Jazz Icon Judy Bailey OAM Passes Away, Aged 89

Renowned New Zealand-born, Australian-based jazz musician Judy Bailey OAM – previously described as “an icon of Australian jazz” – has passed away, aged 89.

As a statement from her family notes, Bailey passed away on Friday, 8 August, at the Estia Health aged care home in Willoughby, NSW, where she had been a resident since early 2021.

Bailey died with her children, Lisette De Gray and Chris De Gray, by her side. Chris said, “Both Lisette and I were privileged to have been with her and holding her right to her last breath. We are so sad right now, but happy that she is free of her suffering.”

Bailey enjoyed a phenomenal career in Australian music. She was a classical musician, jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. In addition to those commitments, she was a television and recording session musician.

Other achievements in her life included teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as well as being a jazz educator at schools, a cultural ambassador for Australia, composer of children’s music on ABC Radio, and a member of the Music Board of the Australia Council.

Judy Bailey was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1935. She started learning how to play the piano at the age of ten. At age 16, she received the performer’s diploma at Trinity College, London.

In 1960, Bailey arrived in Sydney and began her career in Australia at the Channel 7 television orchestra. Her first album, You And The Night Of Music, was released in 1964. She continued her career primarily as a composer and released her most recent album, Another Journey, in 2018.

After marrying American bassist Richard De Gray in 1967, Bailey became a mother to two children. Lisette was born in 1968 and Chris in 1971. Four years later, the couple separated.

Amongst her many musical achievements was Bailey receiving the OAM for her services to music and education in 2004, and, in 2022, receiving the Don Banks Music Award for her outstanding, continuous contribution to Australian music.