As a child and teen Judy sang along to the records of The Beatles, Cher, Helen Reddy, Joan Baez, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews and every Broadway album she could get her hands on. (Sorry about the high C at the end, Mom & Dad!) Her parents were huge country music fans, so Judy was introduced at an early age to the recordings of artists such as Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Donna Fargo, Lynn Anderson, Ray Price, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash among others. When she was asked rather sternly to stop singing for the evening, she'd play her clarinet or tenor saxophone instead while her parents grit their teeth.
Judy started singing outside of a school setting as a soprano in the Sanctuary Choir at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Thompson Ridge, NY. As she was making her post high school plans her father convinced her that pursuing a career in music was not wise, that she needed a career "to fall back on" instead. Heeding her father's advice, and causing her absolute frustration for years, Judy reported for active duty in the US Air Force following high school graduation and trained as a Surgical Technologist. Her first permanent duty station was Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. As most young adults do, Judy decided to ignore her father's career advice once out on her own, and the nightclubs in San Antonio and Austin and every dive in between were where Judy first learned to gig as a stereotypical musician hopping from band to band and playing country, pop, rock, blues and every request she was brave enough to try. Venues included such notable area clubs as The Blue Bonnet Palace in Schertz, Antone's Nightclub in Austin and Floore's Country Store in Helotes.
The Air Force transferred Judy to Wiesbaden, Germany in January 1981. In addition to her military duties she made time to play with local bands as well as American bands who were touring throughout the region and opened for well-known artists including honky-tonker Becky Hobbs. Often on the weekends, you could find Judy singing for tips at the Hauptbahnhof (train station), area parks and the Walkplatz (many stores accessible only by foot traffic).
Judy was discharged from the Air Force in April 1982 and spent the next two years bouncing between Lynchburg, VA and San Antonio, TX. In San Antonio, Judy reconnected briefly with some local musician friends that she had worked with previously, and the group opened for Mercury Records' newly signed Recording Artist, Kathy Mattea. Back in Lynchburg, Judy connected with local acoustic, rock and bluegrass musicians and eventually obtained some leads on opportunities in country and acoustic music around the Virginia Beach area. Off she went!
The move paid off. Judy soon put together the country band, T.N.T. in Virginia Beach, VA featuring Steel and Lead Guitar Legend, Jerry Hase. T.N.T. was booked steadily as a full band and as a duo with Jerry Hase. Ironically, it was as an active member of the Virginia Country Music Association that Judy expanded her knowledge of Gospel and bluegrass by performing at meetings and networking with other members who were active in these genres. Judy hosted a weekly open mic session at Suzi's Nashville East and performed as a guest for many of top country bands such as the Eddie Smith Band, Four Wheel Drive, The Tee Maroney Show, and Boots and Lace. Several venues in the Tidewater area hosted vocal contests at the time, and Judy collected many 1st Place awards. As an acoustic soloist in the Tidewater area and the in the North Carolina coastal resorts Judy performed a mix of cover tunes and original material as well, sharing acoustic dates with some of the area's top acoustic acts such as her good friend, Son of Da Beach Recording Artist, Bruce Todd.
Judy was married in 1988 to a US Navy sailor, Tom Weber, she had met at a charity event for a fellow musician with end-stage kidney disease. Tom joined Judy on stage for many of the full-band shows, but Judy also continued to work steadily as an acoustic soloist and guest for other local bands. In 1989, she took off merely three weeks for a spinal fusion necessitated by a fractured spine. Judy returned to work on stage in a body cast. The US Navy transferred Tom to Great Lakes, IL in May 1990.
The Webers rented a house in Racine, WI that had a spare bedroom, which turned out to be a good thing since, only a few months later, the couple found out they would be expanding their family. Baby Matthew, Judy's only child, was born in May 1991. Matthew soon found himself in the playpen at band rehearsals banging on his own toy drums and mini guitars.
Smokin', Judy's country band, which was well-known and successful in the 1990s around the local country music circuit of southeastern WI and northeastern IL, was fronted vocally by Judy alternating between acoustic, electric and bass guitar and her husband, Tom, on acoustic guitar. Teen musical prodigy, Jeff Sorenson, contributed more than just his professional-level skills as Percussionist but also worked tirelessly on lighting, visual effects, wiring, equipment repair and other technical issues. Jeff's parents graciously provided their basement as rehearsal space, provided the band with an equipment trailer and were the band's biggest financial supporters. Rounding out the full-time members of the band was Guitarist, Jim Mitchell, who worked his magic at the sound board and all things technical. When not performing with Smokin', Judy stayed busy freelancing with other top local names such as Bassist/Guitarist/Vocalist Jimmy Karow and Drummer/Vocalist Lee Bellomy.
Life didn't stay rosy for long, however. In December 1992 while returning home from rehearsal Judy, Tom and Matthew were involved in a near head-on collision. Matthew was fine except for a few small lacerations. Tom had a sprained neck and some lacerations and returned to work within a few days. Judy suffered neck and back injuries as well as an injury to the cartilage in her chest and suffered with multiple neurological symptoms. Recovery took about two years mostly due to the complication of her previous spine fusion.
It became apparent that it was time for Judy to take a break from music due to the demands of motherhood, lingering symptoms from the auto accident, Judy's yet undiagnosed general health problems and the desire to attend the University of Wisconsin to finish her degree. Her marriage to Tom ended in 1994, unfortunately, for most of the same reasons. Judy put her music on hold for about 10 years.
Judy returned to playing music in 2003 but not as a vocalist. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998, she temporarily lost most of her vocal range due to side effects of the medications she tried at the time. Instead, she played oboe, clarinet and violin in multiple bands and orchestras in the Milwaukee, WI area. While she enjoys being an instrumentalist Judy's first love is singing, and she was bound and determined to do whatever it took to sing again. It took extensive advice from a vocal coach, many months of diligent exercises and the grace of God for Judy to regain a good portion of her vocal range and ability to sing. Judy and son, Matthew, moved to Houston, TX in July 2005 so that Matthew could be near both parents for his high school years. His father, Tom, had been transferred to Houston two years prior.
Judy found a church home at Westbury UMC in Houston, TX and quickly became involved in each of Westbury's choirs and ensembles. It was as a member of the Gospel ensemble, Soul Revivers, which functioned as the praise band and worship leadership for the early morning service, that Judy befriended the group's director, multi award-winning Songwriter/Pianist/Arranger/Vocalist Clayton B. Howell and formed a professional relationship that would open a whole new world to her in the genres of Gospel and Christian music. Judy's voice strengthened over the next few years and she regained about 95% of her vocal range.
In December 2007 Judy joined Clayton B. Howell and his songwriting partner, Keith Caldwell, in the newly-founded KCCH Music and KCCH Music Publishing Co. in Houston, TX as Background Vocalist, Office Manager and Webmaster. Their first major concert, a CD Release Concert and Party, was held in March 2008 at Westbury UMC in Houston, TX celebrating the release of Keith Caldwell's first Gospel CD, A God Of Second Chances.
KCCH Music celebrated its first #1 Hit Single in July with "Come Hungry To His Banquet Table" co-written by Keith Caldwell and Clayton B. Howell, and Judy joined Keith and Clay in a #1 Celebration Party and Mini Concert at Westbury UMC. In November, Judy accompanied Keith on tour throughout the Alabama and Georgia area, and in December, Keith and Judy were both aboard the Carnival Ecstasy as it cruised to Mexico with several of Country Gospel's leading artists.
In the spring of 2009 Judy recorded background vocals on Keith Caldwell's "Come And See" and "Send The Mourners Away" with the latter reaching #19 on Gospel Music Tour Convention Top 100 Chart and #68 on Christian Voice Magazine's Southern Gospel Chart. Both songs are included on Keith Caldwell's second Gospel CD release, The Cross Began To Call.
A Special Note About KCCH Music:
Working with and for Clayton B. Howell and Keith Caldwell for three and a half years was an absolute blessing in my life. Their individual abilities and talents were incredible, and together, well, the possibilities were infinite. Their five co-written CDs (2007, 2009, 2010, 2010, 2010) thrust them into the spotlight on top of several major Gospel charts. Congrats, Clay and Keith, on the success of your music, and thank you for allowing me the honor of working with you and singing your amazing songs in concert, in the studio and on tour. (Now that there's some fun stuff!!!) I thank God for bringing the three of us together, and I pray that Keith's CDs and the Gospel contained within will continue to reach millions. Keith Caldwell was promoted to heaven on November 19, 2011 after a battle with cancer. Keith generously shared with me many lessons from his years of experience as a vocalist, artist, entertainer and as a disciple for Christ. I know that I am better person and vocalist for knowing and working with him. I pray for, and look forward to, Clay's future projects and what God has in store for KCCH and both of us in our individual ministries.
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