{{short description|American gospel musician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Wanda Nero Butler | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Lawanda Marie Nero | alias = Princess of Gospel<ref name="Interview"/> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|9|24|mf=y}} | birth_place = Solano County, California | origin = Detroit, Michigan<br>Atlanta, Georgia | instrument = Vocals, singer-songwriter | genre = CCM, gospel, traditional black gospel, urban contemporary gospel | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 1988–present | label = Sog Secret, Light, Sound of Gospel | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|wandanerobutler.com}} }}
'''Wanda Nero Butler''' (born September 24, 1958 as '''Lawanda Marie Nero''') is an American gospel musician. Her first album, ''Reach for His Love'', was released by Sog Secret in 1987, and her second album, New Born Soul, was released by the label in 1989. The subsequent two albums, ''Wanda'' and ''Live in Atlanta'', was released in 1991 by Light Records. She released, ''Chike-Anyabwille'', ''All to the Glory of God'', and ''Family Prayer'', was released in 1994, 1996, and 1999 respectively by Sound of Gospel. All albums charted with the lone exception of ''Wanda'' on the ''Billboard'' magazine Gospel Albums chart.
==Early life== Butler was born in Solano County, California, as Lawanda Marie Nero on September 24, 1958, whose father is Reverend Nero and her mother is Barbara Nero, whose maiden name was Fuller.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web|title=Journal of Gospel Music: Wanda Nero Butler|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFx6tWBg-RQ|first=Bob|last=Marovich|publisher=Journal of Gospel Music|access-date=April 17, 2015|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|title=Wanda Nero Butler – About |url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wanda-Nero-Butler/227716233926567?sk=info&tab=page_info|first=Wanda|last=Nero Butler|publisher=Facebook |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Intelius">{{cite web|title=Lawanda N Butler in Decatur, GA|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&qf=Lawanda&qmi=N&qn=Butler&qcs=Decatur%2C+GA&focusfirst=0|author=Intelius|publisher=Intelius|access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CBI">{{cite web|title=Lawanda M Nero, Born 09/24/1958 in California|url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/lawanda_m_nero_born_1958_6641693|author=California Birth Index |publisher=California Birth Index|access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref>
==Music career== Her music recording career commenced in 1988, with the album, ''Reach for His Love'', and it was released by Sog (Sound of Gospel) Secret,<ref name="AM Disc">{{cite web|title=Wanda Nero Butler : Discography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/wanda-nero-butler-mn0000229771/discography|author=AllMusic|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref> and it was her breakthrough album upon the ''Billboard'' magazine Gospel Albums chart at No. 34.<ref name="AM Awards">{{cite web|title=Wanda Nero Butler : Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/wanda-nero-butler-mn0000229771/awards|author=''Billboard''|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref> The subsequent album, ''New Born Soul'', was released by Sog Secret on January 11, 1990,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and it placed upon the aforementioned chart at No. 11.<ref name="AM Awards"/> She released, ''Wanda'', with Light Records on July 1, 1991,<ref name="AM Disc"/> yet this was her only album that failed to chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> Her fourth album, ''Live in Atlanta'', was released by Light Records on August 29, 1991,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and this peaked at No. 22 on the Gospel Albums chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> The album, ''Chike-Anyabwille'', was released by Sound of Gospel on November 29, 1994,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and it placed on the aforementioned chart at No. 11.<ref name="AM Awards"/> She released, ''All to the Glory of God'', on July 23, 1996 by Sound of Gospel,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and this peaked at No. 12 on the Top Gospel Albums chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> The latest release, ''Family Prayer'', released from Sound of Gospel on June 26, 1999 by Sound of Gospel,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and this placed at No. 11 on the aforementioned chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/>
==Personal life== Butler is married to Reverend Zarak Butler, and together they have three children, who formerly resided in Detroit, Michigan, but presently reside in the Atlanta, Georgia area.<ref name="Intelius"/>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions<ref name="AM Awards"/> |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Gos |- !scope="row"|''Reach for His Love'' | * Released: 1988 * {{nowrap|Label: Sog Secret}} * CD, digital download | 34 |- !scope="row"|''New Born Soul'' | * Released: January 11, 1990 * {{nowrap|Label: Sog Secret}} * CD, digital download | 11 |- !scope="row"|''Wanda'' | * Released: July 1, 1991 * {{nowrap|Label: Light}} * CD, digital download | – |- !scope="row"|''Live in Atlanta'' | * Released: August 29, 1991 * {{nowrap|Label: Light}} * CD, digital download | 22 |- !scope="row"|''Chike-Anyabwille'' | * Released: November 29, 1994 * {{nowrap|Label: Sound of Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 11 |- !scope="row"|''All to the Glory of God'' | * Released: July 23, 1996 * {{nowrap|Label: Sound of Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 12 |- !scope="row"|''Family Prayer'' | * Released: June 26, 1999 * {{nowrap|Label: Sound of Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 11 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.wandanerobutler.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Wanda Nero}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:African-American songwriters Category:African-American Christians Category:Musicians from California Category:Musicians from Atlanta Category:Musicians from Detroit Category:Songwriters from California Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Songwriters from Michigan Category:People from Solano County, California Category:21st-century African-American musicians Category:20th-century African-American musicians