Biography
Ishmael Butler, performing under the name Butterfly after stirring significant interest in hip-hop through Digable Planets, launched Cherrywine as his next musical step. Following Digable Planets' 1996 disbandment, Butler relocated back to his childhood city of Seattle, where he reconnected with the blues and picked up guitar along with several additional instruments on his own. He also explored acting with a role in Dream Hampton's acclaimed short film I Am Ali. Cherrywine paired Butler on vocals and guitar with Thaddeus Turner handling guitar, vocals, and keys, Gerald "Tugboat" Turner on bass and vocals, and Bubba Jones contributing guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Although framed as a hip-hop effort, the group operated without a DJ, moved away from conventional rapping, and incorporated elements of neo-psychedelia alongside fragmented pop and blues structures. Their first album, Bright Black, appeared in May 2003 via Dcide/Babygrande and drew parallels to OutKast, Prince, and Butler's earlier work with Digable Planets. Throughout summer 2003, Cherrywine maintained a touring schedule to promote the release.