Aug 29, 2008

The unsung songwriter

Gal behind others' hits finding own spotlight

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

Jude Johnstone's songs have been recorded by Stevie Nicks, Bette Midler and Jennifer Warnes. Trisha Yearwood took Johnstone's "The Women Before Me" all the way to No. 1. Johnstone wrote the title track to Johnny Cash's Grammy Award-winning album "Unchained." "The Nightingale" and "In This House," two other Johnstone tunes, are featured on the Lifetime/ABC TV series "Army Wives."

Yet Johnstone says it's still a struggle to get her songs heard. "As every year goes by, I see that, for me, it's going to be harder to get attention," she said. "Artists who haven't already made a big dent tend to be on the younger side."

Though, prestige gigs like opening at Mountain Winery on Sept. 3 for Bonnie Raitt (who recorded Johnstone's "Wounded Heart.") are bound to help.

"(Raitt's) talent is obvious. But I admire her as a person even more," Johnstone said. "She has kept not only her integrity, but her equilibrium. It's hard to keep a balance in your life, especially for artists like Bonnie, who are much more celebrated than I am and who tour incessantly. As much as people like to perform for live audiences, it's not as glamorous as it may seem to the outside world. It must be wearing on a person."

Johnstone, on the other hand, says she is dying to get out and play more. "As sort of an underdog artist, it's hard to get the opportunity to tour very often, because it's so expensive to carry musicians with you and live in hotels. That's why it's so appreciated when someone like Bonnie takes you along with them."

Listeners will appreciate the musical journey Johnstone conducts on her latest album, "Mr. Sun." Her beautifully bluesy vocals, poetic lyrics and jazzy melodies make these songs instant classics.

Jazz-oriented players from her earlier "Blue Light" album encouraged her to stretch musically. She rose to the challenge, expanding her piano technique and learning to write charts.

"It's like when you're playing tennis with somebody who's a little better than you. It makes you play better," she said. "They taught me a lot. It inspired me. The whole time we were recording 'Blue Light,' I was writing 'Mr. Sun.'"

Johnstone never tailors songs for other performers. "I write everything from my own personal reality. So when other people record my songs, it's just a happenstance. They relate the material to their own lives," she said. "It's a thrill to have other people record your work. It's validating."

When artists put their own imprint on a song, Johnstone doesn't mind. "Being surprised is fun."

When important shows pop up, that, too, surprises Johnstone. "I tend to have a couple of high profile gigs in a row and then nothing. That's hard. You'd like to get used to playing with the guys you're out with. I actually have great difficulty remembering all the words, because of all the writing over the past three years. Either that or I'm just older than I thought," she said with a laugh.

"Right now I'm rehearsing this set over and over, so I can remember the lyrics and not look like a dear in the headlights when I play in front of Bonnie."

Growing up in Maine, Johnstone began playing piano at age 8 and immediately started writing lyrics and melodies. "There's no doubt that it's a gift and not something that I pretend I have all that much to do with. It's completely mysterious. I love it more than anything."

In addition to her father's Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday collection, she listened to her older brothers' Beatles records.

"Structurally, Lennon and McCartney were such fabulous writers. I learned everything I needed to know about writing songs right there."

In her songwriting, Johnstone never hesitates to reach down to her emotional core. "Sometimes it's difficult for the people around me, the soul-baring. But I couldn't function without it. It's my therapy."

It helps that her husband, Charles Duncan, is also a songwriter. "He understands that there's a lot of poetic license going on all the time."

Their 17-year-old daughter is fascinated by the dramatic arts. A 12-year-old daughter is already a singer-songwriter. "She has the sickness," Johnstone quipped.

"There isn't a moment in our house that isn't musical. (My daughters) couldn't help but be infected by self-expression. By example, we encouraged them to do whatever the heck they wanted to do and not look back."

Johnstone's own parents shared that same philosophy. "They never blinked when I said, 'I'm going to grow up and be a singer-songwriter.' They never said, 'Maybe you need a little degree to go with that.' They just waved me goodbye when I was 19 and left for California. Encouragement is all you have to give a kid."

Eventually Johnstone left Los Angeles for the cozy, coastal town of Cambria. It's an atmosphere conducive to creativity.

Though she hasn't become a household name, Johnstone's earned the acclaim of her peers, as well as members of the public fortunate enough to have discovered her music.

"It's rewarding when you get an e-mail from somebody, saying how much one of your songs meant to them at a particular time in their life. It keeps you at the piano.

"I don't look too far ahead. I'm just trying to stay alive in the music business. As long as I can keep doing what I'm doing, I'm happy. I hope if I keep making a record a year like this, eventually people will find out."