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| Ain't Nothin' But the Blues |
| 1964 |
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| Woman Blue |
| 1965 |
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| Nevada Jukebox |
| 1972 |
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| The Big Sky Mudflaps |
| 1973 |
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| Judy Roderick & The Forbears |
| 1983 |
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The Music Story of Judy Roderick 1942 - 1992
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| 1942 |
Judith Allen Roderick was born in 1942, the fourth child of what would be six, to Howard and Emily Roderick of Grosse Ile, Michigan.
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| 1964 |
In 1964, Lee Silberstein saw a 19-year-old folk singer from Boulder, Colorado, perform at the
Philly Folk Festival and offered to get her signed with Columbia. Bobby Scott was assigned to
produce and Judy Roderick released her first album, Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.
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| 1965 |
In 1965, Maynard Solomon signed Judy to Vanguard Records and a second album, Woman Blue, was
recorded, with accompaniment by two of her close friends, both guitarists, Dick Weissman and
Artie Traum. Santa Cruz poet, Maude Meehan, described it well: ". . . with all those subtle
glissandos, that smoldering soul sound, those growls and tender vibratos, so inimitable to
Judy. There just isn't a voice I've ever heard with such versatility, and raw power and
emotion, sass and sex, and hurt. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry."
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| 1966 |
In 1966, Woman Blue was released in the United Kingdom on the Fontana label and a promotional
trip was arranged. Judy performed at Broadside Folk Club, Strand Hotel, Jug O' Punch Folk
Club, Newton Club, Anglia TV, on Grampia TV and in the Cambridge Folk Festival.
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| 1972 |
In 1972 Judy signed with Atco, an Atlantic subsidiary, and produced Nevada Jukebox, with
Bill Szymczyk, producer and Bill Ashford, associate producer.
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| 1973 |
In 1973, Judy moved to Grantsdale, Montana with friend and sax player, Dexter Payne.
The two of them joined a swing band, The Big Sky Mudflaps, and played on several of their albums.
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| 1982 |
In 1981 and 1982, Judy and the "Flaps" were invited to perform at the Kool Jazz Festival,
once in Rye, NY and next in Saratoga. In both years they were featured on the Today Show,
in NYC
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| 1982 |
In 1983, Judy and Dexter Payne created an R&B band, "Judy Roderick & The Forbears." This group
included Don DeBacker, "Washboard" Chaz Leary
and Tim Martin. Once more, Judy took the musicians to the East Coast, playing the Philly Folk Festival,
The Bottom Line in NYC and Jonathan Swifts in Boston. A gig shared with Dr. John at the Lone Star Cafe
in NYC was a special event, which led to Dr. John guest appearing on Judy's third recording, Judy Roderick and the Forbears.
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| 1992 |
On January 22, 1992, Judy died of a heart attack from complications due to diabetes.
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| 1993 |
In 1993 Woman Blue was reissued by Vanguard, A Welk Music Group Company.
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| 2004 |
A reissue of Judy Roderick & The Forbears is currently in preparation and will be
available under the title, When I'm Gone.
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A very special thanks to Dexter Payne, Maude Meehan and Bill Ashford.
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