Judy Cheeks

Judy Cheeks (born 1954) is an American singer and actress. In the 1970s and 1980s, she recorded as a soul and R&B singer, before releasing more dance-orientated music in the 1990s. Cheeks performed with Ike & Tina Turner as an Ikette. She also worked as a backing vocalist for various artists such as Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Amanda Lear, and David Knopfler.

Judy Cheeks
Born1954 (age 66–67)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
GenresSoul, R&B, disco, dance, electronic
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, actress, author
Associated acts
Websitejudycheeksmusic.com

Life and career

Early life

Cheeks was born in Miami, Florida in 1954. She is the daughter of gospel singer Rev. Julius Cheeks.[1][2]

Music career

Her debut album entitled Judy Cheeks was produced by Ike & Tina Turner and recorded at their Bolic Sound studio in 1973.[1] A tour with Ike & Tina Turner followed and she also performed as an Ikette. Cheeks moved to Germany in 1977 and recorded a duet with Austrian singer Udo Jürgens. Their performance on The Rudi Carrell Show made Cheeks an overnight success in Europe. In 1978 she recorded "Mellow Lovin'" which became an international hit and reached No. 10 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[1] Her 1978 album Mellow Lovin' was produced by Anthony Monn (best known for his work with gay icon Amanda Lear) in Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studios in Munich.

Cheeks wrote for Berry Gordy's publishing form Jobete Music. The Jackson 5 recorded one of her songs "We're Gonna Change Our Style." She did a lot of session work for several major artist while sharpening her song writing skills. Cheeks appears as a backing vocalist for Thelma Houston and Jerry Butler's album Just Thelma & Jerry (1977), Donna Summer's Once upon a Time (1977), Amanda Lear's album Never Trust a Pretty Face (1979), Stevie Wonder's soundtrack album The Woman In Red (1984), and on Boney M.'s album Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984).[1] In 1986, Cheeks provided backing vocals on Alphaville's album Afternoons in Utopia.

Cheeks co-wrote and produced her solo album No Outsiders, released by Polydor in 1987.[1] In the same year, she appeared with Austrian band, Opus, on their self-titled album being co-vocalist on the song, "Givin' a Gift." Cheeks had a career resurgence in the 1990s, when she re-emerged with a string of dance chart hits, including two No. 1s, "Respect" and "As Long As You're Good to Me", released on EMI's imprint Brilliant! in 1995.[3] Her single "Reach" appeared on the Summer Hitmix 94 CD released by ZYX Records in Germany. A solo album, also titled Respect, was released in 1996.[1]

In 2013, Cheeks wrote and co produced her own solo album, True Love is Free.[2] In 2018, she released her single and remixes of "Crying In The Rain"; a song she had written and first recorded by Randy Crawford as "When The Evening Comes". This was followed by the album Danger Zone.[4] In February 2019, Cheeks released a further album of original material, A Deeper Love.[5] In 2020, Cheeks released a new album of original material. "Love Dancin'" the title track was co-written with Stevie Wonder the album also includes a composition by Cheeks longtime friend Betty Wright "Safe In Your Arms."

Other work

Cheeks acted in various movies and TV shows: She starred in her first movie Caribbean Rhapsody (Caribia, 1978) with Rossano Brazzi, filmed in Haiti. 1980 La playa del amor, 1984 SOKO 5113 (TV series, episode: Tapetenwechsel), and starred in one episode of the TV series Salzburger Nockerln in 1992.

Cheeks is the author of Love and Honor about her late father Reverend Julius Cheeks.[6]

Discography

Albums
  • 1973: Judy Cheeks (United Artists)
  • 1978: Please Give Me This Night (Ariola)
  • 1978: Mellow Lovin' (Ariola, Salsoul)
  • 1979: Disco Cheeks (Koala)
  • 1983: Hard on the Heels of Love (Durium)
  • 1988: No Outsiders (Polydor)
  • 1996: Respect (EMI, Positiva) – #99 on the UK albums chart[7]
  • 2013: True Love is Free (Mozan Music)[8]
  • 2018: Danger Zone (Mozan Music)
  • 2019: A Deeper Love (Mozan Music)
  • 2020: Love Dancin' (Mozan Music)

Singles
Year Single Label US Hot
100
[9]		 US
R&B
[9]		 US
Dance
[10]		 AUS
[11]		 BEL
[12]		 UK
[7][13]		 Album
1973 "Crazy 'Bout You Baby" United Artists Judy Cheeks
1974 "Endlessly" United Artists
1978 "Mellow Lovin'" Salsoul 65 53 10 28 Mellow Lovin'
1978 "The Little Girl In Me" Ariola
1979 "Don't Wanna Love You Again" Ariola
1980 "Mercy" Ariola
1983 "Fascination" Dureco Hard On The Heels of Love
1987 "You'll Never Be Alone" Polydor
1988 "I Still Love You" Polydor 85 98 No Outsiders
1993 "So In Love (The Real Deal)" Positiva 25 27
1994 "Reach" Positiva 24 17 Respect
1995 "This Time" Positiva 23
1995 "Respect" Brilliant! 1
1995 "You're The Story Of My Life"/"As Long As You're Good To Me" Positiva 30
1995 "As Long As You're Good To Me" Brilliant! 1
1996 "Reach" (Remix) Positiva 22
2013 "Happy" Mozan Music True Love Is Free
2013 "I Love Prasing You" Mozan Music
2013 "Without Love We're Lost" Remixes Mozan Music
2018 "Crying In The Rain" Mozan Music

Backing vocal credits

See also

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 85. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-01-05. Retrieved 2019-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Flick, Larry (February 18, 1995). "Judy Cheeks To Debut EMI's New Brilliant! Label". Billboard: 26.
  4. "Singer/Songwriter Judy Cheeks releases new album Danger Zone". Independent Music and Arts, Inc. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  5. Smith, Christopher (2019-01-15). "NEWS: Judy Cheeks Announces 'A Deeper Love'". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  6. Judy Cheeks. Love and Honor. Nook. ISBN 9781483510088.
  7. "Judy Cheeks Official Chart History". Official Charts.
  8. "Judy Cheeks | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  9. "Judy Cheeks Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  10. "Judy Cheeks Chart History - Dance Club Songs".
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 61. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Judy Cheeks - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch.
  13. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 102. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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