Jeremiah Damon Easton-Butera (April 20, 1950 - December 1, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, and actor. He was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona; his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams; and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings.
Origins & career[]
Early life, and Stonewall riots: 1950-1970[]
Jeremiah Damon Easton-Butera was born in Tampa, Florida on April 20, 1950, the son of jazz singer Mattie Easton and Italian-American pianist and songwriter Lewis Butera, but moved to Jacksonville at the age of 2. He admired the early LGBT movement of the late 60s as a teen, and moved to Manhattan (more specifically, Greenwich Village) by himself in 1965, later graduating in 1967. Later in the year, he began dating a 20 year old man named Jose Perez. They broke up the next year after Easton found out that Perez was straight (he had been with Easton to "experiment"), and had an affair with a woman. He wrote of his heartbreak in the first song he wrote, Purple Rain (which would be released .
In 1969, Easton participated in the Stonewall riots and was arrested for throwing a brick at an officer, was bailed out by his future husband and at the time friend, Ricky Vandella, who was on vacation in New York. He had participated in the riots along with Easton, but was not arrested. Easton was fined $20 for the incident. He went to live with Ricky in Albuquerque, where their relationship developed,
The Uplifters: 1971-1986[]
In 1971, most of the Uplifters members has left the group, besides Vandella. He offered Easton the job after an audition, and he accepted it. Freddie Vincent and Anthony Toussaint also became members through the audition, and they performed their first concert in the new lineup in December 1971. The first album he was a part of with the group was Red Bull.
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- Romeo... (1972)
- Jeremiah (1972)
Tours[]
- The Tragedy of Romeo & Jeremiah Tour (as part of the Uplifters 72' Tour) (1972)