Biography

JUDY INSLEY spent her early childhood on 77 acres of sprawling pastures in rural Michigan.  An only child, she spent countless hours exploring her immediate world from the back of her faithful Shetland pony.  Along the way, she developed a great fondness for her surroundings and all the creatures with whom she shared it.  Judy was also consistently drawn to the music emanating from the radio inside the horse barn...and totally mesmerized by anyone strumming a guitar in her presence.

Now, as a “seasoned” adult, she still loves to hang out with horses, but also swims with dolphins and cuddles with cats.  She still believes in the inter-connectedness of all things...and in music as a healing unifier.

Judy's music has been called "insightful" and "poetic." Her comfortable, instinctive vocals and skillful guitar and mandolin playing provide a strong foundation for heartfelt lyrics and flowing melodies. The release of her 2007 CD, “Leaving Home” resulted in two 2008 Detroit Music Awards nominations for ”Outstanding Acoustic/Folk Recording” and “Outstanding Acoustic/ Folk Songwriter.” She also finished among the top 30 finalists (out of over 600 entries) in the 2008 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest. A 2011 holiday single titled "Spirit of the Season" received generous airplay in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Her latest full-length CD "Remember Beautiful" was released in May of 2013 to a sell-out crowd at Trinity House Theatre in Livonia, Michigan. Several of the songs from that CD have been featured on Folk DJ playlists throughout the U.S. In addition to her own songwriting and performing endeavors, she also works as a "side player" for other musicians and teaches acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele and banjo.