Judie Tzuke

Judie Tzuke, born Judie Myers on 3 April 1956 in London, is an English singer-songwriter. She starts writing poems and turning them into songs from her mid-teens, and also plays folk clubs while accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. After studying arts, music and drama, she tries to secure a record deal at Island Records, then is signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records after performing a few songs for the label’s managing director, David Croker.

Early recording and breakthrough

Tzuke records her debut album, Welcome to the Cruise, with collaborator Mike Paxman, producer John Punter and sessions at Air Studios in London. Its first single, “For You”, receives critical praise and radio play but reaches only the Top 40. Her best-known song, “Stay With Me Till Dawn”, follows with the album and becomes a UK hit, reaching number 16 and staying in the charts for 16 weeks. She appears three times on Top of the Pops, and the song remains widely played on UK radio and appears on many compilation albums.

Band, touring and later records

Following the success of her debut, Tzuke and Mike Paxman form her first band with Paul Muggleton on guitar and backing vocals, Bob Noble on keyboards, John Edwards on bass and Jeff Rich on drums. She tours with the group for 18 months and records her second album, Sportscar, at Virgin’s Manor Studios in Oxfordshire. In 1980 she tours the United States for three months as support to Elton John, including a show in New York’s Central Park that draws 450,000 people. Because of changes to Rocket’s US distribution and promotion, her records are not available in shops there despite the size of the audiences.

She later records I Am the Phoenix and tours the UK and Europe, headlining the Glastonbury CND Festival and other summer festivals in Europe. She leaves Rocket and signs to Chrysalis Records. Her next album, Shoot the Moon, is recorded mainly at Rockfield Studios in Wales and released in 1982. A live album, Roadnoise, is issued later that year from two sold-out Hammersmith Odeon shows recorded during a spring tour. She then records another album at Mayfair Studios in London with Mike Paxman and Paul Muggleton, and adds other musicians to her stage band.

Later career

Through the late 1980s and 1990s, Tzuke continues to record and tour. She also sets up her own record label and writes songs for other artists.