(L-R) Mary Ramsey, Jude Johnstone, and Charles Duncan

The piano in the parlor of her parents' house in coastal Maine was hers as soon as she could reach its keys. Writing songs by age ten and playing clubs while still in school, Jude Johnstone surprised no one when, at nineteen, she headed west to continue her training in the studios and nightclubs of LA, where she soon found herself collaborating with many of that city's top producers and musicians.

"I love Jude's writing and 'Wounded Heart' is one of the most exquisite songs I've ever heard."
--Bonnie Raitt

Jude Johnstone's songs have been covered by such well known artists as Stevie Nicks ("Cry Wolf"), Bette Midler ("The Girl Is On To You"), Trisha Yearwood ("The Woman Before Me" and "Hearts In Armor"), and Johnny Cash (the title cut of the Grammy-winning album "Unchained"), as well as current recordings by Yearwood ("When We Were Still In Love"), Jennifer Warnes ("The Nightingale"), and Bonnie Raitt ("Wounded Heart"). She also won a 1993 BMI Songwriters Award for the song "The Woman Before Me".

"Songs rarely sound so potent as when they are delivered by the songwriter who penned them... Jude Johnstone breathes life into her own compositions with her debut disc..."
--Billboard Magazine

Jude's debut collection Coming of Age -- the initial release by the newly established BoJak Records -- sees guest contributions by Trisha Yearwood, Jennifer Warnes, and Bonnie Raitt, as well as by old friends Jackson Browne and Valerie Carter, and the invaluable assistance of Yearwood's producer, Garth Fundis. The album is a rich and diversified collection of songs offering reflective lyrical content and haunting melodies.

"Coming of Age is a triumphant, emotional effort that melds bluesy, Americana rock with lush, smart production and intense honesty... delivered in Johnstone's distinct, beautiful voice."
--Performing Songwriter Magazine

Jude Johnstone obviously knows a lot of the right people, but it's her amazing songwriting that has gotten her there. For the house concert here, we had another standing room only house concert and Jude's performance was beyond the most optimistic expectations. She simply enthralled our spellbound audience with her songs and performance. For this concert, Jude was backed by the very talented Mary Ramsey (10,000 Maniacs) on violin and viola and Charles Duncan on guitar.