ABOUT
Born in 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Judy Walchuk (Ginn) started traveling at the early age of four by moving to Vancouver in 1949.
At the age of seven, Judy commanded a presence that even adults many years her senior could not match. Judy made one of her first appearances on the Glenburn Dairy talent show on CKNW and was ‘discovered repeatedly’ captivating audiences at the renowned Kitsilano Showboat throughout 1952.
​Still in her teens, the early 60’s found Judy hitting the airwaves on CBC Radio and Television in Vancouver and Toronto. Venturing out on her own in the late 60’s Judy started touring across Canada performing at many of the grand hotels and supper clubs under the name of Judy Ginn for ten years.
In 1967 Judy recorded her first album “Introducing Judy Ginn” for RCA.
While Judy was touring, and performing on C.B.C. radio and television, her brother Jim was studying Bass and guitar and making a name for himself on the Canadian Jazz scene.
Shortly after, Judy formed a duo with her brother Jim Walchuk, writing their own material. Soon they were flown to London, England to open the show lounge at the new Playboy Club. While in England, they performed at the “Talk of the Town”, The Coventry Hippodrome Theatre and recorded their first single together. While singing at Quaglino’s in London, they were discovered by David Frost who invited them to sing at a birthday party for Noel Coward.
They recorded their first single, Reaching Far Too High with the Tom Jones Orchestra, which British actress and pop star, Shani Wallis also covered.
After returning from England, the duo went to Hawaii to join the Don Ho Show at the International Marketplace with Jim in the band and Judy singing to packed houses.
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They continued with the Do Ho Show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas to rave reviews.
The next move was to Los Angeles ( the first time) and they found themselves as frequent guests on the Merv Griffin show with guests such as Joan Baez, Buffy St. Marie and Peter Yarrow and Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary and wowing audiences nightly in the Playboy club in Los Angeles.
Back to Vancouver, they released their first full album of original songs Called JUDE, produced by Quality Records Canada.
They formed a five-piece band which eventually included their younger sister, Marlee. They toured throughout Canada performing in hotel lounges and opening for acts like Ricky Nelson and Jim Neighbors at the Pacific Coliseum.
As their popularity continued to grow, they were offered their own musical variety television series with CBC titled…you guessed it… “The Judy and Jim Show.”
Banjo Parlour Series
They balanced a hectic schedule of playing the Cave Supper Club opening for touring acts like Tim Conway, Wayne Newton, Jerry Van Dyke, Mitzi Gaynor- to name a few. Guest appearances on The Tommy Hunter Show in Toronto, the Paul Horn show, The Mike Nuen Show, the Vancouver Show and many more.
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In 1974, the Vancouver Arts Club ​commissioned Judy and Jim to write the music and lyrics for the production of “Alice in Wonderland” which featured a cast of over two hundred and ran through the Pacific National Exhibition at the Pacific Coliseum.
In 1977, Judy & Jim relocated to Los Angeles for 12 years this time and continued to write and produce for many artists like Billy Katz who recorded their song "Sleeping Beauty", co-written with Grammy Winning Producer, Clif Magness.
They wrote a Christmas Musical with Deborah Walley (Gidget) called, "The Trouble With Christmas," Scored a film about Blanche MacDonald, "A Woman of Grace"
and worked with David Foster, Hal Yoegler with Screen Gems and many more.
In 1984, One of Judy and Jim's country music compositions, "God Bless The Woman" was recorded by sister, Marlee and won the WestCoast Songwriters Festival and went on to win for top country song in the Canadian Song Festival. God Bless the Woman was on "A" playlists for radio across Canada for 6 months and was also nominated for 4, BC Counrty Music Awards.
Listen to God Bless the Woman on the Music page
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Judy Ginn Walchuk & Jim Walchuk writing in their Vancouver Studio, the Audio Lounge
Marlee Walchuk, Judy Inn Walchuk, Jim Walchuk at the Chateau Lacombe in Edmonton
Jim Walchuk Plaing Bass for Lonnie Donegan
Judy and Jim recording in Los Angeles
Induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
Night performances at the PNE-1977
Fun shot with the bus stop ad for their play, Comfort Cottages
Judy performing at the Kay Meek Theatre
During filming of their "This Place" video
In makeup for the Judy & Jim Show
Photo session for "Close Enough For Love" live CD
After 30 years of singing and performing, Judy stepped out of the spotlight in 1982 to open “Shady Business” in Venice Beach. She created custom-made lampshades for clients - many of those celebrities including Pam Dawber, Goldie Hawn, Bernadette Peters, Henry Mancini, Shelley Duval, Ashley Judd and John Ratzenburger to name a few.
In 1988 Judy came home to Vancouver to open Wally’s Folly on Dunbar and 41st - continuing to create illuminating shades and filling up her schedule by writing jingles and show tunes, poetry, doing studio work and voice-overs.
Jim was not far behind returning to Vancouver in 1989 and opened his own recording studio, W3 Sound, where he has been producing specialty scores for conferences, writing and producing commercials and producing CD’s for various artists around the world.
​In 2000 & 2004 Judy and Jim wrote and performed the “In Full Bloom” show. By 2009 by popular demand Judy and Jim wrote and performed their "Coming Home" concert in Vancouver.
Judy's many fans in Vancouver, across Canada and around the world have been thrilled that she stepped back into the limelight to move and delight audiences through her powerful spirit and voice.​
Judy & Jim have released their 2nd CD as the The Flying Walchuks. Both "Without A Net" and "The Brass Ring" are filled with their original songs along with 3 produced music videos.
Both albums can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and can be heard on the MUSIC Page here and on YouTube.
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Next was a live CD of jazz standards with Miles Black on piano called "Close Enough For Love," which Jim engineered.
Judy teamed up with friend, Jane Clayton and wrote their first play. "Comfort Cottages."Within a year of it's final draft, Western Gold Theatre Company in Vancouver produced a 3 week production of it to sold-out houses. In 2022, The Central Alberta Theatre enjoyed a highly successful run of it as well.
Judy, Jim and sister Marlee have been writing an autobiographical theatrical musical based on Judy and Marlee's experiences in Show business, called "Pass Me That Hat."
This is their largest joint project yet writing the script (book) and the music and it is planned to be workshopped in 2023 to get it ready for production.