- Judy Henske
Infobox musical artist
Name = Judy Henske
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Img_capt = Cover of first solo album (1963)
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Background = solo_singer
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Born = birth date and age|1936|12|20
flagicon|USAChippewa Falls ,Wisconsin ,United States
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Instrument = Vocals
Genre =
Occupation = Singer, songwriter
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Associated_acts =Dave Guard and theWhiskeyhill Singers Jerry Yester
RosebudCraig Doerge
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Notable_instruments =Judy Henske (born 20 December 1936 [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378143/bio IMDB entry provided by Henske, 13 April 2008] ] ,
Chippewa Falls ,Wisconsin ) is an American singer and songwriter, once known as "the Queen of theBeatniks ".Life and recording career
Henske attended Notre Dame Grade School and Notre Dame-McDonell Memorial High School, and then
Rosary College ,River Forest, Illinois before studying at theUniversity of Wisconsin . She then worked in the office atOberlin College ,Ohio , before moving toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , where she worked as a cook in aQuaker co-operative. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378143/bio IMDB entry provided by Henske, 13 April 2008] ]Around 1959, she relocated to
San Diego, California , where she lived on a sloop in the yacht basin. She began singing in coffee houses in Pacific Beach, San Diego, andLos Angeles , where she worked with the likes ofLenny Bruce . She then moved on toOklahoma City , before joining ex-Kingston Trio memberDave Guard and theWhiskeyhill Singers around 1961 inMenlo Park, California , recording an album. After the Whiskey Hill Singers disbanded she returned to Hollywood. She got a big boost when given a solo guest shot on ABC-TV's Hootenanny, and was signed as a series regular onThe Judy Garland Show . Henske was quickly dropped, however, after critics panned her and accusedCBS of a cynical attempt to lure younger viewers to Garland's show. Henske appeared, as a performer, in the 1963 exploitation movie "Hootenanny Hoot" at the height of the folk music craze. However, she gained the attention ofJac Holzman andElektra Records , for whom she made two solo albums. The first of these highlighted her offbeat humour in her live performances; the second featuredBilly Edd Wheeler 's song "High Flying Bird", a minor hit later covered by many bands of the era includingJefferson Airplane .During this time she worked extensively as a solo singer in New York, working among others withWoody Allen , with whom she had a relationship. There was speculation that the characterAnnie Hall , born in Chippewa Falls, was partly inspired by Henske, although longtime love interestDiane Keaton , born Diane Hall, was also a prototype for the character.Henske married musician
Jerry Yester in 1963, and continued to work, appearing inAnita Loos ' musical "Gogo Loves You" inGreenwich Village as well as singing at many New York and East Coast clubs. After a failed attempt in the mid-60s byMercury Records to present her as an all-round entertainer, she and Yester moved back toLaurel Canyon before returning to the East Coast when Yester joinedThe Lovin' Spoonful .In 1969, she returned to music with Yester, making the baroque / psychedelic folk album "
Farewell Aldebaran " forFrank Zappa ’sStraight Records . The pair then formed a band, Rosebud, making a further album before they separated and Henske returned to domestic life with musicianCraig Doerge ; they married in 1973. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378143/bio IMDB entry provided by Henske, 13 April 2008] ]Henske then retired from the stage, but continued to write songs. She returned to performing in the 1990s, releasing two subsequent albums "Loose In the World" (1999) and "She Sang California" (2004). In February 2007,
Rhino Records issued a limited edition 2-CD compilation set of her recordings, "Big Judy: How Far This Music Goes (1962-2004)", covering her entire career.Henske and Doerge now live in
Pasadena, California , where they continue to write and record.Influence
Crime writer
Andrew Vachss is a fan of Henske, and has promoted her music in some of his novels.Discography
Albums
*Dave Guard and the Whiskeyhill Singers, 1962 (Capitol T/ST-1728) "(as member of group)"
*"How the West Was Won" (soundtrack, as member of group singing "900 Miles" and "Ox Driver's Song")
*Judy Henske, 1963 (Elektra EKS-7231)
*High Flying Bird, 1963 (Elektra EKS-7241)
*Little Bit of Sunshine… Little Bit of Rain, 1965 (Mercury SR 61010/MG 21010)
*The Death Defying Judy Henske, 1966 (Reprise R-6203)
*Farewell Aldebaran , 1969 "(with Jerry Yester)" (Straight Records STS-1052/Reprise Records RS-6388)
*Rosebud, 1971 "(as member of group)" (Reprise RS 6426)
*Loose In The World, 1999 (Fair Star Music)
*She Sang California, 2004 (Fair Star Music)
*Big Judy: How Far This Music Goes, 1962-2004 "(box set)" 2007 (Rhino Handmade)ingles
* "That's Enough" / "Oh, Didn't He Ramble," 1962 (Staccato 101 and Gold Leaf 1001). "Credited to Judy Hart"
*"Rider !" 1963 (Capitol) The Kingston Trio album "Sunny Side"
* "I Know You Rider" / "Love Henry," 1963 (Elektra 45004)
* "High Flyin' Bird" / "Charlotte Town," 1963 (Elektra 45007)
* "Til The Real Thing Comes Along" / "Lonely Train," 1963 (Elektra 45010)
* "Crazy He Calls Me" / "Baby," 1965 (Mercury 72387)
* "Road to Nowhere" / "Sing A Rainbow," 1966 (Reprise 0485)
* "Day To Day" / "Dolphins In The Sea," 1966 (Reprise 0587)References
External links
* [http://www.judyhenske.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.judyhenskefan.com/ Fan site]
* [http://www.judyhenskefan.com/discography/ Discography at fan site]
* [http://www.richieunterberger.com/henskefolk.html Interview by Richie Unterberger]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHT8FQmZw3k Collage of images set to "Some Of These Days"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPOFS8CVE8 Judy performing "God Bless the Child" on the Judy Garland TV show, 1963]
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