June 23rd, 2001

DEVASTATING SAD NEWS

Photo by Alison GordyMichael Monroe's wife, life companion, best friend and collaborator as well as  co-manager, backing singer and songwriter has passed away totally unexpectedly from natural causes in their home in the city of Turku, Finland on Tuesday 19th of June.

This is a huge loss and the cause for immeasurable sorrow and grief.

Jude Wilder was born on June 24th 1953 in Baltimore. She spent most of her life in New York City. She worked at CBS Records for about ten years in the 70's and the 80's as a product manager for artists like Cyndi Lauper, Sade and Miami Sound Machine as well as Hanoi Rocks in -84 amongst many others.

After leaving CBS she devoted her life to Michael Monroe's career, helping him tremendously with countless things and getting Michael's solo career started. She was the only person that Michael could trust and rely on. According to Michael, it is very likely that he would not be here today if it wasn't for Jude Wilder. Together they wrote most of the best songs on Michael's solo albums.

She was an exceptionally talented, wonderful and loving, angelic person whose irreplaceable absence leaves a huge gap in many people's lives. She was a very special and unique person, a Star in her own right.

 

Photo by Alison Gordy