JUDY BOUCHER... THE STORY SO FAR
Judy's Story Part 1Judy Boucher describes herself as "an ordinary country girl" from St Vincent in the Caribbean. Her interest in music started at an early age, listening to the radio and hearing The Beatles, Sam Cooke, Percy Sledge plus Calypso and Reggae from the other islands.Her music career took a giant step circa 1970, having now relocated to High Wycombe England and being recruited by her musician brother Bruce for his band, which they called JUDY JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.JJ and the Beanstalk was mainly a covers band, concentrating on the music of the sixties, an era that proved quite popular with the locals. The band was very much in demand and was often playing at weddings, youth clubs, pubs and local dances. After ten years together, Judy's brother found love, got married and moved away, causing the demise of JJ and the Beanstalk. The band breaking up, although it was a hobby, had quite an effect on Judy. So much so that she gave up the music to concentrate on her family.FELIX DA SILVA, a local songwriter who was in a rival band at the time of JJ and the Beanstalk, wanted a singer for several songs he'd written and had targeted Judy, but she wasn't interested. Several years went by and Felix decided that he would try again.Judy relented and recorded several songs, including Dreaming Of A Little Island, the first single that catapulted to the no 1 slot in the Reggae Charts in 1985 for several weeks and was subsequently used by the Jamaica Tourist Board as the theme tune for their advertising campaign.The follow up single, Lovely Paradise gave Judy her second consecutive hit. The invitation to tour was coming from all over as people started to ask about Judy Boucher. An album containing the two tracks was released. That album, Can't Be With You Tonight would change the 'ordinary country girl' to an International Entertainer by the end of 1987.The story goes like this: a DJ on an early morning show on a London radio station started playing the title track on a regular basis. Lizzy Webb TV's exercise queen at the time heard the song while driving home and decided to use it as her exercise tune. The UK public began enquiring about it. Judy's producer released it to satisfy the demand and gave Judy her first national entry, it hit no 1 in the mid week charting, but remained at no 2 for eight weeks in the UK and hit also in Holland, Switzerland, France, Greece and Spain. Her Belgian tour remains one of the highlights of her career: it was quite momentous. At an appearance at one stadium, there were 40,000 people with lighted candles chanting "JUDY BOUCHER" as she sang.A surprise call came from SOUTH AFRICA informing her also of a massive hit.
She took up the invitation to visit but, due to the boycott at the time, was unable to perform. However, she was asked to tour Swaziland, Namibia and several other African countries, appearing on TV, Radio and clubs.The response was overwhelming, with people turning up with gifts of all descriptions - animals, gold, cloth etc. In recognition of her achievements, Judy was invited by the Government of St Vincent as their special guest of honour and is truly an Ambassador for her country.The follow up single, You Caught My Eye gave Judy another national hit, and a tour of the Middle East countries, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 1988-89 Judy again decided to take a break and then returning late 1989 with a change of record company and producer.
Judy's Story Part 2The multi-talented LINDEL LEWIS, 'the gentle giant' of KUFE RECORDS Judy's music minder (who incidentally arranged her hits) has kept her career moving and at the same time very down to earth.Due to demand, the album Almost Certainly was recorded specifically for Africa, where her following has increased full fold.1990 onwards has seen the release of several singles - those being Sweet Dreams, I'll Be Loving You and Make Your Choice.The years 1992-93 saw Judy recording in South Africa for the first time, the result of which the album Tears On My Pillow came and, again making Judy the first Caribbean female to have recorded and released in that territory.The subsequent releases More Than Just A Friend, Devoted To You and Take Me As I am saw Judy graduating to an 'album' artist with the occasional single release. '96 Judy was on location in Jamaica for the video recording of Everybody's Talking 'bout The Good Thing, (taken from the album Take Me As I Am) which has become one of the most played in South Africa.
The year also when the single Make Your Choice entered the reggae charts and gave Judy yet another hit.The touring continues as we head towards the Millennium and ' 98 has seen two albums from Judy - Take Your Memory With You and Just The Two Of Us, the latter released in tandem with TIM CHANDELL.
Judy Boucher is Reggae, R&B and Country, real raw adult orientated music. Over the years, Judy has had the pleasure of recording duets with various male vocalists that have become a feature with each album. These men WINSTON FRANCIS, VISCOUNT OLIVER and MARK WATERFIELD to name a few have expressed the joy in singing with Judy.The songs, as ever, are carefully chosen to get that special bit of magic she always injects especially with those oldies we all love. On her success, Judy says, "I must admit it was a sudden transformation from being an ordinary country girl who got drafted to sing in her brother's band to jetting all over the world... before that, I had only been on a day trip to France... mind you, I soon got used to it". With all the touring and other business, Judy has managed to raise a family which she is particularly proud of, and, being a keen gardener, she is very much at home in her patch. She's come a long way in what can be a fickle business and doubly hard for a female. Her achievements are immense - how many singers can talk of being in the presence of Kings and Queens - not many.JUDY BOUCHER remains on top in her career and is one of the top recording artists in the UK. She holds the record for being the first female from the Caribbean to have the longest stay in the national charts with an amazing fourteen weeks in 1987. A recent invitation to the first ST LUCIA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL saw her performing with the giants of country, DON WILLIAMS, TAMMY WYNETTE and CONNIE SMITH amongst them. 1998 finds Can't Be With You Tonight and Mr Dream Maker on the playlist in NICARAGUA!!"My songs are reality, songs that take the average person through the different emotions, no matter who you are. There are those songs that instantly transport us back in time, or take us Out of ourselves". Herself an aspiring songwriter, Judy, now more than ever, is very much focused on quenching the thirst for real authentic songs. Listen and enjoy our Judy.
To be continued…
