Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1947
DIED
2023
Butch Mudbone Memoriam
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.
Butch, Bear Clan, was a Sundancer for 16 years, a Road Man for the Native American Church (NAC) and leader of other ceremonies. He made sure to carry those traditions with him inside the walls of the prison system for incarcerated indigenous peoples. Butch was a powwow man, traditional dancer, avid traveler and talented silversmith. He was also a Mr. Quick-Fixit, accomplished athlete, and a wonderful friend, father and husband.
Butch was returning home after an NAC New Year's Ceremony in Philadelphia, MS when the accident occurred. Butch had a great last Ceremony, and rested well before having breakfast with two brothers, and getting on the road happy and ready to come home. Though he didn't make it to Memphis, his family knows that he is still on the road home, accompanied by all his relations who passed on before him. He leaves behind a legacy of love, friendship, song, creativity, forgiveness, medicine and family.
Butch Mudbone was born on January 6th, 1947, in Pennsylvania. He was an outdoorsman and worked for the game commission. He also loved trapping, camping and doing his paper route. 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. Regrettably, Butch made career sacrifices in service to seeing that other Memphis musicians got due respect and paid.
His surviving bandmates include Bassist Cecil McDaniel, whose association goes back to the early 90's, and Drummer Terry Saffold. They remember Butch as, "An honest, upstanding and fun guy; we enjoyed playing with him recording with him, we loved working with him. He was hard-headed, but he dignified most of our suggestions and was open to our input. Butch Mudbone was one of the most genuinely organic guys you'll meet, especially in the entertainment industry." Other notable sidemen include Victor Charles, Jerome Miller, Milton Hamilton, and Dwayne Thomas, Sr.
He wrote to a friend in a 2014 email, "I've been blackballed on Beale, since an article was in the Commercial Appeal about giving a decent living wage to musicians on Beale. I've been in the musician's union since the '70's and pay has gone down for working musicians in the area tremendously. . . . "That banishment was never rescinded. Bandmates say that some club owners were favoring itinerant, unknown musicians who would play for less than scale, and undermining work for local players. Butch took up that cause and was forced to focus his remaining career away from Beale Street.
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. One told about how his band quit on him, right before they had a gig at a Beale Street club. He went out and found Butch practicing in the park, told him the situation, and Butch created a band on the spot with others he knew on the street.
Last year, the Memphis Blues Society honored Butch with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. He also won and represented the Memphis Blues Society as the solo duo act in the 2022 International Blues Challenge. His recently produced album "Strokin' da Bones" is representing the Memphis Blues Society in the Best Self-Produced CD competition at the International Blues Challenge. That will be held Jan. 24-28 at selected Beale Street clubs, with the final night at The Orpheum Theatre. (Go to: www.Blues.org for more information).
Financial bequests and gifts to Butch's family can be directed to Caroline Mudbone through this GoFundMe account (https://www.gofundme.com/f/butch-mudbone)... A benefit blues jam for his family will be held at Wild Bill's Juke Joint, 1508 Vollentine Ave. in Memphis on January 15. 4-12 p.m.
Butch Mudbone Celebration of Life:
Music, tributes, silent auction, tip buckets to collect donations for family. Memphis Music Room, Saturday, January 21, 2 – 5 p.m. 5770 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis 38134
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Butch Mudbone
Gregory Price
October 1, 2024
i met Butch through a gutarist buddy of mine named "Freddie Harris" who played extensively on Beale st...and he befriended me like we knew each other for ever !! That´s the type of guy he was ...very friendly ,, witty,, and let´s not forget ,,ambitious Ive done so many gigs with him on Beale St ...especially on the weekends ...(when i was avaiable to do gigs with him)He was like uncle to me ...i know his children and wife Caroline for years...we´ve done jams sessions and even done some recording at his home ...i learned a lot of things from him...multi -talented instrumentalist as well....not just gutair !!! i was shocked and amazed how talented this young man was...Thank you Mud ...for allowing me to jam with you on so many gigs ...and being my friend ...i know your in Heaven with Vic Charles jammin and all the other awesome musicians that has passed on ...you will be misssed ....Love ya Man
RUI
June 23, 2024
I am Japanese. I met Butch Mudbone in 1995. I was studying abroad in Memphis and saw his performance at "Blues city cafe" on Beale Street. He kindly taught me guitar without discriminating against me for being Japanese, and we had many jam sessions together. I am now 49 years old and still playing Blues in Japan. I pray for Butch's soul. I will never forget those times.
Eaglefeather
April 25, 2024
Butch, in his golden days of musical extraordinaire, he would prance, dance, and hop around playing beautiful blues without skipping a beat. He played with his teeth on them Starts, played guitar behind his back, between his legs, above his head, in back of his neck, and laying down looking up. He amazed the crowd when he would pull the mic stand over and slide this smooth silver mic stand on his guitar strings to make beautiful music. Then, he sometimes lowered his top strings down (E & A) to add additional flavors to his renditions. He did one-man show: harps, slides, and feet to make a full 3-band sound, never missed a beat. That's how I knew him. This fantastic musicians with many skills. Back in early 70s, I bought him a black stetson hat and made him a silver bracelet with a dobro-designed guitar on top, and a spider-web turquoise by it. He wore that "Billy Jack" type hat at his shows. That hat was actually a replica on how indigenous people wore felt hat. I know many Navajos did wore hats designed like it back in the 1800s.
Brent Buhler
April 24, 2024
Butch was very kind and gentle to my wife and I when we moved to Memphis to complete a MM degree in history of Southern Music. He invited us to his home for significant Holiday celebrations that we would otherwise have spent alone. We were shocked to hear that his life ended so suddenly, but take heart in his continued journey knowing that his generosity and healing heart will live long into the future. We still continue to think of him and his family frequently.
Nick Henry
March 26, 2024
I jammed a few parties with Butch way back in Venice ,Ca...I remember Butch swingin' that mic stand around..RIP..
Cathy
February 21, 2024
Butch played at a place I worked in the 80's. STARBOARD ATTITUDE,Redondo Beach Pier in CA. What an awesome person!
Randy
February 2, 2024
So I remember Butch being the leader of the R sweat launch and enjoyed the time he had whether he was Blunt. Or Kind and his correctness. We will miss him and we will see him on the road as we all do.
Tony Smith
October 29, 2023
I saw Butch and band perform at the Jazz Fest many tears ago. I will never forget the motto "Moan Fo' Da' Bone" on the side of Butch's pick up truck. I never forget the power of that set they did. RIP Butch. You touched my life. Thanks.
Mike Reynolds
August 27, 2023
I lived in Venice in the late seventies and my happiest memories were on the boardwalk listening to Butch playing the blues on his dobro.
Ray Eaglefeather
August 7, 2023
Walking down to student union hall at UCLA (CA) in late afternoon, I heard music. An unusual music mixed with blues, Cajun, and boogie-woogie. There were a group of young men playing variety of instruments. One guy in particular caught my attention that turned out to be Butch Mudbone. He looked indigenous but couldn't tell. Several weeks later, he was by himself playing dobro on the street of Westwood Village (CA). There were a crowd of people whooping and hollering to multiple sounds coming from his instruments, and that unique voice of his. I came back later, and he was packing up and got my chance to speak to him. So, in the spring of 1974, we became brothers. That friendship took us back to his New Orlean home, to Big Mountain and Red Valley in Arizona; Shiprock, Alamo Navajo, Magdalena, Socorro, and Albuquerque all in NM; and Towaoc and Durango in Colorado. He came to visit me and my family in the Four Corners area in August of 2021. He spent the night at my home, and this was the last time we caught up on our historical pages of life. I still miss him. He was a brother for life.
Helen Ruckman
August 5, 2023
I was a recent transplant to New Orleans in the early 1980's. One of my favorite things to do was go to the French Quarter and listen to Butch Mudbone belt out his soulful offerings. He could play a mean guitar and he had a good set of pipes!
One day in Jackson Square was exceptionally hot and in between songs I asked Butch if he would like something cold to drink. His face lit up and he said he would love an ice cold Barq's root beer. When I came back with that pop, the look on his face was like somebody handed him a big chunk of gold.
A few years later I was at the New Orleans Jazz Fest back before it got so big and when it was still fun. I noticed Butch had gained a few pounds, and his hair was almost white. When he started to sing, the same youthful energy I remember seeing back on Royal Street numerous years before was still on display that day.
I moved away from Louisiana, and every few years Butch Mudbone would pop into my mind. I would go online and give him a listen. It made me nostalgic for New Orleans.
Late last night I don't know why, but it popped into my mind that I should check and see what what Butch was up to these days. As I started to enter his name under search, I got an odd feeling that maybe I would get a different result this time. It was shocking to read of his passing earlier this year... I barely knew Butch but this saddened me. He seemed so level, in tune, and comforting.
Belated condolences to the family, and please know many many people enjoyed having come in contact with or even just listening to Butch Mudbone.
Paul Tohlakai
March 1, 2023
Butch was brother & friend of 37 years. We first met in a Az Sundance and over the years since we would stay in touch, never to long to talk, do ceremonies and make plans. "Bubba" as we'd call each other was always a lead into our conversations. Somewhere in early 2000, I invited his blues act to Europe where I was helping coordinate a native pow wow in France. He was the talent act there and return to dance and play the blues. Europe loved him and return other times to dance as well. We had plans for "gigs" but sadly didn't happened.
He left so much happy memories and loved his family. He will live on in the hearts of many. I console myself now and then when I come across his messages and comments on Facebook.
Yup, "another blues stringer done gone home"
R.I.P. my brother in your ultimate "gig" !
We all will keep going on as you know until we meet again.
Ray Begaye
February 1, 2023
On your spiritual trail Butch to your ancestors. Happy journey. You made quite an impact on my life and my family. The Navajo people loved you. We love you and you had been a part of my family. You are a brother. You left an imprint on the Navajo Nation. May the Creator guide you through. You are always in my heart and mind, bro. Your spirit has gone on while the shell rest.
Lauretta Simpson
January 22, 2023
Just learned of Butch's passing leaving a dent in my heart. I met Butch in 2000 while travelling with my friend Chet Eagleman Jr. We spent am evening with Butch at his home, at his dinner table, in his workshop and of course at Wild Bill's. He and Caroline were wonderful hosts. They insisted we spend the night. Butch was charming, funny, righteous and strong. His faith was his strength. I'm singing the blues tonight. RIP Butch Mudbone and play safely on into infinity.
Peter, Queen Arquette
January 20, 2023
Had the chance to meet But h and Caroline in Cayuga Share Farm. He was such a nice happy man who played the best blues ever. I will smoke some tobacco for the family. I can still hear him playing . RIP Butch
Dee Huff
January 18, 2023
First, I want to offer my sincere condolences to Caroline Mudbone, Butch's wife and his children, Chris, Zyanya and Willie and all who knew and loved him.
I met Butch in 1968 in Albuquerque, NM. He had been hitch hiking throughout the West. I had been with a group from Richmond,VA when the car broke down in Albuquerque. Not long after, Butch and I left and hitch hiked several places including the Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona. Butch had spent time with members of the Navajo Nation and had found them wonderful hosts to their land and homes. He loved the Mogollon Rim which is vast and beautiful.
Butch returned to his childhood home in Oil City, PA where he was immediately drafted into the Army. During his Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, we were married. After Ft. Rucker, Butch and I travelled to Venice, CA where we lived for several years.
If I remember anything about Butch, it would be that he was magic. He could walk into a new place for five minutes and come out with a place to stay, food and friendship. There were many such occasions where he created a mystical and spiritual space and time.
During this time, he decided one day that he would learn to play the guitar. Days of rough sounds emitted from the other room. He learned quickly and soon was playing pleasant melodies.
I know how much he completely immersed himself in his love for Caroline, and for his children and his Native family.
I will miss keeping up with his music. He was a very loved and powerful person who was adored by many. I am so sorry he was unable to live to be a very old leader of those important to him whom he loved dearly.
RIP Butch. You will be a special memory to many. I am shocked and saddened at your passing. May you live forever in the arms of your families and spiritual guides.
Kenton Wheeler
January 17, 2023
My family and many friends from Texas, met Butch at the Nashville pow wow this year as we were sitting next to he and his family. Butch and I proudly danced in our northern traditional regalia with our families. My family and I were away from our area at the pow and returned to find Butch sitting at our camp with a smoke. He was like family and we shared stories about our lives, people we knew and how he wanted to go home to the reservation to finish out his years. He talked to my son who is also a Nashville musician about another recording he wanted to work on and they exchanged numbers. My wife and I later looked up Butch online and found so much history on his music. I wished I could have heard him live and even played with him. Today, we prayed for Butch's family peace and comfort. Take care good friend and I hope to see you on the other side.
Kenton (Pita Amakistu - Eagle Raven, Blackfeet) and Sandy Wheeler
M. Caldwell
January 16, 2023
IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR THE BUTCH MUDBONE CELEBRATION OF LIFE:
This Celebration of Life for Butch Mudbone is moved to Saturday January 21, 2023, 2-5pm, Memphis Music Room, 5770 Shelby Oaks Dr.,
Memphis, TN 38134
Bad Michele
January 15, 2023
When he played the first time at proud Mary's I saw him walking from his bus to PMs with his equipment, I told him to get on and I would drive him, I was his first CARRAIGE RIDE and he was my favorite people, God Bless and keep you Caro and family.
Brent Buhler and Leslie Johnston
January 13, 2023
Oh, Caroline. We are so saddened to hear of your great loss. Our hearts are breaking for you and your family.
We're not even sure how we first met Butch, BUT we will NEVER forget the Thanksgiving that you welcomed us into your Memphis home, back around 2010, nor the purple and white Haudenosaunee blanket you got for us. Today, it is a great family treasure and frequent comfort for us, as well as a homesick Mohawk friend that lives with us occasionally.
We think of the kindness, and generosity of your family spirit often. The determination with which Butch lived his life remains a life lesson for me. He was an extraordinarily brave man, always willing to stand up for his rights, but for the rights of others as well. Had we been able to live near your family for more than a few years, we surely would have learned many more valuable life lessons.
We are so angry. How many times have talented professional musicians, who have blessed our lives beyond measure, had their lives shortened by the dangerous rigors of travel; while sharing their gifts, and addressing the frequently hard work of providing for the people they love the most?
Undoubtedly, the Great Spirit has already welcomed Butch into the afterlife, but may we pray the your family will continue to be blessed with the strength, peace and comfort you need, not only now, but for the rest of your lives?
Jacqueline Horseman
January 13, 2023
Ruben and I knew Butch since 1978. My hubby and Butch became good friends. they always make me laugh joking around RIP dear friend. Butch and Ruben are high above with the stars in the sky. I can see them laughing Bless Caroline and family. much love from Our family. Fly high with the eagles Butch.
Rose
January 12, 2023
We, Gerry and I met Butch on Jackson Square, I think in 1988. He had a spot there and sang the blues. Gerry went up to put money in his guitar case and asked "what tribe". That was the beginning of their friendship, basketball playing, pow wowing, fishing(one alligator). Thank you Butch for always being true to yourself and believes. Love and prayers to Caroline and the kids.
Showing 1 - 22 of 22 results
Make a Donation
in Butch Mudbone's name
Memorial Events
for Butch Mudbone
How to support Butch's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Butch Mudbone's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
