The Seekers Judith Durham Passes Away Aged 79

Judith Durham, the singer of legendary folk pop band The Seekers has passed away aged 79.

The much-loved artist’s death was announced on social media, a result of a long running battle with chronic lung disease. In a post on The Seekers Facebook page, Seekers member Athol Guy spoke on behalf of the band, saying “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.”

The unmistakable voice behind million-sellers ‘The Carnival Is Over’, ‘A World Of Our Own’, ‘Georgie Girl’ and ‘There’ll Never Be Another You’, Durham and the band were rarely out of the top ten in the 1960s becoming one of the biggest Australian bands of all time.

In 1967 the group were joint Australians of the Year, the only time the award has been bestowed on a group and in 1995 were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, the same year as Durham was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

The group had success across the world, especially in the UK. After a successful tour abroad in 1967, The Seekers returned for a ‘Homecoming’ tour where their performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl drew an estimated crowd of 200,000 and remains in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ever concert event held in the Southern Hemisphere.

The band broke up in 1968 with Durham pursuing a successful solo career, but not before The Best Of The Seekers spent six weeks at number one in 1969, knocking off The Beatles White Album. Durham's solo career kicked off in the early 70s and included another UK hit 'The Olive Tree'.

The band reunited in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s before embarking on their final tour in 2013 as part of their 50th anniversary.

Breaking the news of her death on Twitter, entertainment journalist Peter Ford described Durham's voice as 'superb' and noted that she was 'a truly kind and generous person'. Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said her memory will not only live on in her numerous hit songs, but in the hearts of generations of Victorians and Australians.

The Seekers Judith Durham Passes Away Aged 79

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