It’s never too late to become a diva. Just ask York’s Rose Hudson who, at age 41, is at the top of her game as one of the area’s most sought after blues/jazz singers.
Since immersing herself in the local scene nearly 10 years ago, Hudson has played an integral part in putting Central Pa. blues and jazz on the map as both a solo artist and part of a plethora of bands she’s worked with, including 3Trains Coming, Blue Light Special and Berks Jazz Project.
Prior to rising to local fame, Hudson had taken a 15-year hiatus from performing to give birth to eight children while also pursuing a degree in nursing. But when a visit to a local jazz club rekindled an old flame, Hudson had no choice but to pick up where she had left off at age 16, when she sang for an R&B group called Sunburst.
Her warm personality and a gifted set of pipes made her an instant hit locally. She began strictly performing jazz, but was bitten by the blues bug a few years back. Blues turned out to be a convenient outlet for Hudson, whose voice and lyrics mesh perfectly with the genre.
“Five years ago, I would have never thought of myself as a blues singer,” Hudson says. “With blues, I’m free to be me – I’m free to express myself a lot more.”
She has become so well acquainted with blues that glowing opportunities for touring have been falling on her doorstep. In September, Hudson performed as the only female American blues singer at the Copenhagen Blues Festival, an honor she was quite proud to bear.
As gratifying as such performances are, Hudson stays true to her diverse musical roots. She grew up listening to Top 40 songs on the radio and cites a wide range of influences, from Eva Cassidy to Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin to Pat Benatar. By drawing from such a diverse pool of influences, her work is tastefully inspired.
“When I’m singing, I’m not trying to be Queen Bee,” Hudson says of one of her main influences. “My gut feels it and I have to release it.”
Fortunately for Hudson, she has been blessed with the gift of substance. She recently recorded an effortless two hours’ worth of music, and has two albums in the works, one of which was only intended to be a demo. The demo proved to be so impressive that her label (Jam Studios) felt the need to release it.
As for the album that was made intentionally, Hudson hopes to finalize the track list to 12-13 songs, and is eyeing a release date later next year. And with more opportunities arising with each passing year, Hudson could easily become a prime example that you don’t have to be a young kid to fulfill your musical dreams.