It’s not often you come across a thumping club track that also doubles as an empowering public service announcement – but the Queen of Freestyle, Judy Torres, has achieved just that with her soaring new single, “Hell No.” The song champions the cause of maltreated women everywhere while serving as an inspirational anthem for any females suffering in silence under the false premise that being in love involves enduring physical violence or verbal abuse.

 

“The track was originally given to me by Michael Grant with just the music done,” Judy explains. “At the time, my younger sister Jennifer was newly married and confided in me that her husband had been “pushing” her around. I was enraged, scared and worried amongst many other different emotions, and I asked her to come live with me – which she did. It was then that I decided to write a song about surviving and overcoming domestic violence, and that’s how the track “Hell No” was born.

 

One of the single’s several remixes pairs the unique vocal stylings of Judy with well-respected producers, Tony Moran and Warren Rigg. “I’d been dying to work with Tony Moran for more than 20 years,” Judy gushes, “and I was super-excited to work with the talented Warren Rigg again.” There is another slammin’ remix featuring a torrid verse by upcoming female rapper, Bonnie Stone, that should go a long way in attracting the younger, hip-hop demographic to this stellar cut. Other marquee producers like Rob Carillo and Carlos Berrios jumped into the fray as well serving up a slew of bangin’ remixes that will cater to underground club enthusiasts and more laidback freestyle listeners alike. “Hell No” has already been fully embraced by WKTU, and is quickly gaining in nationwide popularity and radio spins by the day. With this exemplary new song, the incomparable Ms. Torres proves that one can make a positive impact on the world, while having fun and being soulful all at the same time!

 

For Judy, music has always been about feeling and emotion. Bitten by the singing bug since she was a little girl, she basically trained herself by studying icons like Barbara Streisand and Dennis DeYoung (the lead singer of Styx). She was eventually discovered at the age of 18, and released her first album Love Story on Profile Records in 1990. This project yielded hits like "No Reason to Cry", "Come Into My Arms,” "Love You, Will You Love Me," and allowed her to tour with stars like Gladys Knight, Tito Puente, Menudo, and Lisa Lisa. Her sophomore album My Soul dropped in 1992 garnering more critical acclaim and producing the single and video “I Love You for All Seasons.” Since then, there have been other Torres club hits like “Man With A Dream,” “Holding On,” and “Back In Your Arms Again,” which she recorded for other labels.

 

Also for the last ten years, Judy Torres has been an on-air personality on New York’s number one radio station WKTU. She hosts “The KTU Freestyle Free for All Show” on Sunday nights from 9pm-midnight on which she pumps out the freshest, trunk-shaking dance rhythms for her ever-expanding, tri-state audience. The broadcast is also available worldwide on the internet via www.KTU.com. Her show’s consistent high ratings coupled with Judy’s unshakeable popularity have earned her the regal title of “Queen of Freestyle.” Listen to the show one Sunday evening, and you can bid farewell to your Monday morning blues forever.

 

The last few years have brought important life-changing events for Judy. In 2005, she was diagnosed with MS, a disclosure which made her stop in her tracks and reevaluate her whole life. Never being one to lie down in the face of adversity, she took some time to assess the situation, and decided to choose courage and strength over dejection and defeat. She reshuffled her whole existence, getting rid of all the negative and dark elements, and made room for more light and love in her life. Ultimately, she made a vow to live every single day fully, without any regrets whatsoever. And as a testament to her indomitable inner-strength, she decided to come out publicly to her audience about her MS diagnosis. “I’m glad I told them,” Judy gushes. “I’ve never felt so loved and supported in my life. They were all so wonderful and loving.”

 

Her career to date has already featured so many spectacular highlights: a standing ovation at Madison Square Garden, amazing encounters with legends like Celia Cruz, Liza Minelli, Tito Puente & Gladys Knight, and most importantly, that amazing feeling of making peoples’ lives better with her God-given talent. But always the over-achiever, there’s much more Judy wants to accomplish. She plans to keep evolving musically, hopefully get married and start a family, and perhaps star in a Broadway show or two. She also has aspirations of finally winning that Grammy award she’s always wanted.

 

However, in conversation, what really stands out about Judy Torres is just how much she loves and adores her loyal fans. “I’m so grateful to all of them for giving me the greatest moments of my life,” Judy confides, “and I’m outrageously grateful for every single time I get to step on stage and sing for them – I am really and truly blessed.”