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Born in Miami Florida, Judy is the daughter of Gospel legend Rev. Julius Cheeks. Her early life was greatly influenced by the likes of Mavis Staples, The Staple Singers, Edna Gallman Cooke, The Dixie Hummingbirds, her God father Sam Cooke and many other Gospel greats who were regular visitors at the Cheeks home.
Singing came naturally to her. She performed in churches and functions in her community as early as 7 years old.
Her professional singing career took off when she was discovered by Ike and Tina Turner at 18. She recorded her first solo album "Judy Cheeks", which although a Blues Album made her gospel roots very recognizable.
Judy then started writing songs for Jobette Music - Motown. The Jackson 5 recorded one of her songs "We're Gonna Change Our Style" , as their last ever recording on the Motown Label.
Judy then moved to Munich Germany where she recorded a duet with the Austrian singer Udo Jurgens and became an overnight sensation throughout Europe. Her performance together with Udo on The Rudi Carrell was featured in the list of best performances of the year for 3 years running.
Her first European solo release Mellow Lovin' entered charts worldwide and led to the successful album Please Give Me This Night. The second single “The Little Girl in Me” became a huge hit in South Africa as well.
Her time in Germany also led to many acting jobs.
Caribbean Rhapsody was her first film which starred the Italian actor,Rozano Brazzi.
She also featured in Playa Del Mor, which was filmed in Argentina .
Judy was a regular on the German TV Show SOKO 5113 and co hosted the TV game show Vier Gegen Willi...
But her first love was always singing..
When not recording her own material Judy lent her voice as a backing singer on the recordings of many other artist such as Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, Thelma Houston, Amanda Lear, Boney M, Alphaville and many others.
Judy moved to London after securing a record deal with Polygram the first record company to fully believe in her not only as a singer but as a brilliant songwriter and producer. She wrote and produced Her album No Outsiders which included the hits, I Still Love You and Just Another Lie.
Judy then took Dance Music by storm with her hits and Club Anthems from her album Respect…, So In Love, Respect and Reach which soared in Dance and Pop charts .
Judy founded The School Of Miracles, "SOM", a charity which enriched the lives of intercity children of London greatly through Art and Music.
In 2013 Judy wrote a book about her father and released a Gospel Album in his honor.
"Love and Honor the life of Rev. Julius Cheeks" , is a very intimate look inside the life of Judy's father as he travelled the treacherous roads of America during the Jim Crow era, spreading the Gospel and encouraging generations of struggling Black people before the Civil Rights Movement had taken affect.
Judy returned to her Gospel roots and wrote and produced True Love Is Free, a Gospel tribute to her father and all those who greatly influenced her life. Two singles and remixes of Happy and Without Love We’re Lost were released.
Her 2018 releases, Crying In The Rain and the album Danger Zone, produced by her South African friend Shaun O’Shea thrilled her fans and left them wanting more. So Close from the Danger Zone album was voted by some UK radio stations as the “best soul single of the year”.
Shaun and Judy collaborated again on the 2019 album A Deeper Love …once again proving popular amongst fans around the world.
Judy made her first visit to South Africa in 2019 and with Shaun started working on the new 2020 album Love Dancin’. The albums title track is co-written with Judy’s long time friend Stevie Wonder and the opening track “Safe In Your Arms’ with Betty Wright another long-time friend. The album is already receiving extensive airplay with the songs “I See The Sunshine” and “Leap Of Faith” proving very popular.
For more than four decades Judy has graced the world with her talent and special gift of love continues.
