Judy Cheeks

Judy Cheeks (born February 13, 1954) is an American singer. In the 1970s and 1980s, she recorded as a soul and R&B singer, before releasing more dance-oriented 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.

Life and career

Early life

Cheeks was born in Miami, Florida on February 13 1954. She is the daughter of gospel singer Rev. Julius Cheeks.^[1]

Music career

Her debut album entitled Judy Cheeks was produced by

In 2013, Cheeks wrote and co produced her own solo album, True Love is Free. 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.[3] In February 2019, Cheeks released a further album of original material, A Deeper Love.^[4] 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." In 2020 she released the single "Within" followed by "Same Pain" in 2021 both in a more acoustic country style.^[5]In 2023 Judy Cheeks started collaborating with POSE and released Let Your Soul Dance and Hands Up In The Air. In 2024 the team released Be Happy.

Rory Nicoll RMN and Jus Jez produced these singles they cowrote with Judy.

Other work

Cheeks acted in various movies and TV shows: She starred in her first movie Caribbean Rhapsody (Caribia, 1978) with

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)
• 1995: 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

Backing vocal credits

• 1977: Thelma Houston & Jerry Butler – Thelma & Jerry
• 1977: Donna Summer – Once Upon A Time
• 1979: Amanda Lear – Never Trust A Pretty Face
• 1979: Patrick Gammon - Don't Touch Me
• 1984: Peter Hofmann – Peter Hofmann 2 (Ivory Man / Songs & Ballads)
• 1984: Al Corley – Square Rooms
• 1984: Boney M. – Ten Thousand Lightyears
• 1984: Stevie Wonder – "Love Light in Flight"
• 1985: David Knopfler – Behind The Lines
• 1986: Limahl – Colour All My Days
• 1986: Kissing The Pink – Certain Things Are Likely
• 1986: Alphaville – Afternoons In Utopia
• 1989: James Reyne – Hard Reyne
• 1991: Jackie Quinn – Don't Force The River
• 1992: Sergio Dalma – Adivina
• 1993: The Creeps – Seriouslessness

See also

• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart

References