Byron L. "Butch" Berman, veteran Lincoln rock ‘n’ roll musician and founder of the Berman Music Foundation, died at his home Thursday evening following a four-month struggle with brain cancer. He was 58.

The foundation, which he established in 1995 “to protect and promote unique forms of jazz music during Butch's lifetime and into the future” sponsors concerts and festivals in the region, underwrites jazz programming on KZUM radio and Nebraska Public Radio, financed a number of CDs and maintains his extensive collection of Americana, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz.

“He was so committed to jazz and so committed to the community,” said Charles Henry Bethea, executive director of the Lied Center for Performing Arts. “He wanted us to experience artists we wouldn’t ordinarily see. He always had lots of great ideas. I enjoyed working with him. He was generous and ebullient about it.”

Before he became identified with jazz, both through his foundation and eight years as a KZUM disc jockey, Berman was best known as a rock ‘n’ roll guitarist who had played with nationally known rockers.

“He was a helluva musician,” said drummer Dave Robel, who played with Berman in the 1970s in The Megatones and Charlie Burton and Rock Therapy. “When he was in The Megatones, he mostly played piano. When Charlie decided to pare down the band and do away with the piano and saxophone, Butch made the transition to a great rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly guitar player.”

When writers from such publications as the Village Voice, Trouser Press and New York Rocker wrote about . The writers praised Burton’s songwriting and singing, but Robel said “quite often, the reviews went on about Butch’s great guitar playing. It wasn’t just me saying it.”

After leaving Rock Therapy, Berman hooked up with rockabilly pioneer Sleepy LaBeef for a European tour. Then, in the ‘80s, he moved to San Francisco where he played with Roy Loney and the Phantom Movers. Loney was a member of the Flaming Groovies, one of the most notable rock ‘n’ roll bands of the ‘70s.

Berman began playing piano at age 7 and had collected more than 300 rock ‘n’ roll 45s by age 10. He played in a succession of local bands in the ‘60s, including The Modds, who were inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.

It was in San Francisco that Berman began to develop an interest in jazz. Returning to Lincoln in the early 1990s, he began an eight-year stint playing jazz on KZUM, hosting "Bop Street Theater," "Reboppin'" and "Reboppin' Revisited."

Among the artists who made Lincoln appearances sponsored by the Berman foundation were: groups Norman Hedman’s Tropique, The Mingus Big Band and the Hot Club of San Francisco; singers Karrin Allyson, Giacomo Gates and Shelia Jordan; saxophoniest Bobby Watson, Joe Lovano and Greg Abate; pianists George Cables, Kenny Barron and George Cartwright and guitarist Jerry Holm.

The foundation and the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra are collaborating on a May 23 tribute to the music of the late Kansas City pianist and composer Russ Long.

Berman also continued to play in rock bands. Most recently, he was in the Cronin Brothers, with whom he performed his last show on Dec. 30.

Berman is survived by his wife, Grace and her sons, Jenom and Bahji.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Berman Music Foundation, c/o Anthony M. Rager, Cline Williams Law Firm, 233 S. 13th St., Suite 1900, Lincoln, NE 68508. A celebration of Butch's life will be held at a later date.

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.