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Judy Stone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Australian singer. For the American journalist and film critic, see Judy Stone (journalist).

Judy Stone
Birth nameJudith Anne Stone
Born (1941-01-01) 1 January 1941 (age 84)[a]
Summer Hill, New South Wales
OriginGranville, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
  • Pop
  • country
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1956 – c. 2011
LabelsFestival, Universal Summit

Judith Anne Stone AM (born 1 January 1941)[1][a] is an Australian retired singer and musician, who has recorded songs in the pop, rock and country genres. Stone often sang cover versions of popular songs from the United States and the United Kingdom, and on occasion Italy and Sweden. She had top 20 singles on the national charts with "I'll Step Down" (1962), "4,003,221 Tears from Now" (1964), "Born a Woman" (1966), and "Would You Lay with Me" (1974).

Early life

[edit]

Judith Anne Stone[2] was born on 1 January 1941 was born in Summer Hill, New South Wales [3][4][5][6][7][a] and grew up in the Sydney suburb of Granville.[2][13][14] She has two younger sisters, Joyce and Janice.[4]

From a young age she sang country music at home and her parents bought her a guitar, which she learned to play.[14]

Career

[edit]

Stone entered and won a local talent contest in her early teens and was noticed by country singer Reg Lindsay. By November 1956 she had joined his touring performance troupe, the Reg Lindsay Show, and stayed for 18 months.[14][15] In July 1957 a reviewer of Lindsay's show in Cabramatta for The Biz wrote that "Little Judy Stone, of Granville, was very pleasing in her turn."[16]

Stone hired Kevin Jacobsen as her talent agent.[14][4] She described meeting him, "I used to sing, with a heavy guitar, Western style numbers. Once I met Kevin he gave me one instruction: 'Throw that guitar out the window.' Although I did not throw it out any window, I am now singing without any of my own musical accompaniment."[4] Jacobsen's older brother, Col Joye, was an established pop singer and regular performer on Bandstand, a TV music show.[14][4] Stone supported his group, Joye and the Joy Boys, on their tours of South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.[14] Stone, as a young performer, had been billed as "The Cowgirl from Granville" but on her first appearance on Bandstand she was mistakenly announced as "The Callgirl from Granville".[13] By May 1961 she had also appeared on other TV music shows, Teen Time and Six O'Clock Rock.[14]

Jacobsen had Stone signed with Festival Records and in June 1961 she issued her debut single, "You're Driving Me Mad" – a cover version of the 1958 song by United States singer, Jo Ann Campbell.[17][18] For the track she was backed by the Joy Boys.[19] In August she relocated to Melbourne, for three months, to appear on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight variety TV show.[4] She expected that "While in Melbourne most of my shows will be adult performances, which will be a change from the present teenagers' shows."[4] Her third single, "I'll Step Down", was released in February 1962 and became a top 10 hit in Sydney and top 20 in Brisbane.[17][18] The Biz' correspondent compared it to her earlier single, "Although very different to 'You're Driving Me Mad', this still possesses the inimitable style of this great little local star."[20] Also in that year Stone issued her debut album, I'll Step Down, on Festival.[17]

In 1963 she recorded "It Takes a Lot (To Make Me Cry)" on which the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) sing backup vocals; it was released as a single in July.[17][21] Her seventh single, "4,003,221 Tears from Now", was released in April 1964.[17] It is a cover version of the 1963 single by US singer Kerri Downs (aka Mary Lou Kiernan).[22] According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, it "became Stone's most popular release of the 1960s. The heart-wrenching ballad... [which] peaked at #8 in Sydney and #7 in Melbourne."[17]

In August–September 1974, Stone accompanied Rolf Harris (along with Ross Ryan, didgeridoo player David Blanasi) to perform at Expo '74 in Spokane, Washington, United States. Helen Reddy and other singers also gave performances at the Expo.[23][24][25]

Aside from her solo releases, Stone was often teamed with Col Joye in duets for singles, extended plays and albums.[17] McFarlane found their work "contained cutesy material like 'Young and Healthy', 'Angry' and 'Side by Side'."[17] In early 1965 Stone with Col Joye and the Joy Boys undertook a tour of Japan for two months.[17] In September 1966 she covered "Born a Woman" by US singer, Sandy Posey.[17][26] It was a top 10 hit in Sydney.[17]

From the late 1960s and into the early 1970s Stone "consolidated on her early pop successes with regular appearances on the club and country music circuits."[17] Later singles included, "Mare Mare Mare" (January 1974), "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" (No. 2, June 1974),[27] "Silver Wings and Golden Rings" (February 1975) and "Hasta Mañana" (May 1976).[17]

In 2007 Stone performed a duet with Scottish singer-songwriter Isla Grant on the track "What's a Girl to Do?" for Grant's album, Down Memory Lane.

She retired in around 2011 due to the effects of throat cancer.[28]

Recognition and honours

[edit]

On the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 2006, Stone was appointed Member of the Order of Australia, "For service to the community as an entertainer at fundraising events for a range of charitable organisations, and as a singer".[2]

In January 2014 she was made Australia Day Ambassador for regional celebrations in Laurieton, Wauchope, and Port Macquarie.[29]

In 2023, Stone was inducted into the Australian Women in Music's Honour Roll by Beccy Cole.[30]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Australian Women in Music Awards

[edit]

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Judy Stone Honour Roll awarded [31][32]

King of Pop Awards

[edit]

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978.[33]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1972 herself Best Dressed Female Won

Mo Awards

[edit]

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Judy Stone won nine awards in that time.[34]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1981 Judy Stone Country Female of the Year Won
1982 Judy Stone Country Female of the Year Won
1983 Judy Stone Country Female of the Year Won
1984 Judy Stone Country Female Entertainer of the Year Won
1985 Judy Stone Country Female Entertainer of the Year Won
1986 Judy Stone Country Female Entertainer of the Year Won
1987 Judy Stone Country Female Entertainer of the Year Won
1988 Judy Stone Country Female Entertainer of the Year Won
2007 Judy Stone Hall of Fame inductee

Personal life

[edit]

On 25 February 1966, Stone married fellow musician, Leo de Kroo.[35] The de Kroo brothers, Leo and Doug, were a duo who also appeared on Bandstand and other pop music shows.[9][36] The marriage ended in divorce five years later.[9]

In January 1992 Stone was diagnosed with throat cancer, at the same time as her fellow Bandstand regular, Peter Allen.[37] Both Stone and Allen were operated on the same day by the same surgeon.[37] In June, Stone was still in recovery when she learned of Allen's death.[37]

Charts

[edit]

Stone had top 20 singles on the national charts with:[30]

  • "I'll Step Down" (No. 19, February 1962)
  • "4,003,221 Tears from Now" (April 1964)
  • "Born a Woman" (No. 3, September 1966)
  • "Would You Lay with Me" (No. 2, June 1974)

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Type
1958 In Melbourne Tonight Herself – Guest Performer TV series
1960–1961 Six O'Clock Rock Regular Performer ABC TV series
1961–1967 Bandstand Regular Performer TV series, 22 episodes
1962 Startime Guest – Herself TV series
1966–1967 The Go!! Show Guest Performer TV series, 3 episodes
1972 Buster Fiddess Memorial Concert Herself TV Special
1972 ALP: It's Time Herself TV Campaign
1973 The Graham Kennedy Show Guest Performer TV series, 3 episodes
1973 The True Blue Show Herself as Various characters TV series, 1 episode
1974 The Fabulous Col Joye Guest – Herself TV Special
1974 Ted Hamilton's Musical World Guest – Herself TV series, 1 episode
1974–1975 The Ernie Sigley Show Guest Performer TV series, 9 episodes
1975; 1977 This Is Your Life Guest – Herself TV series, 1 epsidoe "Johnny O'Keefe"
1976 Ernie Guest – Herself TV series, 1 episode
1977 This Is Your Life Guest – Herself TV series, 1 episode "Brian Henderson"
1978–1979 Reg Lindsay's Country Homestead Regular Performer TV series
1980 Celebrity Tattletales Herself – Panellist TV series, 3 episodes
1981 Australian Music Stars of the 60s Herself in archive clips TV Special
1981 Personality Squares Herself TV series, 1 episode
1981 The Don Lane Show Guest Performer sings "Dancing Round The Moon" TV series, 1 episode
1981 Search for a Star Herself – Judge TV series
1982 The Daryl Somers Show Guest Performer sings "Everly Brothers Medley" with Little Pattie TV series, 1 episode
1982 Lee Conway Show Guest Performer sings "Summer Wine" with Lee Conway & Leanne Douglas TV series, 1 episode
1985 Blankety Blanks Herself TV series, 2 episodes
1985 It's A Knockout Herself – Guest Referee TV series, 1 episode
1987 Have a Go Herself – Guest Judge TV series, 3 episodes
1988 1988 N.S.W. Royal Bicentennial Concert Herself sings "4,300,221 Tears From Now" TV Special
1988 Queensland Day Royal Expo Concert Herself TV Special
1992 The Main Event Herself TV series, 1 episode
1992 Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz Herself ABC TV Special
1998 When Rock Was Young: The 60s Herself TV Special
2001 Long Way to the Top Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2001 This Is Your Life: Trisha Noble Guest with Col Joye TV series, 1 episode
2002 Long Way to the Top: Live in Concert Herself sings 4,300,221 Tears From Now" / "Hasta Manana" ABC TV Concert Special
2003 Love Is in the Air Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode 2: "She's Leaving Home"
2006 Dusty: Little By Little Herself & John Adams ABC TV series, 1 episode
2006 Mornings with Kerri-Anne Guest – Herself with Dinah Lee, Little Pattie, Lonnie Lee, Johnny Devlin & Warren Williams TV series, 1 episode
2008 Spicks and Specks Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode
2023 Australian Women in Music Awards Guest – Herself (Lifetime Music Achievement Award) ABC TV Special

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[38]
I'll Step Down —
Col and Judy (by Col Joye and Judy Stone)
  • Released: 1962
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Festival Records (FL 30901)
 —
Got You on My Mind
  • Released: 1964
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Festival Records (FL 31331)
 —
Pure Stone'
  • Released: 1971
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Frog Records Australia (FLP-001)
 -
Born to Lose
  • Released: 1972
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Universal Summit (SRA250.116)
 -
In a Field of Stone
  • Released: 1974
  • Format: LP
  • Label: M7 (MLFA 070)
 63
A Part of Me
  • Released: 1976
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Universal Summit (SCD 499 027)
 -

Extended plays

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Singles

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Year Single Chart Positions
AUS[27][39]
1961 "You're Driving Me Mad" 80
"Danger! Heartbreak Ahead" –
1962 "I'll Step Down"/"Mommie and Daddy Were Twistin'" 19
"Finders Keepers" 50
"I Wanna Love You" –
1963 "It Takes a Lot (To Make Me Cry)" –
1964 "4,003,221 Tears from Now" 11
"Break My Heartbreak" –
1965 "Hard to Say Goodnight" –
"In My Neighbourhood" –
1966 "Born a Woman" 3
1967 "Don't Touch Me" –
"And the Trouble with Me Is You" –
1968 "I Might as Well Get Used to It" –
1969 "Society's Child" –
1971 "Day by Day" 25
1974 "Mare, Mare, Mare (Keep Safe My Love)" 22
"Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" 2
"Where are the Clowns" 79
1975 "We Two Will Love (Oui Pour La Vie)" 94
"Silver Wings and Golden Rings" 39
1976 "Hasta Mañana" 40
1978 "What are You Doing Tonight?" –
1980 "Years" –
1980 "Magic in Your Mind" –
1983 "Number One in My Heart" –

Other singles

[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS
[40]
"The Garden"
(as Australia Too) 		1985 22

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c Stone's date and year of birth are inconsistently reported in years ranging from 1940 to 1944.[8][9][10][11][12]

References

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  1. ^ "Nostalgia Town Judy Stone Pop & Country singer S3 E19".
  2. ^ a b c "Honours – Search Australian Honours: Stone, Judith Anne". It's an Honour. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Teenagers' WEEKLY". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 30. Australia, Australia. 16 January 1963. p. 1 (Teenagers' Weekly). Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia. Judy Stone turned 19 on New Year's Day.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Pretty 'Mighty atom' strikes the double". The Cumberland Argus. 9 August 1961. p. 11. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia. These two important events in the life of 17-year-old Judy Stone, of Brussels Street, Granville,
  5. ^ "Judy Stone en Leo de Kroo trouwen in Parramatta". Dutch Australian Weekly (in Dutch). Vol. 15, no. 20. New South Wales, Australia. 11 February 1966. p. 9. Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia. ...Judy Stone die 22 jaar is.
  6. ^ McFarlane, Ian (15 June 2004). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Judy Stone'". whammo.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 August 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  7. ^ "CARDS FROM THE STARS". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 29, no. 29. Australia, Australia. 20 December 1961. p. 11 (Teenagers' Weekly). Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia. Judy will be 18 on New Year's Day.
  8. ^ Groves, Derham (15 May 2020). Out of the Ordinary: Popular Art, Architecture and Design. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5275-5142-8. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Stone, Judy (17 September 1980). "Judy Stone's new single: "The year's best kept secret"". The Australian Women's Weekly (Interview). Vol. 48, no. 16. Interviewed by Manning, Fiona. Australia, Australia. p. 32. Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia. Judy's career began at the age of ll, and she went professional in 1966 at the age of 24... the woman who, at 38, still looks like a teenager.
  10. ^ "Judy Stone AM". Object from the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame
  11. ^ "Rock of Ages - 1958-1963 – Judy Stone". 4The Record. 10 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Judy Stone". History of Australian music 1960-2000. 7 September 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Episode Thirty Four (17/09/2008)". Spicks and Specks. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Ca-rolling Stone gathers fans!". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 28, no. 52. 31 May 1961. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia. Note: a photo of Stone appears in the article.
  15. ^ "Advertising: The Reg Lindsay Show". The Cumberland Argus. No. 3358. 14 November 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Reg Lindsay at Cabramatta". The Biz. 10 July 1957. p. 6. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Judy Stone'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 23 August 2004.
  18. ^ a b "'You're Driving Me Mad' – Judy Stone (1961)". Pop Archives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Lyn Nuttall. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  19. ^ Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Industry – Record Labels – Festival Records". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 14 March 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Turntable Talk". The Biz. No. 2910. 28 March 1962. p. 9. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1963".
  22. ^ "'4,003,221 Tears from Now' – Judy Stone (1964)". Pop Archives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Lyn Nuttall. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  23. ^ "Top artists for Expo '74". The Canberra Times. Vol. 48, no. 13, 667. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1974. p. 3. Retrieved 16 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Australian Expo day". The Canberra Times. Vol. 49, no. 13, 870. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 September 1974. p. 17. Retrieved 16 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Australia day at Expo 74". The Canberra Times. Vol. 49, no. 13, 868. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 September 1974. p. 9. Retrieved 16 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "'Born a Woman' – Judy Stone (1966)". Pop Archives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Lyn Nuttall. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  27. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  28. ^ Stone, Judy (25 September 2023). "Judy Stone AM: 'We Need The Australian Women in Music Awards Now More Than Ever'". Countrytown (Interview). Interviewed by Robinson, Ellie. Retrieved 25 September 2023. I'll be 83 in a couple of months...
  29. ^ "Judy Stone is our ambassador". Wauchope Gazette. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  30. ^ a b "Judy Stone AM: 'We Need The Australian Women in Music Now More Than Ever'".
  31. ^ "Finalists Announced for the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards". Music Feeds. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Australian Women In Music Awards 2023 Winners Announced". Music Feeds. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  34. ^ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Pop Stars Wed". The Canberra Times. Vol. 40, no. 11, 402. 26 February 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ Ward, Kirsten (20 September 1961). "Three boys take to the sawdust trail". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 29, no. 16. p. 11 (Teenagers' Weekly). Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ a b c "Entertainers mourn singer". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 887. 20 June 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 26 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 296. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  39. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Turramurra, NSW: Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-6464-4439-5. Note: Chart positions back calculated by Kent in 2005.
  40. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 22. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Noel McGrath's Australian Encyclopaedia of Rock & Pop, 1978
  • An Australian Rock Discography, Chris Spencer, 1990, Moonlight Publishing
  • The Who's Who of Australian Rock, Chris Spencer, Moonlight Publishing
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