Judy Small
Encyclopedia
Judy Small is an Australian entertainer, folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known for her feminist, often patriotic, and political songs, usually following a traditional theme, she has produced twelve albums, hundreds of songs and has been described as being among the most popular political singers in Australia. She has toured the country, playing primarily in clubs and pubs, and at various conventions. She has a background as a lawyer. http://www.greenleft.org.au/1993/107/5828.
in 1972, and began her career as a singer and songwriter in the late 1970s. She now lives in Melbourne
. Her songs have been recorded by Ronnie Gilbert
, Eric Bogle
, The McCalmans
, The Corries
, Charlie King
and Priscilla Herdman
among others. Several have been translated into a number of languages .One of her successful ballads is "The White Bay Paper Seller", based on newspaper seller and Sydney icon Beatrice Bush.
Judy Small is an Australian folk music icon. Her songs are sung all over the English-speaking world in concert halls, at political rallies and around campfires, and after more than 30 years in the music business she is still going strong, although she sings less frequently since she went back to her second love, the law in 1997.
Judy grew up in the small seaside town of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, and was inspired as a youngster by the folk music boom of the 1960s. When she got her first guitar at the age of 14, it wasn't the Beatles
or The Beach Boys
she wanted to emulate: it was those big-voiced women like that of folk legends Joan Baez
, Mary Travers
of Peter Paul and Mary, and Judith Durham
of The Seekers
, who sang songs about real people and real issues.
Judy left her home town in 1972 when she moved to Sydney to study. She obtained a Masters Degree in Psychology
and during the next ten years she performed locally at folk clubs, wine bars and concert halls, gaining a reputation as a powerful interpreter of both traditional and contemporary songs. She started writing her own material to fill gaps in her repertoire, when there weren't songs already written which said what she wanted to say.
Her first album "[A Natural Selection]" was released independently in 1982, the result of twelve months' fundraising by a group of Judy's friends calling themselves "Good Things Enterprises". She also burst onto the international stage in that year, playing at the Vancouver Folk Festival at the invitation of Eric Bogle. It became clear that Judy's musical career was taking over and she left her public service job to take up the challenge of being a full-time singer-songwriter.
From that point on, Judy went from strength to strength as an internationally acclaimed performer and recording artist. In the 16 years that she was on the road full time, she regularly toured in the United States of America, Canada
, the United Kingdom
, Denmark
, Australia
and New Zealand
. In 1990, Judy received the prestigious "Mo" Award - Mo Awards
for Australian Folk Performer of the Year and in 1997 was the Port Fairy Folk Festival
Artist of the Year. She was also invited to Beijing
for the United Nations Women's Conference NGO Forum - UN in 1995, where she sang to thousands of women from all over the world.
As a performer, Judy Small is unique. Her powerfully political performances are spiced with humour. Her concerts in December 2006, which were recorded for her latest CD "Live at The Artery", were named "Best club/pub gig of 2006" by Australia's Rhythms Magazine. She says that if audiences come away thinking about issues, then that is a worthwhile performance, but only if they come away feeling as though they've had a really good night out is it a successful performance.
Her songs have been recorded by artists such as Ronnie Gilbert
, Eric Bogle
, The McCalmans
, The Corries
, Charlie King
and Priscilla Herdman
and several have been translated into a number of languages. She featured in a show at Harmony Vinyards with Ami Williamson, daughter of Australian Country Legend, John Williamson
.
She has released twelve albums, and has hundreds of songs and a song book to her credit.
In recent years, Judy has cut back her performing schedule to take on the world of the law. She is a family lawyer in Melbourne working for Victoria Legal Aid
. But she is far from retired from singing and writing songs.
Judy loves being able to combine two of the loves of her life, music and the law. In both fields she sees herself as working for peace
, social justice
and equality
.
Judy Small, the "grande dame" of Australian folk music is as passionate as ever about her music, and celebrated 25 years in the industry in 2007,also being named the best pub performer of the year in her touring repotoire.
and peace
. Among the most popular are Mothers, Daughters, Wives, Women of Our Time, One Voice in the Crowd and Global Village.
Artist of the Year. In 1995, she was invited to Beijing
for the United Nations Women's Conference NGO Forum.
This is the album that launched Judy's recording career. With funds raised by the Good Things Enterprises Collective, Judy was able to take that vital first step in a professional singer's career. This is a remarkable first recording and an essential part of your Judy Small CD collection.
Judy's catalogue is now available on digital download. Check out the Recordings page for more information
Live at The Artery: Judy's Live Album
Biography
Judy Small was born in Coffs Harbour in 1953. She moved to SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1972, and began her career as a singer and songwriter in the late 1970s. She now lives in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Her songs have been recorded by Ronnie Gilbert
Ronnie Gilbert
Ronnie Gilbert is an American folk-singer. She is one of the original members of the Weavers with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Fred Hellerman.-Career:...
, Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle is a folk singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia.-Career:...
, The McCalmans
The McCalmans
The McCalmans were a folk song trio from Scotland. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010....
, The Corries
The Corries
The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
, Charlie King
Charlie King (folksinger)
Charlie King is a folksinger and activist. He was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1947 and cites the folk music revival of the 1960s, the American Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War era as his as musical influences...
and Priscilla Herdman
Priscilla Herdman
Priscilla Herdman is an American folk singer. Although she has written songs, sheis notable chiefly for her interpretations of other artists' work....
among others. Several have been translated into a number of languages .One of her successful ballads is "The White Bay Paper Seller", based on newspaper seller and Sydney icon Beatrice Bush.
Judy Small is an Australian folk music icon. Her songs are sung all over the English-speaking world in concert halls, at political rallies and around campfires, and after more than 30 years in the music business she is still going strong, although she sings less frequently since she went back to her second love, the law in 1997.
Judy grew up in the small seaside town of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, and was inspired as a youngster by the folk music boom of the 1960s. When she got her first guitar at the age of 14, it wasn't the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
or The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
she wanted to emulate: it was those big-voiced women like that of folk legends Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, Mary Travers
Mary Travers (singer)
Mary Allin Travers was an American singer-songwriter and member of the folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary, along with Peter Yarrow and Noel Stookey...
of Peter Paul and Mary, and Judith Durham
Judith Durham
Judith Durham, OAM is an Australian jazz singer and musician who became the lead vocalist for the Australian popular folk music group The Seekers in 1963. She left the group in mid-1968 to pursue her solo career...
of The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...
, who sang songs about real people and real issues.
Judy left her home town in 1972 when she moved to Sydney to study. She obtained a Masters Degree in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and during the next ten years she performed locally at folk clubs, wine bars and concert halls, gaining a reputation as a powerful interpreter of both traditional and contemporary songs. She started writing her own material to fill gaps in her repertoire, when there weren't songs already written which said what she wanted to say.
Her first album "[A Natural Selection]" was released independently in 1982, the result of twelve months' fundraising by a group of Judy's friends calling themselves "Good Things Enterprises". She also burst onto the international stage in that year, playing at the Vancouver Folk Festival at the invitation of Eric Bogle. It became clear that Judy's musical career was taking over and she left her public service job to take up the challenge of being a full-time singer-songwriter.
From that point on, Judy went from strength to strength as an internationally acclaimed performer and recording artist. In the 16 years that she was on the road full time, she regularly toured in the United States of America, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In 1990, Judy received the prestigious "Mo" Award - Mo Awards
Mo Awards
The Mo Awards are long running annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia....
for Australian Folk Performer of the Year and in 1997 was the Port Fairy Folk Festival
Port Fairy Folk Festival
The Port Fairy Folk Festival is a popular annual four-day music festival based in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy in Victoria, Australia....
Artist of the Year. She was also invited to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the United Nations Women's Conference NGO Forum - UN in 1995, where she sang to thousands of women from all over the world.
As a performer, Judy Small is unique. Her powerfully political performances are spiced with humour. Her concerts in December 2006, which were recorded for her latest CD "Live at The Artery", were named "Best club/pub gig of 2006" by Australia's Rhythms Magazine. She says that if audiences come away thinking about issues, then that is a worthwhile performance, but only if they come away feeling as though they've had a really good night out is it a successful performance.
Her songs have been recorded by artists such as Ronnie Gilbert
Ronnie Gilbert
Ronnie Gilbert is an American folk-singer. She is one of the original members of the Weavers with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Fred Hellerman.-Career:...
, Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle is a folk singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia.-Career:...
, The McCalmans
The McCalmans
The McCalmans were a folk song trio from Scotland. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010....
, The Corries
The Corries
The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
, Charlie King
Charlie King (folksinger)
Charlie King is a folksinger and activist. He was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1947 and cites the folk music revival of the 1960s, the American Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War era as his as musical influences...
and Priscilla Herdman
Priscilla Herdman
Priscilla Herdman is an American folk singer. Although she has written songs, sheis notable chiefly for her interpretations of other artists' work....
and several have been translated into a number of languages. She featured in a show at Harmony Vinyards with Ami Williamson, daughter of Australian Country Legend, John Williamson
John Williamson (singer)
John Robert Williamson AM is an Australian country music singer-songwriter. Williamson has released over thirty-two albums, ten videos, five DVDs, and two lyric books...
.
She has released twelve albums, and has hundreds of songs and a song book to her credit.
In recent years, Judy has cut back her performing schedule to take on the world of the law. She is a family lawyer in Melbourne working for Victoria Legal Aid
Victoria Legal Aid
Victoria Legal Aid is an organisation that focuses on helping and protecting the legal rights of socially and economically disadvantaged people in the state of Victoria, Australia...
. But she is far from retired from singing and writing songs.
Judy loves being able to combine two of the loves of her life, music and the law. In both fields she sees herself as working for peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
and equality
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
.
Judy Small, the "grande dame" of Australian folk music is as passionate as ever about her music, and celebrated 25 years in the industry in 2007,also being named the best pub performer of the year in her touring repotoire.
Music
Judy Small's songs cover a wide range of topics and styles, with a particular emphasis on feminismFeminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
. Among the most popular are Mothers, Daughters, Wives, Women of Our Time, One Voice in the Crowd and Global Village.
Awards and recognition
In 1990, she was awarded "Mo" Award for Australian Folk Performer of the Yea. In 1997 she was the Port Fairy Folk FestivalPort Fairy Folk Festival
The Port Fairy Folk Festival is a popular annual four-day music festival based in the historic fishing village of Port Fairy in Victoria, Australia....
Artist of the Year. In 1995, she was invited to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the United Nations Women's Conference NGO Forum.
Discography
- Judy Small: Live at The Artery
- Mosaic
- Let the Rainbow Shine
- Never Turning Back
- Global Village
- Best of Judy Small
- Home Front
- Ladies and Gems
- One Voice in the Crowd
- Snapshot
- Second Wind
- A Natural Selection
- Judy's very first ever album "A Natural Selection" released in 1982 is now available on iTunes!
This is the album that launched Judy's recording career. With funds raised by the Good Things Enterprises Collective, Judy was able to take that vital first step in a professional singer's career. This is a remarkable first recording and an essential part of your Judy Small CD collection.
Judy's catalogue is now available on digital download. Check out the Recordings page for more information
Live at The Artery: Judy's Live Album
External links
- http://www.judysmall.com.au/ Official website