Judith Anne Stone AM (born 1944)[1] is an Australian retired singer and musician, who has recorded songs in the pop, rock and country genres.
[2] On the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 2006, Stone was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia, with the citation, "For service to the community as an entertainer at fundraising events for a range of charitable organisations, and as a singer.
"[3] Although she had not recorded new material in some years, Stone continued to tour and appear on television show until 2011, after which she left the industry citing ill health.
[6] Stone entered and won a local talent contest in her early teens and was noticed by country singer Reg Lindsay.
[6][8] In July 1957 a reviewer of Lindsay's show in Cabramatta for The Biz wrote that "Little Judy Stone, of Granville, was very pleasing in her turn.
"[7] Jacobsen's older brother, Col Joye, was an established pop singer and regular performer on Bandstand, a TV music show.
[6] Jacobsen had Stone signed with Festival Records and in June 1961 she issued her debut single, "You're Driving Me Mad" – a cover version of the 1958 song by United States singer, Jo Ann Campbell.
[10][11] The Biz' correspondent compared it to her earlier single, "Although very different to 'You're Driving Me Mad', this still possesses the inimitable style of this great little local star.
[10] In 1963 she recorded "It Takes a Lot (To Make Me Cry)" on which the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) sing backup vocals; it was released as a single in July.
"[10] Aside from her solo releases, Stone was often teamed with Col Joye in duets for singles, extended plays and albums.
"[19] In January 1992 Stone was diagnosed with throat cancer, at the same time as her fellow Bandstand regular, Peter Allen.
[21] In June Stone was still in recovery when she learned of Allen's death, she recalled that after the operation "He came into my room to see me because he was going back to the States and I just wanted to give him a big hug – he looked so ill."[21] On the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 2006, Stone was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia, with the citation, "For service to the community as an entertainer at fundraising events for a range of charitable organisations, and as a singer.