[Dixielandjazz] Bio

[Judy Eames]

Born Wales Feb 9 1946

>From age 5-9 went to a school in Ross on Wye  where singing was included in
reports: mine was always "weak" or "poor"

First public performance: one verse of "God Make My Life a Litttle Light" at
age 10 in a church in Kettering
Second public performance: all four verses the following year so I must have
been OK.

Started singing lessons with Dad's friend Gladys. Singing lessons
frequently punctuated by sound of gunfire from the back room where Glad's
companion, Jane  liked to watch the cowboy films on TV.

Gladys  used to sweep the board at the local festival with her choirs and
soloists.  I did pretty well, but round about 1960 discovered Ottilie
Patterson and secretly wanted to BE her.

1962 Moved back to Wales where I had lessons from Janet Price who later
became quite famous and successful and I think sang a lot in America.  By
this time was pretty hooked on jazz clubs .... and the boys that went to
them ... neglected studies. Still wanted to be Ottilie

1964 Went to teachers' college in Reading continued to sing and neglect
studies.

1969 moved to London.  discovered the 100 Club and joined London Choral
Society.

1971 or so fulfilled a huge ambition and joined London Philharmonic choir;
one of the top two at the time. Was involved in many wonderful concerts and
still find choral music thrilling

Early 70s I was given a set of Bessie Smith LPs and allowed to do the
occasional blues with some friends in their band this went on until I left
London in 1987.


Throughout all this classical bit I had a problem: any time I was given a
solo I tended to be "creative" with the time I allocated to individual
notes, bars even... I sang them as I felt them.  Deep down I still wanted to
be a jazz singer and it slowly dawned on me that Ottilie was not the only
role model:-)

I was always very reticent about asking bands to let me sit in (just think
how many potential geniuses are put off by the frosty put down:-) ) but
after living in Oxfordshire for a year or so, I plucked up courage, struck
lucky, met a lot of local musicians and was a frequent invited sitter in
from then on.

Some time later, I joined a newly formed band The Big Bear Stompers and
although we weren't great we were lively and entertaining and got to quite a
few festivals including one in Gorinchem in Holland.   The band folded soon
after I met Tony Davis (not BECAUSE  I met him, I hasten to add) and he
wants to tell that bit himself......

As I'm so very young compared with some of you I thought this was going to
be short.  I haven't even told you about my  prowess on the sports field, my
yars modelling for Vogue and my life as a double agent........ Email is
wonderful, you can be whoever you want to be.

Cheers

Jude





Judy Eames
Kaminsky Connection
Aston, Oxfordshire
UK
www.judyeames.co.uk