The Australian entertainment industry is in mourning following the loss of The Seekers’ lead singer Judith Durham, who passed away at the age of 79 on Friday, August 5.
Durham died on Friday night in palliative care after suffering complications from chronic lung disease.
Durham’s management released a statement on Saturday, August 6 announcing the iconic singer’s passing.
“After a brief stay in the Alfred Hospital, Judith was admitted to Palliative Care on Friday 5 August, where she passed away peacefully that evening,” her management said.
Following the news of her death, Durham’s sister Beverley Sheehan spoke of their shared love of music.
“Judith’s joy for life, her constant optimism, creativity and generosity of spirit were always an inspiration to me,” Sheehan said.
Durham was born on July 3, 1943 and had early aspirations to become a pianist gaining a qualification of Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA), in classical piano at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium.
She played the piano for numerous professional engagements while undertaking classical vocal training. At the age of 18, Durham requested if she could sing with the Melbourne University Jazz Band at the Memphis Jazz Club from there she continued performing at the club with Frank Traynor’s Jazz Preachers.
In 1963 she recorded her first EP, Judy Durham, for W&G Records. In the same year, Durham joined popular folk music group The Seekers alongside Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley, and Keith Potger.
The group achieved significant chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States with 50 million records sold worldwide, becoming the first Australian pop music group to do so.
Some of The Seekers’ biggest hits included I’ll Never Find Another You which reached number one in the UK and Australia in 1965. The iconic Georgy Girl got number two on the Billboard charts and number one on the Cashbox charts in the United States while The Carnival Is Over remains one of the top 50 best-selling singles in the UK.
The group disbanded in 1968 after Durham left the group to pursue a solo career, although she would occasionally perform with her former band members in the years to come.
In 1995, the Seekers were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and Durham was named Victorian of the Year in 2015 for services to music and charity.
The impact Durham had on Australian music was evident given the outpouring of tributes that followed from public figures, entertainment heavyweights, and the public alike following the news of her passing.
A statement on behalf of Durham’s former Seeker’s bandmates was released by Universal Music Group, in which the band revealed their “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,” the statement read.
“Her magnificent musical legacy Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Durham “a national treasure” who helped “blaze a trail” for future Australian performers.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews took to Twitter to pay tribute to “a true icon of Australian music”.
Andrews later announced a state funeral would be held for Durham.
Fellow music icon Jimmy Barnes paid a musical tribute to Durham.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford called Durham “one of this country’s great singers”.
Magda Szubanski tweeted that Durham’s “beautiful, crystalline voice” was the “siren song of my childhood”.
Further details for Durham’s state funeral are expected to be announced in the coming days.