows for B.B. King, James Brown, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Jesse Ed Davis, and Professor Longhair among other global blues icons. He also played with many struggling and rising local musicians.

Last year, the Memphis Blues Society honored Butch with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.