One of the finest white folk/blues singers of the early to mid-'60s, Judy Roderick developed a loyal following, fostered by her concert and club appearances at the best known venues on the East Coast -- the Second Fret (Philly), Club 47 (Cambridge), and Cafe Au Go Go (New York City). Her album releases on Columbia and Vanguard Records were critically acclaimed. By 1966, Roderick had begun to write music in collaboration with lyricist Bill Ashford and signed with Atlantic/Atco records in 1970, for whom whe recorded one album of original material, Nevada Jukebox, with her band, 60,000,000 Buffalo.
Judy attended the University of Colorado, and worked at the available music rooms in Boulder and Denver, including the Attic, where she crossed paths with fellow working musicians Judy Collins and David Crosby, among others. She moved to New York City and signed with Columbia Records in 1963, recording two albums, only one of which was released. Ain't Nothin' But the Blues was an eclectic mix of traditional acoustic folk tunes and large arrangements of blues tunes. This album includes early contributions on harmonica by John Hammond. The second album was considered by Roderick to be an artistic debacle, and led to her leaving the label. It remains unreleased.
Judy was quickly signed by Vanguard Records, were she recorded the stunning Woman Blue in 1965. She was featured on one volume of the Newport Folk Festival recordings released by the label. She spent the next several years sharing venues with Eric Anderson, Vince Martin, Fred Neil, Tim Hardin, the Youngbloods and others. In 1969, she returned to Colorado, signed with Atlantic, formed 60,000,000 Buffalo, and in 1971 recorded the seminal rock album Nevada Jukebox with producer Bill Szymczyk. The band broke up the next year.
Judy spent her last years in Montana. "Floods of South Dakota," co-written with Bill Ashford, was recorded by Tim and Mollie O'Brien on their album Remember Me. Their performance of the song received a Grammy nomination. Roderick's last recordings were on a privately released cassette and featured Mac Rebennack on several tracks. Judy Roderick died of diabetic complications in 1992. ~ William Ashford, All Music Guide.
BREAKDOWN OF JUDY'S CAREER
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.
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.
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...."
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.
1972 Judy signed with Atco, an Atlantic subsidiary, and produced Nevada Jukebox, with Bill Szymczyk, producer and Bill Ashford, associate producer.
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.
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.
1982 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.
1992 On January 22, 1992, Judy died of a heart attack from complications due to diabetes.
1993 Woman Blue was reissued by Vanguard, A Welk Music Group Company.
2008 A reissue of Judy Roderick & The Forbears is released and is now available under the title, When I'm Gone.
