Judith Durham, best known as the lead singer of the 1960's Australian folk-pop group The Seekers, passed away last night of chronic lung disease. She was 79.
The Seekers were the first Australian act to enjoy significant success on the North American and UK charts most notably with "I'll Never Find Another You" and "Georgy Girl" as well as "A World Of Our Own", "The Carnival is Over" and "Some Day, One Day", one of Paul Simon's earliest songs.
A classically trained pianist, Durham was also a soprano and her angelic voice made her first among equals with The Seekers' four part harmony accompanied by the six string guitar of Bruce Woodley, the 12-string guitar of Keith Potger and the double bass of Athol Guy whose Buddy Holly glasses were almost distinctive as Durham's voice. At the height of their fame, the group was bestowed with the prestigious Australian of the Year Award in 1967.
Durham would leave the group the following year to embark on a solo career. The Seekers would reunite 30 years ago after Durham survived a car crash in 1990 and the group toured periodically until 2019 even after Durham suffered a stroke in 2013. While the stroke impaired her ability to read and write, it did not impair her ability to sing. There had been plans for a 60th anniversary tour this year, but Durham's death now renders this impossible.
I leave you with The Seekers recording their breakout hit "I'll Never Find Another You" at Abbey Road Studios in 1964. R.I.P.
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