ABOUT GROOVY JUDY

The Story So Far...

Whether she is rocking the stage at some of the Bay Area’s longest-running and most popular events or entertaining crowds at the legendary Great American Music Hall, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Groovy Judy has become one of the Bay Area’s most recognizable musicians. Inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles, Groovy Judy’s classic riffs and warm personality have endeared her to fans everywhere.


A Livermore native, Judy has released three full-length albums over her twenty year music career. Her self-titled debut album dropped in 2000 but was re-released in 2004 with added content and a remastering of the original music.


Judy’s second album, Life, released in 2006 and was recorded at some of California’s most popular studios, including Prairie Sun Studio and Studio D. Prairie Sun Studio has won multiple Grammy Awards and has collaborated with major artists such as Carlos Santana, Van Morrison and Journey. Also a Grammy Award winner, Studio D has a history of working with well-known acts like Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire and Huey Lewis & The News. Life was produced by long-time singer, songwriter and composer Roberta

Donnay.


“Working with Roberta was great,” says Judy. “She has years of experience as an artist and knows a lot of people. She brought in an amazing bass player (Myron Dove.) The whole process was a real eye opener for me as far as how to pre-production, scheduling time, budgeting and hiring great people. She also brought in two amazing backup singers to make the vocals soar.”


The third album, entitled Love, was recorded at GetReel Studios in San Francisco and was self-produced by Judy. The three albums, as well as her 2011 EP A Little Love, are currently available for streaming and purchase on all major digital distribution platforms, including Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. Physical copies can be purchased at Judy’s live shows as well as at her official website, GroovyJudy.com.


Groovy Judy is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most recognizable music acts, having played many of the city’s most popular events and venues. She has logged multiple performances at the legendary Great American Music Hall, which has hosted entertainers ranging from Grateful Dead founder Jerry Garcia to comedian Robin Williams. She has also graced stages at the Mountain View Art and Wine Festival and the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival.


Beyond the traditional venue and festival circuit, Groovy Judy has become a popular and consistent musical presence at the annual "Bay to Breakers" footrace. The event, founded to lift the San Francisco’s spirits in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, is currently the second-largest running event in the world in terms of participation with nearly 50,000 people taking part annually.


“Bay to Breakers is my favorite event and gig every year,” Judy says while laughing. “The energy is amazing and everyone is in a great mood. I’ve seen everything imaginable; naked people, salmon spawning, a group of singing Elvises, kegs of beer in shopping carts. Some folks have been a little too enthusiastic over the years and have tried to come up on stage and sing or grab my guitar so I’ve learned to be on the lookout.”


There is a lot of inspiration to be found in Judy’s journey as an artist. Like many others, Judy had ambitions of becoming a full-time musician while stuck in a corporate job at which she was, as she describes it, miserable. That all came to a head in 2004 when she discovered she was laid off from her job. Finding herself at a crossroad, Judy decided to follow her dreams instead of sending out resumes.


“That moment when I decided to just make music my career was exhilarating and defining,” she remembers. “I was 41 years old and just felt like I had had enough of ‘working for the man.’ I didn’t know how I was going to make a living with music but I trusted it would all fall into place and I followed every opportunity that came along, whether it was booking, marketing, performing or teaching. Here I am fifteen years later still doing what I love.”


In addition to rocking stages throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Judy is also a cancer survivor. In 2017 she was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer, a rare form of the disease that occurs at a rate of about one case per 100,000 people per year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. She underwent surgery to have the tumor removed and made an immediate return to the stage refusing to cancel her shows despite temporary paralysis on the left side of her face.


“I knew I had a show one week after my surgery but I didn’t want to break my commitment to the venue or jeopardize future bookings so I did it,” says Judy. “I also didn’t want to dwell on my situation. Performing helped take my mind off the surgery what I was dealing with. The guys in my band were very supportive and helpful.”


Away from music, Judy enjoys spending time with her husband and family and is an avid golfer. She likes watching movies, citing the Pink Panther flicks as some of her favorites. Judy also makes it a point to work out several times per week and loves being outdoors.

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