Bett Butler: San Antonio’s Quiet FlameSome musicians burn fast and bright, and some burn slow and steady.
Bett Butler is the second kind—the kind of artist who doesn’t chase the spotlight because she
is the spotlight, at least for anyone who’s been paying attention in San Antonio these last few decades.
She’s one of those rare Texas originals who can sit down at a piano, open her mouth, and suddenly the whole room feels like it’s leaning in a little closer. Jazz folks claim her, songwriters claim her, poets claim her—but Bett Butler has never belonged to any one camp. She’s carved out her own lane, and she’s stayed in it with the kind of grace that only comes from knowing exactly who you are.
A Storyteller in Every Sense of the WordBett Butler didn’t just show up in the San Antonio music scene—she
grew into it, the way a tree grows into the soil it’s meant for. She’s a
songwriter, pianist, vocalist, composer, and poet, and she treats storytelling like a calling, not a career. The City of San Antonio lists her as a musician, composer, spoken‑word artist, and writer, and that’s about right—she uses whatever tools she needs to tell the truth of a moment.
Her songs don’t fit neatly into categories. Jazz critic Michael Corcoran once said she creates “rich story songs” and that we “have to call it jazz because the right word hasn’t been invented.” That’s Bett in a nutshell—too original to label, too honest to imitate.
A Life Built Around Music and MeaningBett and her husband, bassist/composer/producer
Joël Dilley, run
Mandala Music Production, a studio tucked right into the cultural heart of San Antonio. It’s the kind of place where art gets made because it
needs to be made. Their music has been licensed by HBO, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Food Network, and a whole list of others.
They’ve produced award‑winning tracks, scored films and museum projects, and released albums on their own label, Dragon Lady Records. Their work has earned top honors in the International Songwriting Competition and the Independent Music Awards.
But Bett has never been one to brag. She just keeps creating—songs, poems, stories, soundscapes—whatever the moment calls for.
Albums That Feel Like Short StoriesHer debut album,
Short Stories, earned praise for its “poetry and vision” and “sterling vocalizations.”
Her follow‑up,
Myths & Fables, won a performance grant from the Artist Foundation of San Antonio.
These aren’t just records—they’re little worlds. Bett writes like someone who’s lived a lot, listened a lot, and isn’t afraid to tell the truth gently.
Her music has that rare quality: it feels like it’s talking to you, not at you.
A Poet With a PianoBett’s creativity doesn’t stop at music. Her poetry and short fiction have appeared in small‑press journals across the U.S., U.K., E.U., and Canada.
She’s one of those artists who seems to have a river running through her—words, melodies, images, all flowing from the same source. She doesn’t force anything. She just opens the gate and lets it come through.
Still Here, Still CreatingFor anyone wondering:
yes, Bett Butler is alive, well, and still creating in San Antonio. She and Joël continue to produce music, collaborate with arts organizations, and contribute to the cultural life of the city.
She’s not a “forgotten legend.”
She’s a quiet one—still working, still writing, still shaping the sound of San Antonio in her own steady way.
Why Bett Butler Belongs on Curbside JimmyCurbside Jimmy has always been about the musicians who keep the roots alive—the ones who don’t chase fame, don’t bend to trends, and don’t let the world tell them what to be.
Bett Butler is exactly that kind of artist.
She’s spent decades making music that matters, not music that markets. She’s stayed true to her voice, her stories, and her city. She’s one of those rare musicians who remind you that art doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
San Antonio is lucky to have her.
And the rest of us are lucky she keeps sharing her songs.
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