Conversations with Judy Rodman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judy Rodman.

Hi Judy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I got to Nashville via a rabbit trail. I was raised in many locations: born in Riverside California, moved to London, England, Memphis Tennessee, Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska, Pontotoc Mississippi, Miami Coco Beach, and Jacksonville Florida, back to Memphis, and then finally to Nashville Tennessee. My dad was an air traffic controller who moved around to places he needed. He played music on the side and with my mother and siblings formed an amateur family band. Singing and playing piano and guitar since I was a small child, I studied music at Jacksonville, University.

Memphis: But my stint in academia was cut short as my professional career in voice took over. It began in 1971 when as a teenager I sang on a national jingle at a local studio in Jacksonville, Florida. A couple of years later I moved to Memphis, Tennessee where I was hired as a staff singer at the Tanner Corporation. I also joined a local cover band of studio musicians called Phase II, We performed when live music was at its peak, in historic venues including Beale Street East and the Riverbluff Hotel. I sang jingles by day, cover songs by night, and somewhere in between started singing background vocals on country and r&b projects at Lyn Lou Studio and Hi Records. From this extensive, demanding vocal work, I gained skills in vocal precision, vocal range, and multiple style genres, and developed extreme vocal stamina. I began to write my own songs, too.

Marriage, Childbirth, Traumatic Illness: I married John Rodman in 1975, the drummer who played for the jingle company and the cover band. Three years later our son was born but due to complications of Crohn’s Disease, I ended up nearly losing my life. I spent 3 months in the hospital, 7 weeks of that in the ICU, and several times on a ventilator. When I got home I found I’d lost an octave and a half of my vocal range. My surgeon told me my vocal cords probably had scar tissue from the endotracheal tubes. I decided that wasn’t going to stop me. It took 2 years to regain my physical strength, during which I began lightly singing some classical art songs I’d learned in college to try and awaken my vocal cords. Turns out it worked, and I gradually gained almost all my range back.

Nashville: Two years later we moved to Nashville where so many of my other music buddies had gone. With the help of an alternative medicine expert (Liz Flannigan) and a beloved Nashville vocal coach named Gerald Arthur, I continued to gain physical health and vocal ability. I began session work and sang on demos, hit songs, national jingles, and live stage performances. About 1983 I met Tommy West when he had me sing background vocals for his production of Ed Bruce. He was Jim Croce’s producer from New Jersey and when Jim died, Tommy came to Nashville to work with other artists. He liked the songs I had begun to write and long story short, a year later he joined Alan Bernard from LA and Howard Stark from New York to form MTM Records, under the MTM Entertainment umbrella. I was the first artist they signed. About a year later, I had a #1 record on all three national charts and won the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Female Vocalist award. I had several other top 10 singles from 2 albums. Heady experiences on national tours and appearances on shows like The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits, and Nashville Now followed and it seemed as though my artist career would never end.

Songwriting: I discovered the only thing that never ends is change. When MTM Records folded, I focused on songwriting. During my tenure as a staff writer at Warner Chappell, Leann Rimes cut a song I’d co-written with Keith Hinton called ‘One Way Ticket (Because I Can)’. It became a huge hit and won me a BMI Million-air award. After Warner, I signed with my friend and mentor Dave Loggins’ sub-publishing company at MCA, then wrote for Chrysalis Music. I now write for my own publishing company ‘Favorable Wind Songs’, with songs cut by indie artists and placed in various media productions including a Robert Duvall movie ‘Wild Horses’. My husband and I wrote and recorded a new project in 2015. The first song was placed in the Canadian Sci-Fi series ‘The Expanse’. I have also written three pop musical theater productions with scriptwriter Darren J. Butler.

Vocal Coaching, Studio Production: In 1998, before Favorable Wind Songs took off, I found myself at another brick wall without a publishing deal. My friend Carol Chase, who was on the road with Lynyard Skynard at the time, asked me how to hit a high note she was having trouble with. She kindled the idea that I could teach voice. I had directed, arranged, and contracted vocals for decades already and had learned more about voice than I realized. I had also done a ton of studio production for my songs. Producer Dick McVey suggested I record some vocal exercises for his artists. So after a few early experimental years digging into what worked for my voice and others, I developed a three-cornerstone method I called ‘Power, Path & Performance’ which combined breath, open-throat, and communication skills for rapid, professional-level vocal improvement results. I also began producing recording projects for new artists.

Now: With 50+ years of vocal performance and 20+ years of vocal coaching experience, I teach singers and speakers worldwide. I was voted ‘Best Vocal Coach’ by the former “Nashville Music Pros” organization. I give speeches, seminars, and workshops on various topics pertaining to voice and vocal careers. I produce recording projects from simple demos to full radio-ready masters. I also enjoy working as a vocal producer with other production teams. I still do background vocals, mostly in my own studio. My blog ‘All Things Vocal’ has over 2 million views and my All Things Vocal Podcast is available on most apps. I have several vocal training courses, including ‘Singing In The Studio’. My students and recording clients have appeared in major media including The Today Show, Letterman, Ellen Degeneres, The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Grammys, CMA, ACM & MTV Awards Shows, New York Times Best Seller list. I am member SAG-AFTRA, AFM, NATS, BMI.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggles, as I mentioned previously, included my illness, loss of voice, record label folding, loss of staff writer positions, and the changing music scene that has required constant learning and revising my skill sets and career path. I discovered that every brick wall was just a turning point in a path that keeps on going if I put one foot forward each day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work in several areas that intersect and synergistically affect each other. My main job is that of a vocal coach, but I’m a better teacher for my continuing work as a singer, speaker, performer, studio producer, author, and songwriter.

My main clients are professional singers and speakers, or those who wish to perform at a professional level. My specialties include maximizing vocal ability, honing communication skills, and protecting the voice by conquering vocal strain. In fact, it’s become my belief that with great vocal technique and wise preparation, there is never any need for vocal strain no matter how powerfully or long one performs on stage or in the studio.

What sets me apart is that my work is informed by 5 decades of experience in the professional field of voice. While I am happy to make my own music, I am most proud of helping to free and empower other voices that matter to make the world a better place.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can contact me at my website https://JudyRodman.com. They can also sign up there for 5 free pages of vocal health tips. Or call 615-347-5195.

The best way to support my efforts is through ratings and reviews on Google, as well as the All Things Vocal podcast.

Pricing:

• Vocal lessons: 1 hr = $125, 1/2 hr = $65
• Vocal training courses = prices at my website
• Studio services: call for an estimate
• Event speaking/performances: call.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://judyrodman.com/about.htm
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judyrodman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyrodmanvoice
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyrodman
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVyTs2nziLLSvdurFifZGP5YDOf8xJctW
• Other: https://blog.judyrodman.com 

Image Credits
Lyn Stevens and Peter Rodman