Women’s History Month was celebrated and acknowledged at ETSU by singer and songwriter Judy Gorman, which was sponsored by ETSU Women’s Studies Program and Women’s Resource Center. Gorman came to ETSU to lecture and played last Thursday. She performed the best of her albums, Analog Girl in a Digital World and The Rising of Us All.
Her lecture, Multicultural History of Women and Music / Finding Our Own Voice – All of Us, was a mix of music, humor and a wealth of research and passion.
In the lecture, she explains the primary role that women throughout the world play in the creation of music from pre-biblical to contemporary times.
Gorman is a full-time musician. She spoke on the importance of finding one’s voice whether it be music, art or writing.
She explained when learning how to play an instrument, you use the left and right sides of your brain and how important music is. It has the power to move someone physically and emotionally.
Her songs were full of witty and thought-provoking lyrics that delivered a message of change and kindness.
She has had the privilege to play with Pete Seeger and he said this about her: “Shoots the arrow straight to the heart – a wonderful
singer and musician.”
In her song, “Hungry for Human Connection,” she says “information is not a destination like sex, music or food.”
The song speaks of her longing for a real human connection that seems to be dwindling away with advancements in technology. Cell phones, computers and televisions cannot love you and give you what you need like a human can.
She is planning on recording a live album at a women’s prison in New Mexico, which she performed at this past year.
She told the audience that she covered “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” by Ida Cox at the prison and she treated us with the song as well.
To hear music by Judy Gorman, visit www.cdbaby.com/judygorman.

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