Laverne Butler February 13, 2011

Laverne Butler grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and developed her love for jazz while performing on stage with her father, jazz saxophonist Scott Butler. After becoming a vocalist with the jazz band at the University of New Orleans, she became a regular in her own right on the New Orleans jazz scene. It was Jon Hendricks who encouraged her to "think like an instrument." She has since worked with such music masters as Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler (no relation), Edward Frank, Alvin Batiste , Earl Turbinton , and James Black.