“If Linda Ronstadt’s a torch singer, Henske’s a flame thrower.”

Judy! Judy! Judy! Where have you been all my life??? So I’m watching TCM and a bizarre 60’s movie with Peter Breck comes on called “Hootenanny Hoot” (1963). It’s about a local TV producer searching the backwoods of Missouri for folk and bluegrass music talent. And low and behold there appears this interesting young woman belting out this amazing song, ‘Wade In the Water’. Talent on loan from God. No other way to explain it.

A quick trip to the Amazon Music store nets me two MP3 album downloads. ‘Judy Henske’ and ‘High Flying Bird’. She is part Janis Joplin and Mama Cass, without the suicidal tendencies. Part Cher, part Pink, part Grace Slick. She strikes me as the bad girl of folk, if there is such a thing. A total delight. No auto-tune, no triple track overdubbing of her own harmony and backups, she just gets out on a stage and belts it out. Raw and naked.

What is rather amazing is that she never hit the big-time. It’s right in that period of the early sixties where folk music was going bonkers. America was told Bob Dylan was a singer? What was that all about? There is no comparison. How the hell are we sold the bill of goods that a clown like Bob Dylan is a singer, and Judy Henske languishes in obscurity? What the hell is that about?

On the local oldies station every other song is either Billy Joel or Elton John. Radio stations can only play the same 83 songs? And a phenomenal talent like Judy lives in relative obscurity? Glad I found her now. Thank you Chippewa  Falls, WI.