St James Church, Somerset was packed to overflowing on Tuesday as hundreds of relatives, friends and colleagues turned out to celebrate the life of Bryan Robert Dickinson Butterfield.

He was born March 6, 1930 and passed June 6, 2015.

A founder of the Bermuda Foundation of Musicians and Variety Artists which evolved into the existing Bermuda Entertainers Union, Bryan was eulogised as a “legend”, the drum-major of Bermuda’s entertainers.

The service had spiritual and secular connotations that were equally soul-stirring. Officiating were Rev Erskine Simmons and Rev Conway Simmons. The singing ranged from hymns Blessed Assurance and Our God is an Awesome God to the more secular Rough Side of the Mountain.

Bryan’s obituary was read, or should we say brilliantly interpreted, by former MP Dale Butler, who is esteemed as Bermuda’s professor of music history as author and publisher of Music on the Rock. Mr Butler gave a preamble to the reading of the obituary, which was a gem in itself. He thanked God for blessing Bryan as a man with talent and baptised with experiences that would be celebrated forever.

Mr Butler went on to salute Sandy Butterfield (née Powell), Bryan’s wife of 52 years, and other family members. He acknowledged the attendance of former Premier Sir John Swan; former Tourism Minister Jim Woolridge; former MP Walter Lister and serving parliamentarians Wayne Furbert, Cole Simons and Michael Weeks. A standing ovation was given to the presence of several musicians and entertainers, active during the Bryan Butterfield era.

Dancing was a lifelong passion for Bryan. He danced with Gregory Gordon, Gloria Nias and Erma Butterfield in 1948. Gregory used to teach dance at the WLR Joell Building on Brunswick Street, Hamilton. Bryan moved to New York, where he studied Afro-Cuban and calypso at the famous Katherine Dunham Dance School. He later studied at the Fred Astaire School of Dance, learning the Latin dancing popular at the time.

Returning to Bermuda, Bryan became leader of the Bermuda Authentic Limbo Dancers and with various partners performed in all the major hotels and guest houses for well over 50 years. Bryan’s talent landed him in two documentaries and three films. He was known then as Bryan the Stage Lion. He became famous for his distinctive fire-blowing act and dancing on broken glass.

Bryan was a recipient of the Founder’s Award of the Bermuda Arts Council, Adlev Annual Award and awards from the Ministries of Community Affairs, Education and Sports. He was inducted in the Bermuda Hall of Fame.

Many will remember Bryan’s performances in the annual Floral Pageant, when he was the drum major.

He and his first wife Erma were leaders of the North Village Majorettes which were backed by the North Village Band. He was also drum major in many latter-day Easter Parades and Bermuda Day Parades.

The distinctive white headpiece Bryan wore with his lily white uniform along with his five-foot baton that he swung, were atop his coffin as it was borne into and out of the church through a guard of honour provided by the Ex-Artillery Majorettes. His last performance was with those majorettes, Heather Lightbourne and Valerie Byron in 2003.

In his preamble, Mr Butler spoke excitedly about Bryan’s creativity and daredevilness — jumping six feet high in the sky with his legs outstretched like he was doing a split with a magnetic smile. Mr Butler said that he could excite a thousand virgins and wrap his audiences in the palm of his hand.

Bryan is also survived by his children, Nicole Butterfield Lopes, Bryan Stuart Butterfield, Dwight (Debbie) Stearns and Thelma “Cookie” Looms as well as his grandchildren and great-grandson.