Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian folk-pop quartet The Seekers, has died at age 79. Durham — whose crystalline voice can be heard on such 1960s hit songs as “Georgy Girl” (the title track of the movie of the same name) and “I’ll Never Find Another You” — passed away on August 5, 2022, as a result of long-standing chronic lung disease. She had been admitted to palliative care earlier that day following a brief hospital stay, according to Musicoast and Universal Music Australia.
[Here’s a link to a 1967 live performance video of Judith Durham singing “Georgy Girl” with The Seekers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsIbfYEizLk.}
Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, called Durham “a national treasure and an Australian icon,” tweeting “Judith Durham gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped blaze a trail for a new generation of Aussie artists. Her kindness will be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation will never be forgotten.”
The Seekers were the first major pop music group from the Land Down Under to achieve mainstream success in the UK and the United States –- both in terms of radio charting and record sales (having sold 50 million records). Durham joined The Seekers in 1962 and became the group’s lead singer the following year at age 20. Although The Seekers later reunited to perform and record on multiple occasions through 2014, the group officially disbanded in 1968. Durham embarked on a solo career at that time and released several studio albums. Among numerous honors, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to music in 1995 and the Centenary Medal in 2003. Durham was also named Victorian of the Year by the Australian state of Victoria in 2015.
In a post on The Seekers’ Facebook page, Athol Guy — writing on behalf of bandmates Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and himself — stated: “ “Our lives are changed forever losing our treasured lifelong friend and shining star. Her struggle was intense and heroic – never complaining of her destiny and fully accepting its conclusion. Her magnificent musical legacy Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share.”
Click on the link below to enjoy a video of The Seekers performing “I’ll Never Find Another You:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf41UudAbI.
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