Biography
Occasionally, an extraordinary young singing talent emerges unexpectedly, captivating audiences with remarkable range, power, clarity, purity, and maturity. Alongside renowned youthful prodigies like Judy Garland, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Tanya Tucker, and Charlotte Church, one must also recognize a delicate young Brooklyn girl known then as "Little" Julie Budd. She first took the microphone on TV as a young teenager on "The Merv Griffin Show," earning a standing ovation by the end of her performance. Since that unforgettable moment in 1968, Julie has continued to shine in her own cabaret shows, concert halls, and numerous recordings of pop, show tunes, and classic standards. Julie Budd remains a formidable presence in the music world.
Born Edie Erdman on May 4, 1954, into a Jewish family in New York, Julie’s vocal talents were discovered early. At 12, after winning a talent contest in the Catskill Mountains, she was noticed by producer and arranger Herb Bernstein, who became her longtime friend, conductor, pianist, songwriter, and mentor. Soon, the powerful-voiced girl earned nicknames like "The Mini-Girl with the Maxi-Voice" and "The Young Barbra Streisand." Signed by MGM, she released her debut album at age 13 with 1968’s "Child of Plenty" and began appearing on television, starting with Merv Griffin, who was impressed after receiving her demo from Bernstein.
Guided briefly by Griffin following her 1968 TV debut, where she made around 40 appearances, Julie became a regular on variety and talk shows including "Della," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Kraft Music Hall," "The Jim Nabors Show," "The Carol Burnett Show," "The David Frost Show," "The Tonight Show," and "Entertainment Tonight." She opened for entertainment legends such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Bill Cosby, Joan Rivers, George Burns, and Liberace. During this period, she recorded the title song for the 1972 film Living Free, the sequel to the wildlife classic Born Free (1966).
Transitioning from child star to adult performer can be challenging, yet Julie has remained a captivating presence, enduring the ups and downs of her career with a dedicated fan base. Recognized as one of America’s great female vocalists still active today, she continues to tour with solo shows across prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Algonquin Hotel, the Savoy Room, and various Las Vegas and Atlantic City showrooms, as well as internationally at places like The London Palladium and the Israeli Arts Center.
Though she has occasionally explored acting on stage and in film, Julie’s preference lies with live concerts where she connects directly with audiences. Her theatrical credits include Neil Simon’s "They’re Playing Our Song" and the revue "Catskills on Broadway." In film, she starred in Disney’s The Devil and Max Devlin (1981), alongside Elliott Gould and Bill Cosby, performing "Any Fools Can See" and her signature song "Roses and Rainbows." While this role initially led to a three-picture deal with Disney, the contract was canceled following a change in the company’s leadership. Decades later, she returned to film with a minor role as a Brooklyn mother in Two Lovers (2008), starring Joaquin Phoenix, Isabella Rossellini, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Known for her emotionally rich and theatrical performances, Julie maintained a lasting collaboration with conductor and composer Marvin Hamlisch until his passing in August 2012. Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager composed her movie theme "Roses and Rainbows." As a favor to Hamlisch, she performed "The Barbra Streisand Songbook" with the Seattle Symphony in 2011. Julie has also occasionally recorded, with albums like "Pure Imagination" and "The New Classics." Besides the Seattle Symphony, she has appeared as a soloist with prestigious orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Austin Symphony, Philadelphia Pops, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
