Julie Budd

Julie Budd
Julie at Sinatra Exhibition
Background information
Birth nameEdith Erdman
Born (1954-05-07) May 7, 1954 (age 70)
Brooklyn, New York, US
GenresBroadway show tunes, jazz
Years active1966–present
Websitejuliebudd.com

Julie Budd (born May 4, 1954)[1] is an American recording artist and actress. 

Early life and education

Budd was born Edith Erdman[1] in Brooklyn, New York,[2] the second of three daughters of Joan and Saul Erdman,[3] a bottling company executive.[4] She attended the Roy H. Mann Jr. High School in Brooklyn until 1969, when she transferred to a private academy in Manhattan.[5]

Singing

Budd began her singing career at the age of 12 when, after winning amateur night at a resort camp, she was spotted by producer Herb Bernstein, who became her manager and arranger.[6][7] After signing a contract for personal management, he also had her record a demo, and arranged for a three-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer records.[8] Budd also became a regular on the NBC summer series Showcase '68.[1] She appeared on the Merv Griffin Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Carol Burnett Show and The Jim Nabors Hour.[9][10][11] At the time, her style drew frequent comparisons to Barbra Streisand (to the point where she was mistakenly assumed to be Streisand's sister).[12][13][14]

Appearing at Caesars Palace at the age of 16, Budd became the youngest opening act for Frank Sinatra.[6] She also became a frequent performer on the Las Vegas Strip, supporting Sinatra, Liberace, George Burns, and Bob Hope.[15] She performed the title song for the 1972 film Living Free, which played over the opening credits.[16]

Budd continues to perform mainly in the New York City area and Las Vegas. She released the albums Pure Imagination (1997) and If You Could See Me Now (2000),[15] and to commemorate Sinatra's centenary on December 12, 2015, she has released an album, Remembering Mr. Sinatra.[17] She also teaches master classes in singing.[9]

Concerts and symphonies

Budd has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.[18] She has also performed concerts and one-woman shows at the London Palladium and the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center. [19] She has worked with symphony orchestras including Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Austin Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony, Dallas Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.[20]

Acting

Budd is associated with the Circle Repertory Company and Playwrights Horizons of New York City.[15] She starred in the 1981 Walt Disney film The Devil and Max Devlin as a 19-year-old high school dropout and aspiring singer.[21][22] Budd has stated that "having the opportunity to work for the Disney Company was a life changer for me. At Disney they always do it right".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Leszczak, Bob (25 June 2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950–2000. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 37–8. ISBN 978-1-4422-4274-6.
  2. ^ Deangelis, Martin (September 24, 2011). "Longtime Atlantic City performer Julie Budd helps Schultz-Hill Foundation raise money for arts and history groups". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  3. ^ Thompson, Ruth (December 20, 1969). "Teen-age Julie Budd Takes New Fame in Stride". The Gettysburg Times. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Abrahams, Arleen (January 25, 1969). "Little Julie Budd is Making an Impact With Her Big Voice". The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, Va. Associated Press. p. 10. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  5. ^ Robinson, Barry (January 11, 1969). "Young Singer Julie Budd Has Blossoming Career". The Evening News. Newburgh, NJ. p. 17. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Di Nunzio, Miriam (November 20, 1998). "The magic's still working for performer Julie Budd". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  7. ^ Sorokoff, Stephen. "Photos: Julie Budd & Herb Bernstein Celebrate 50 Years of Music Collaboration". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  8. ^ Robinson, Barry (January 9, 199). "Singer Julie Budd 'Blossoms'". Elmira (New York) Star-Gazette. p. 19. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b Keogh, Tom (June 3, 2011). "Hamlisch and Streisand, the way they were". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "Julie Budd, Jayne Wyman Join Nabors". The Schenectady Gazette. December 6, 1969. p. 7. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Klein, Barbara (October 7, 1976). "Julie Budd: She May Not Rise, But She Shines". The News (Paterson, New Jersey). p. 42. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Dangaard, Colin (July 3, 1977). "Julie Budd: At 23, she's compared with Streisand". Green Bay (Wisconsin) Press-Gazette. p. 3-CloseUp. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Chadwick, Bruce (September 17, 1989). "Budding Star Is Ready to Soar". New York Daily News. p. 23-City Lights. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Groom, Roger (November 18, 1974). "Julie Budd Must Shed Sister Identification". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 41. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c "Julie Budd". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  16. ^ Passafiume, Andrea (2015). "Living Free (1972)". Turner Classic Movies.
  17. ^ "Remembering Mr. Sinatra". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  18. ^ Wilcox, David (April 30, 2015). "Budd remembers Walsh ahead of benefit". The Citizen (Auburn, New York). p. D2. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Cuden, Steve (2021-03-23). "Julie Budd, Legendary Singer-Episode #153". Storybeat with Steve Cuden. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  20. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Julie Budd Performs THE SONGS OF MY LIFE...AND THE COMPOSERS WHO WROTE THEM At Birdland". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  21. ^ Walljasper, Jay (February 13, 1981). "Streisand's sing-alike makes debut in Disney's 'Devil and Max Devilin". Minneapolis Star. p. 5B. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Stevens, Dale (February 16, 1981). "Budding star". Cincinnati Post. p. 38. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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