Letters from Fans
2002
 Foreword from Butch:
"Mahalo" means "thank you" in Hawaiian, but cannot adequately express my gratitude to the nice people who have taken the time to send me compliments about my music or performance. Mahalo no ("Thank you very much")!
Received: 22 November 2002 from Eugene Girardi
Dear Butch,
Please send me the following CDs of yours:
"Butch Sings Hawaiian"
"A Postcard From Paradise"
Enclosed is my check for $40. Please send me as fast as possible for a Christmas gift to my little bride.
My wife has been playing "Live At Waikiki" until my eyes are permanently crossed. I'll bet anything we've heard your CD more than you have yourself. The doctor says only your other 2 CDs will uncross my eyes. But if I overdose on those 2 CDs, I think I'll need a shrink.
In any event, Doris and I sailed on the Norwegian Star on Aug. 5 thru Aug. 11 with a couple of days at Waikiki.
Doris loved your music. She loved you. And she loved your guitar. You made her squirm. I can't understand why I didn't pull her away from your control. Night after night she sat there and squirmed.
With joking aside, we hope to see you again. TV would be nice. I'm stretching my memory. Did I see you on the Arthur Godfrey Show a gazillion years ago? I have that feeling. See how much I like Hawaiian music? The memory stuck.
Good luck with this gift God gave you,
Eugene and Doris
(Clearwater, FL)
P.S. Address the CDs to me. Doris then won't open the package.
Received: 16 September 2002 from Marti Straub
I am delighted to hear from you, I know what you mean about the "mindless masses." I, as a travel agent see it all the time and wonder why people are that way. I have always been an "independent" thinker, even as a youngster (I also was a "chatter box" which I know you don't find hard to believe).
I have thought many times of what you told me about the "rudeness" of people who come up to you and pull on your hair, grab your ring, etc. I have experienced this and am always amazed at how shallow and unthoughtful people truly are.
We had a wonderful service at my church on 9/11. Our Pastor did a wonderful job of presenting a tsteful, thoughtful program and had representatives from all branches of the military, I, of course, took advantage of the kleenex provided for all.
I am preparing, this Saturday PM, of getting my clothes together for my group of 30 who I am meeting at the airport at 6:30 AM for our flight to Seattle to hook up with the NCL ship, the sky for our Alaska cruise. Trust me, I would much rather be doing Hawaii again and enjoying "god's country". I also would so enjoy hearing you sing, you have a gift from God and it was pleasure to invest some time from my life to listen to you and to have an opportunity to talk with you.
I hope all goes well when you get off of the ship, you deserve a better group of patrons than folks "dropping" into the "nook" they had you put in. It was truly an injustice... [...]
I am happy that you will be spending time on your music, I know how much joy it gives you and the world needs more of people like you. I read your newsletters that you gave me and am so struck with your deepness and wonderful analsis of our "modern world" I am a better person for spending time with you.
[...]
Please continue to Email me my friend, when you have time and of course, put me on your Email. I would love to hear whats going on with you Butch. Good, genuine people with no "hidden agenda" are few and far between and I , quite frankly are getting too "long in the tooth" to invest my time into foolish prattling of small minded folks.
Take care of yourself, God bless and hope to see you if our paths every cross again.
Marti
(Lawrenceville, GA)
Received: 16 September 2002 from Joyce Klingender
Hello, Butch
I completely agree about the "Hawaiian" theme on the ship- it isn't there! It is a beautiful vessel and has a lot of wonderful features but I was more than disturbed to sit in an ideal spot from which to watch the approach to Maui from Fanning Island and to have rock music blaring in the lounge. I did write about it on the comment sheet but I am not sure that does any good. What a great opportunity to introduce a real Hawaiian atmosphere! There was a lot to be said about the "Independence."
Not EVERYONE goes to the sailaway party: Last February, unknown to Dora and myself, we had friends who came to watch the big 'sailaway' and to see us off. We were not there but were up listening to you, as we informed them later.
We are both looking forward to Hawaii and to our trip on the 'Star' in February. This will be entirely new for Fred. He is looking forward to meeting you. He has an extensive collection of 'good' music and has a real artistic and creative eye and works a lot with stained glass, etc.
I am so glad that you talked to the lady who plays in the symphony (who sat in front every night). I am sure that your music was a real treat to her...
Joyce
(St Catherines, ON, Canada)
Received: 7 September 2002 by Angie Silanskis & Jack Cook
Thanks for all of the lovely moments
We are sitting on our back porch here in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (drinking our gin and tonic) and playing our beautiful Butch Hawaiian (and other) music and cannot help but think of you and our wonderful cruise (terrible weather, cut short -- the boys in the boiler room were burned and had to be helicoptered off the ship, no time on Fanning Island, no time in Maui) but thanks to Butch, our trip was PERFECT. We can still play your music, shut our eyes and pretend we can see you (or almost see you around the pole) and get a warm feeling. Do you still see our friend Rob Ellis (the with the CDs)? Mahalo, for a really wonderful week (and Jack wants to know if you have finished his request list yet? With all of your many, many fans I am sure you don't remember us but we are with much Love,
Jack Cook and Angie Silanskis
(Baltimore, MD)
Received: 6 September 2002 from Peggy Jolly
Dear Butch,
I'm so sorry to hear about the theft of your equipment. Serious bummer. Do you think it was one of the crew or a passenger? I can understand your fury about it. Thieves are way low on my list of tolerance. I could probably understand stealing for survival--but that is about all. A passenger who can afford the cost of a cruise certainly can afford to buy his own equipment. I simply don't know about the crew. Maybe the video will help solve the mystery. Were you insured?
One thing you have taught me is the value of a kind word, a smile, a giving of yourself. You cannot imagine how you increased Jayme's pleasure simply by acknowledging him. And seeing you interact with him brought me happiness. I love that boy dearly; he is extraordinarily important to me. He and his brothers are the sons I never had. But he is shy, lacks confidence. To see a kindness toward him is a wonderful thing. After I took him to your first show, he didn't miss another night--whether or not I was there. And he was reacting not just to your music--which he really likes--but mainly to your presence. The feeling of importance that you gave him is something he will carry for the rest of his life. That is why I asked you for the autographed CD for him for Xmas. It will be a tangible reminder of that experience, of that feeling you gave him.
I remember how I reacted toward my own students the term that Tony, Jayme's older brother, went away to college. He went to WPI in Worcester, MA. There was only one other student from Alabama on the campus, a boy he did not know, so essentially he was alone. I had gone with him to help him move into the dorm. And when I got back to my own campus, I tried to treat my students the way I would want him to be treated. My students were also somebody's sons, somebody's nephews, somebody dearly loved. I tried to keep that in mind.
That first time I saw you, three cruises ago, I listened to your words, watched you work the room. I knew there was something special about you, something I wanted to know more about. And I knew there would be a time and place that I would learn it. A quiet man, a self-possessed man, a loner. A man who had something to teach me.
PJ
(Pinson, AL)
Received: 3 September 2002 by Marti Straub
Dear Butch
Was such a pleasure to meet you & to listen to your beautiful music. God has blessed you with not only a wonderful talent but also a good heart. My only regret is that we did not have an opportunity to talk some more.
May God bless you & your loved ones with Joy, Peace, & Love. Mahalo my friend for your friendship.
Warmly
Marti Straub
(Lawrenceville, GA)
Received: 26 August 2002 by Sandy & Keith Stuttgen
Aloha Butch, Thank You so much for sharing that beautiful picture. It is totally awesome. I wanted to ask you if you will be on the Norweigan Sky on the 23rd of Feb.? We will be on that Carribean Cruise then. It would be so wonderful to see you again & even more wonderful to hear you sing to all of us once again. Take Care & God Bless Always
Your Friends Always
Sandy & Keith Stuttgen
(Oakdale, MN)
Received: 12 August 2002 from Bruce & Peggy Lawrence
Butch:
Just saying hi. Peggy and I got back to Evergreen CO (out of Denver) yesterday and I'm back at work.
This is just to let you know (again) how much we enjoyed your performances and talking to you aboard the Norwegian Star, the best part of the cruise. As I told you I would, your web page address is now in my favorites list.
Take care and mahalo for all the good music!
Bruce E. Lawrence
(Evergreen, CO)
Received: 10 August 2002 from Dot & Marv Bartlett
Hawaiian Music
Aloha Butch,
We were on the Norwegian Star from July 14th to July 21st and enjoyed hearing your wonderful voice. We spent a week on Maui after the cruise and I listened to radio station 99.5, they played traditional Hawaiian music. Although I do not understand the language, the music is beautiful and so is the language. I bought one CD before we left Maui and enjoy listening to it. It is by Kealii Reichel.
I would love to have your "Butch sings Hawaaiian" I have a copy of your Newsletter that we received on ship and will be ordering very soon.
Mahalo again for the beautiful music we enjoyed so much on our cruise. The range of your voice is fantastic and a joy to listen to.
Mahalo and Aloha
Dot & Marv Bartlett
(Jamestown, IN)
Received: 10 August 2002 from Cindy and Zane Matsuzaki
Mahalo
Butch,
Just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed your music on the cruise. When will you be performing on land?? [...] We will be seeing BB King this weekend, Lyle Lovett, Rush (ever hear of them?) and Jimmy Buffett next month. So next time we see you, we will be requesting some of their music. Again, thanks for being the highlight of our trip.
Cindy and Zane Matsuzaki
(San Francisco, CA)
Received: 21 July 2002 from Annie
Aloha from Annie
Dear Butch:
Aloha from Michigan! I wanted to take time to thank you for the music and songs you sang (that could be a song title) onboard Norwegian Star. Gayle and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your music last week. Gayle is my ex-sister-in-law and Mary is my ex-mother-in-law and we all came to Hawaii together for vacation. Most people would consider a week long journey with ex-in-laws to be anything but a vacation, however, these two are very wonderful people and I am fortunate to have them for friends. It is 12:10 a.m. here in Michigan and I am still on Hawaiian time. We had excellent flights back. It took us eleven hours to get home.
Gayle and I think you should perform here in Michigan. I work and live in Macomb Township and it would be wonderful if you could perform at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts. I can share your CD with them if you would be interested in performing for a Michigan audience. Your music would bring enjoyment to people here. Of course, I would not blame you if you did not want to leave the wonderful climate of Hawaii even for a few days. Let me know if you would like me to try to have them contact you for a performance. I am not sure how much clout I have here in Macomb Township since I am originally from Port Huron, but it would not take much persuading if they will just take time to listen to your CD.
We enjoyed visiting with you and listening to your music, especially the "Irish tunes" requested by Gayle (even though I am not Irish). Yet, neither of us are Hawaiian and we enjoyed those too. I guess it is proof that music is a universal language.
Mahalo!
Annie
(Clinton Township, MI)
P.S. Thank you also for the picture and signed CD.
Received: 15 July 2002 from Diane & Bob McKelvey
Hi Butch--
I am sitting here in my living room listening to your Postcard from Paradise album and thought I would take a few minutes to tell you how much we appreciate you and your music. I play my classic jazz and Alan Jackson music 2 or 3 times a week -- but your music I play everyday! Bob listens to it when we are sitting on the patio in the evening and he is the first one to tell our friends about your incredible voice.
Thinking back to our cruise in December, we had only one request-a Frankie Valle tune that we had forgotten the name of, which you promptly sang--(it was the second Valle tune you sang). The next time we see you (and God willing, we will) I will have a lot or requests -- E mama E , My Way, Crying, U'llani, Koke e, Mi Nei, Maria Elena, Only you, Hawaiian Paradise and the list goes on.
You have definitely succeeded in making our world a better place. Thank you.
Aloha no -- Di
(Sun Lakes, AZ)
Received: 5 July 2002 from Marie and Earl Northey
Thank you
Thank you for your lovely songs each night aboard the Norwegian Star at the beginning of June. Thank you for singing Happy Trails.
Earl continues to triumphantly or stay the same in his battle with cancer. Our prayers are being answered.
You helped to make our trail on the ship very enjoyable. Thank you.
ONWARD
Marie and Earl Northey
(Johnson Creek, WI)
Received: 5 July 2002 from Colin Drysdale
Mahalo
Butch,
I wanted to write you this email to let you know how much I enjoyed your performance on the Norwegian Star. My family and I sailed on the ship last week and I had the privilege of listening to you on Sunday night, and then I had my family come with me to see you on Saturday night. You are a great entertainer. It was such a shame that your crowds were not bigger. They should advertise you more or move you to a part of the ship with more traffic (I had seen you in Las Rambalas). You were definitely one the highlights of my trip.
Mahalo
Colin Drysdale
Received: 30 June 2002 from Dottie Barta
Special thanks to Butch
Greetings from Colorful Colorado!
I just wanted to tell you how special our recent cruise was and in great part because of the evenings we spent in the LasRamblas Lounge getting to know you and your music and perhaps being a bit disruptive!! My kids really are a great bunch, but they do get a bit out of hand from time to time! At any rate, you were every bit a gentleman and did not once banish us from the area!! I, of course would have enjoyed just sitting back and listening to your wonderful voice and mellow songs. I wonder if you miss doing Margaritaville and the "salt, salt, salt, salt" chants! I do hope we didn't keep other customers from enjoying the music.
It was quite a transition to get back to reality and work, but gradually I am getting accustomed to the old routine again. I know one thing, that I do want to make it back to the beautiful islands again and want to be able to spend more time actually seeing the sights of each of them.
Just wanted to let you know how enjoyable it was to meet you and talk to you a bit and hope that all is well and you are enjoying each new week as it comes.
Sincerely,
Dottie Barta (with the boisterous children!)
(Denver, CO)
Received: 24 June 2002 from Rae Ann Easton
Aloha
Butch,
Aloha, I just wanted to Thank You for such a great time you gave us while on the Norwegian Star. This is Rae, from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was with that rowdy group that came to see you several times while on the ship (9 June - 16 June) I just wanted to let you know that I had an awesome time listening and talking to you. You are a great person and I am so glad that I had the chance to meet you. I really enjoyed the music and wish we had someone like you here in Colorado. I meant to buy a couple CDs before we left and I never had the chance to go to the gift shop though. I am getting ready to read your site and am hopeing they are available there. I just wanted to Thank You again for such a great time. I am looking forward to seeing you again. Thank You,
Rae :)
(Colorado Springs, CO)
Received: 14 June 2002 from Henrietta Lily Kutz
Here and Now
Hi Butch-
I am truly blessed, a new CD from you, and two e mails that tell me (hopefully) you haven't forgotten me ! How good can it get!
My life has been a tangled mess since last February, but I am slowly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am smiling again, and the world is smiling back at me. You won't be able to relate to that, but you truly did have a lot to do with it. You and your music accompanied me on that long journey from despair to almost myself. I don't know if you remember, but I am a Christian caregiver, and a square dancer, and a Butch fan. Most of the time I am able to manage all three with great aplomb - but sometimes too much happens, too many friends leave this earth, and the waves that makes overwhelms me, but somehow, that wonderful voice and the kindness and consideration of a very personable man, help me thru the tough times, and I do thank you. Your music truly does make the world a better place for me. I hope you know that, and I am sure I am just one of a thousand fans who could say the same thing. I hope my telling you this will make your day better as you have made mine better.
Its been a year since I saw you, but the memory is just as fresh today as it was then. Got a new car (with a CD player), so I can really enjoy your music -- only thing in the car! Now don't get a swelled head! I am sure I am just one of lot of women with a big crush on Butch! But I going to pretend you put Harbor Lights on this new CD just for me!
Much Love and Blessings to you and yours -- Tiger Lily
(Del City, OK)
Received: 23 May 2002 from Debbie Howell
Hello Butch greetings from New York!!!!!!! This is Debbie Howell and I am just dropping you a e-mail to thank you for your wonderful show and more than anything your wam hospitality you shared with us on the Nowegian star.
Meeting you made an already fantastic vacation just right. I pray all is well and the seas are calm (smile). Be well,
Debbie
(NY)
PS I am the lady with the braids my husband Arnold says hello
Received: 21 May 2002 from Bobbie and Norman Angelo
Mahalo Nui Loa
E Butch,
We are enjoying your CD's and continue to talk about our wonderful experience aboard the Norwegian Star. You were a big part of our super times on the ship and shore. We can not even imagine a better trip. Memories!!!!
Since this is Tuesday, I imagine that you are on your way to Fanning Island. By the time you read this, you will be in Kahului. Yell "hello" to your cousins and thank them again for the use of their car. As I write this, I am getting nostalgic and these events only happened a few days ago. The word hali'a comes to mind, fond memories with a wish to return.
We hope you are having a great trip. My friend Marlene Ebeo is aboard with a group. Give her my regards if you get to meet her.
Malama Pono,
Bobbie and Norman
(`Aiea, HI)
Received: 18 May 2002 from Peggy Jolly
Butch,
Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed your music during the recent cruise on the Norwegian Star. I had no idea that you were performing on that ship. What a pleasure it was to hear you again after sitting in your audience during earlier cruises on the SS Independence. I was particularly pleased that Jayme Moore, my nephew, could hear you in person.
For Jayme, you were the highlight of his trip. He is a wonderful boy, and a rather fine musician himself. In addition to piano, he also plays bass guitar, violin, and a couple of brass instruments. I would not have been surprised if he had decided on a career in music himself, but he decided to study law in college and ended up in law enforcement. Though I worry about the danger of his career choice, he chose it for all the right reasons: he believes he can help improve the world. He has just made sergeant in his department, and this trip was his "reward" for a job well done. And you made it even more special for him. Mahalo.
Each time I return to Hawai'i, I am reminded of the generosity and gentleness of your people. You, my friend, exemplify that spirit.
PJ
(Pinson, AL)
Received: 5 April 2002 from Shelagh Rose
Norwegian Cruise -- W/O March 24th
Dear Butch,
I just came home (Vancouver, Canada) from the Norwegian Star cruise through the Hawaiian Islands. I wanted to thank you for your wonderful music during our cruise. I was usually sitting in the 'peripheral area' and my daughter requested "Blue Hawaii" on the last evening.
You probably wondered why I left every time "Hawaiian Wedding Song" was requested? This song has special meaning for me as my husband passed away a year ago. We had 'eloped' to Kauai 22 years ago and were married by a Hawaiian minister at the Fern Grotto.
At first, it was too painful to listen but after the third night I was actually able to stay through to the end of the song. I bought your CD and now this song brings me some comfort. Thank you!!
Also, thank you for the very interesting newsletter. How do you have time to do everything?
Thanks again for the beautiful memories!! All the best,
Shelagh Rose
(Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Received: February 2002 from Janis
Hi Butch
Nice to hear from you and sooooooo glad to hear you are doing well. One of the things that most impressed me about your entertaining was the fact that you did and could play anything that anyone requested. You are a crowd pleaser. I call today's musicians mechanics not musicians. They are not interested in the audience but mainly only what satisfys them. People love you which is more than you can say for most mechanics today. Unfortunately the high tech availability of most instruments today in my mind actually distort rather than improve. And I know that is not true in all cases but they are in the largest majority in my mind. That's why it is such a pleasure to hear a real musician and people entertainer like you. You made my cruise trip memorable not only by the songs and music you played but by the recognition you gave me when I came into the lounge. You always had a nice compliment and most of all your music was superb. I will be playing your CD on my trip to Florida tomorrow. Have a great Valentines day.
Talk to you later.
Janis
|
