Pianist Judy Carmichael wrote SWINGER! as an autobiographical account of the myriad experiences she has experienced throughout her creative and high-energy life. She describes herself as “a California surfer girl who dreamed of being a spy, but instead became a beauty queen, an actress, a pool shark, a quarterback, and eventually, a jazz musician.” To which we would add: Steinway artist, radio hostess, consummate storyteller, and advocate for artistic and cultural pursuits.
She learned to play the piano beginning at age four and had her first public appearance at 17 when she shared billing with Edgar Bergen, Jo Stafford, and Paul Weston. Her love of ragtime began when she heard stride piano giants Willie “The Lion” Smith, Thomas “Fats” Waller, Earl “Fatha” Hines, and Count Basie. Her grandfather offered $50 to his first grandchild who could play Maple Leaf Rag, but Judy’s music teacher didn’t think she was good enough to play the tune. So Judy taught herself, learning note by note, and played the song for her grandfather, took the $50 and quit taking lessons.
She majored in German and communications in college, which is where she thought about a career in the foreign service. Hearing about the experiences of an aunt who was in the CIA got Judy thinking about clandestine assignments and world travel, but opportunities in music prevailed, including a five-year stin
