He began

playing the piano by ear at the age of 3 and gave his

first professional recital at the age of 4.

Kerrick A.

R. Butler has a Ph.D. in sacred music and heads the

Butler Conservatory of Music in Fayetteville.

His older

brother and sister were given piano lessons and one day

his sister got up from the piano and Butler sat down and

played what he had heard when only 3 years old. When his

mother saw who was playing, lessons began for him also.

He has studied classical music for a total of 13 years.

Butler was

born and reared in Detroit, and his family was always

active in the church. His brother, Bishop Keith A.

Butler, is the senior pastor at a church in Detroit and

Butler had served as the minister of music there for many

years.

Seven years

ago it was decided to start a church in Georgia and the

"Faith Christian Center" was begun in Fayette

County. Butler came to help steer its growth and to

oversee the music ministry. Due to rapid growth, the

church has since moved to Smyrna.

Serving the

church has always been the top priority for the family.

No matter what else was going on, everyone in the family

went to worship services each week and participated in

various capacities. Currently his sister, Kym McAllister,

serves the Detroit church as head of print operations.

"I'm

happy to share God's gift to me with everyone," he

said. "I am always perfecting how to be better at my

craft. God expects no less from me than perfection and by

showing His place in my life to others, I am also showing

my gratitude for His blessings."

Besides

playing and teaching piano, Butler also plays the oboe,

flute, trumpet and violin as well as teaching these

instruments.

"I

believe parents would do well to have children take music

lessons," he said. "It teaches discipline and

stretches another part of their mind. It has been shown

that 43 percent of those children taking music lessons

also reflect a higher standing in their learning

ability."

He is a

graduate of the University of Michigan with degrees in

electrical engineering and information technology. Though

he works in the computer industry during the day his

evenings and weekends are devoted to church and teaching

piano.

There is

one item on his wish list, though. It is to write the

score for a major movie.

He and

wife, Pat, whom he met in church, are the parents of

Kerrick Jr., 13, Robert, 10, and Kristopher, age 5. He

can be reached at 770-772-9287.

He has

served on the Fayette County Board of Education's Race

Relations Committee, having been appointed by former

school superintendent Dr. Dave Brotherton as its first

chairman.

Serving his

God, his family and his community is the epitome of his

life.