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Singer/Songwriter Judy Cheeks returns from semi-retirement after well over a decade, with her first contemporary gospel album, True Love is Free.
Though best known for dance music hits in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s such as Mellow Lovin’, Respect, As Long As You’re Good To Me and Reach, Cheeks is finally fully embracing her legacies as the daughter of the legendary gospel singer Reverend Julius Cheeks and the goddaughter of the incomparable Sam Cooke. It was while writing the book Love and Honor about her Father and his gospel quartets, that Cheeks was inspired to return to singing, and specifically, in gospel.
“In my research, I realized all he had gone through in the timeline of his life alongside the history of America. He was singing about God for people; yet couldn’t drive through the South without fearing for his life. Imagine how much faith he had to possess to follow that calling” Judy reveals. “Because of my Dad, I was surrounded by gospel and all of the great gospel singers. Young kids would go to pop concerts. I got my thrill going to see the Davis Sisters and The Hummingbirds. That was my grounding.”
Released on June 18th, the first single Happy is a rousing soul-shoutin’ testimony that will get believers on their feet like Mavis Staples moonlighting up in the club! To appease her worldwide base of club music fans, the song is also being serviced as an Electronica House remix featuring Christian rapper Hopp and rendered by the red hot Jared Gosselin (India.Arie, Corinne Bailey Rae and JOE). In addition Happy is currently being remixed by famed world class DJ Mikey Gallagher (Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi).
The 10-song album True Love is Free is truly a labor of love produced by longtime friend Michael B. Sutton (Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson) who co-composed all of the material in deeply inspired sessions with Cheeks. The album will be a blessed revelation for longtime fans of the Miami-born singer who got her start working with Ike & Tina Turner in Los Angeles at age 19, followed by background singing for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Donna Summer.
“Nothing feels better than singing gospel” Judy rejoices. ”When I started working with Mike on True Love is Free (slated for Summer release), I honestly felt a difference – like going back to the source of my talent, to change the lives of people and heal their spirits through the gift of love. God is absolute love…like warm honey being poured all over you. If I don’t get that message out I’m going to explode!”
Happy is now being worked at radio by The Artist Company at Gospel/Urban Radio and received over 20 BDS adds in the first week alone. The single is also being added to the playlist for Mikey Gallagher’s Kings of Clubs Mixshow and House Sound of LA. Upcoming radio interviews include Conversations LIVE! Radio in July and New Inspirational Artists, Communicating Our Message! (NIACOM) in August. In the press arena, writers were thrilled to hear about Judy’s new single. Judy has received coverage from the following publications: 5 Magazine (House Music from Chicago), Ejazznews, I4u News, Music & Mp3 News, Contacto Latino News, Wenn.com,and USA Today (Dionne Warwick Topic Page).
