A celebration of life tribute will be held Sunday, February 20, 2022, at 2 pm at Tubby's Tank House in Thunderbolt. Fox & Weeks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. It was Mr. Daniel's wish to be cremated.
Born January 21, 1951, in Thomaston, GA to William "Bill" Daniel and Lucille Williams Daniel. Butch was a happy, shy child who exhibited musical talent early on. Singing and playing the drums were his first talents, but he became an accomplished guitar player who could also plink around on the piano with ease.
His gentle nature made him a favorite playmate of his first cousins and "Cuzzbros," Ansley and Cleve, with whom he spent much of his time growing up, and then playing music with together as adults and neighbors in Savannah.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Butch graduated from R.E. Lee Institute in 1969, where he was a stand-out member of the Lee Hi Singers. He began his musical career as a young teen, playing with bands that included fellow rock'n'rollers Donnie Dowdy, Alfonzo Britt, Jerry Huckaby, Rhodon Chambley and David Penn, and beginning to play the bar circuit in nearby Macon as a drummer even before he was of age to enter one.
The presence of his uncles and Cuzzbros in Savannah lured him there in the mid-1970s, where he began playing and singing in River Street establishments, including O'Leary's, with his buddy, Tommy Dean. His band, Ansel, Strong & Reeves, a regular on the Molly McGuire's River Street stage, is remembered as one of the finest cover bands ever, packing out Molly's and the Lightship on Wilmington Island each time they played. His terrific vocals were complemented by the late Jay “Jaybird" Hackney on bass, George Reeves on guitar, and David Gum on piano. Songwriting came naturally to Butch, and he penned some great songs.
He made friends easily and had many throughout life. He was the person old friends were glad to see and catch up with, and the musician with whom other artists wanted to play. When he cut his "Rachel" record in 1988, it appeared that he might break out of the Savannah scene and onto a larger national stage, but that didn't happen. However, it didn't stop him from continuing to play great music, deliver his songs with style and treat his fans to a rocking show. The annual Williams Family Reunion and the Thomaston- and Savannah-based CuzzFests were legendary times with Butch entertaining his family, often joined by Ansley on harmonica; Ansley's son, Patrick on guitar and vocals, Cleve on piano, and Butch's son, Keith (of Keith & Ross) on guitar and vocals. Dancing was always involved, with his two sisters as his greatest fans. Every gathering was a special blessing.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol June Hardage and her husband, LH of Thomaston; sister, Diane Daniel (Roger) Cotton (who died just three weeks prior to Butch) of Hotchton, GA; and his son, Michael Keith of Savannah, who died in October.
Butch is survived by his loving partner of 13 years, Beth Payne, of Savannah; his daughter-in-law, Stacy Daniel; grandchildren Sarah and Evan Daniel; nieces and nephews, David (Lynn) Hardage, Danielle (Glenn) Ward, Kelli Roberts (Steve) Gonyea, and Kim Roberts Cresswell; great nieces and nephews, Justin Gonyea, Jessica Gonyea, Jeremy Blount and Ruby Cresswell; and a host of loving cousins, all of whom will greatly miss his easy laugh and immense talent.
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