Ursula Butts

MANSFIELD -- Through a donation from a friend who wishes to remain anonymous, Ursula Butts is able to live out one of her dreams -- making her own gospel CD.
"I've always sang since I was a little girl," she said. "It's always been a dream of mine to sing professionally, but life got in the way."
Butts will give a concert Friday at the Bookery, 2300 W. Fourth St., Ontario, and celebrate the release of her CD, "Live In Worship."
Her husband, Damon Butts, is her manager and her sons, Edward Avery and Jameel Butts, helped her write the songs.
"I've been blessed to keep it in the family," she said.
"I would like to travel and minister to the people," she said. "The gift God has given me is more than local."
Butts said the CD contains "not traditional gospel music."
"You will find a sound you're looking for," she said. "There is slow music, upbeat music and also a jazz interlude. I'm not stuck to one type of music."
She is working on a second CD, and said it will fuse contemporary rhythm and blues, 1970s-style soul, classical music, jazz and elements of alternative and hip hop.
Butts hopes "Live in Worship" will help single mothers and people who have a bad day. "It will let you know that there is hope and it will get better, “ she said. “God won’t leave you.”
Butts' church family, Greater St. John's Oasis of Love Church of God In Christ, has encouraged her singing career.
"The church has been a strong influence on my walk of faith," she said.
Butts said the actual recording took less than three hours.
As for the results, "I'm pleased for it to be my first project," she said. "It's all coming to fruition and I'm excited."

angross@nncogannett.com 419-521-7205
- By ANGEL N. ROSS

MANSFIELD -- Ursula Butts has volunteered at the Domestic Violence Shelter since October.

“It's rewarding for me. I survived it myself and want to give back to women and children," the Mansfield resident said.

As part of Ursula Butts & Company, the gospel vocalist will be among those performing at the Gospel Celebration Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday in Founder's Auditorium at The Ohio State University-Mansfield.

The concert, sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs at OSU-M, will benefit women and children residing at the shelter.

Moderated by Elder Aaron Williams II of Maddox Memorial Church of God in Christ, the event also will feature music from the Providence Praise Team, Oasis Liturgical Dancers and Maddox Memorial Praise Team.

Butts, Oasis of Love Church's worship leader and music administrator, said she hopes others will be inspired and encouraged by the concert.
"I want this to be a day for people to come and enjoy and listen to the powerful words of the Lord and come out with a donation to help the domestic violence center. These women need everything," she said. "I want it to be a good day, a day of hope."

Admission to the concert is a donation of items for the Domestic Violence Shelter.

Needed items include household care products, first aid items and personal care items. Also needed are new or gently used clothing for women and children, including packaged undergarments and socks.

Call Ketwana Schools at 419-755-4110 or e-mail her at schools.2@osu.edu for more information.

lwhitmire@nncogannett.com 419-521-7223
- Mansfield News Journal (Lou Whitmire)