Renowned Midrand musician Jamela Vuma will work on a gospel collaboration with South Africa’s international fusion jazz master, Jonathan Butler in Los Angeles next year March.
Vuma, aka JRoss said he looks forward to be working with Butler on a song for his Living in Christ Vol. 2 album which will be released in April next year.
“I am excited to be working with him [Butler],” said Vuma.
“I look up to him as an artist that left South Africa years ago to pursue a career abroad and remained relevant. I will be staying at his house and working in his studio. I feel blessed.”
Butler who is famous for his RnB, fusion jazz and worship songs will also feature on Vuma’s Live DVD recording next year on which they will perform their song.
Vuma, who is well known for his kwaito stage act as the masked man Sgonondo, has also worked with legendary artists such as Leboathosa and Brenda Fassie. He has also acted in the comedy TV series, City Ses’la.
Vuma said the collaboration with Butler couldn’t have come at a better time which was shortly after he had picked himself up from a drug and alcohol abuse problem.
“Before I joined the church and became a born-again Christian, I used to turn to alcohol and drugs to give me inspiration to record songs at the studio. No drug dealer around Midrand didn’t know me.
“There was a void that I was trying to fill with drugs and it came to a point where I had to choose and change my life around. Working with Jonathan Butler is one of the good and positive things that came out of my transformation.”
He is married to choreographer Megan Erasmus and they have two daughters. “We have been together for seven years. My family is the most important part of my life. It has grounded me and taught me to respect women. I have an elder daughter outside marriage and my wife loves her like her own.”
Vuma is currently ministering at Midrand Impact Christian Church and also has his own record label JRoss Beats and has signed young local gospel artists.
“We also have Godly Music Academy where we teach youngsters in schools piano, guitar and vocals for free. We are looking at expanding to more schools in the townships.”
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