Judith Durham, the previous lead singer of The Seekers, has died aged 79.
Her loss of life was confirmed by The Seekers on Saturday (August 6), with the band writing in an announcement that Durham handed after a brief keep within the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria – a brief methods out from her hometown of Essendon. She was admitted into palliative care a day prior, and died on account of problems from her lengthly wrestle with a continual lung illness.
In a private assertion shared on behalf of her band (which additionally included guitarists Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley), bassist Athol Man stated: “Our lives are modified ceaselessly shedding our treasured lifelong pal and shining star. Her wrestle was intense and heroic – by no means complaining of her future and absolutely accepting its conclusion. Her magnificent musical legacy Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share.”
Sharing the sentiment was Durham’s sister, Beverley Sheehan, who added: “Judith’s pleasure for all times, her fixed optimism, creativity and generosity of spirit had been all the time an inspiration to me.”
It’s with overwhelming disappointment that Musicoast Pty. Ltd. and Common Music Australia declares the loss of life of…
Posted by The Seekers on Saturday, August 6, 2022
Durham’s household have requested for privateness within the wake of her passing. Over the weekend, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews introduced that – with the blessing of her household – Durham can be honoured at a state funeral. In doing so, he described her as “a real icon of Australian music”, and asserted that “her reminiscence won’t solely reside on in her quite a few hit songs, however within the hearts of generations of Victorians and Australians”.
Born in 1943, Durham fashioned The Seekers with Man, Potger and Woodley in 1962. They launched their first album, Introducing The Seekers, a yr later. The band launched a complete of 13 albums – the newest being 2019’s Again To Our Roots. Durham didn’t sing on any of the 4 albums launched between 1975 and 1989, as she embarked a solo profession in 1968. She additionally wasn’t concerned within the band’s first two comebacks.
As a solo artist, Durham launched 11 studio albums, bookending her catalogue with the Christmas-themed albums For Christmas With Love (1968) and It’s Christmas Time (2013). She additionally launched 5 reside albums, 5 compilations and one EP as a solo artist, in addition to seven reside albums, 36 compilations and 6 TV specials with The Seekers.
The Seekers loved a litany of monumental accolades. In 1967, they had been named joint Australians Of The Yr. They had been inducted into the ARIA Corridor Of Fame in 1995, and the identical yr, Durham was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). 19 years later (in 2014), every member of the band was individually honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Among the many many notable figures to share condolences for Durham’s passing was Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who wrote in an announcement: “A nationwide treasure and an Australian icon, Judith Durham gave voice to a brand new strand of our id and helped blaze a path for a brand new era of Aussie artists. Her kindness shall be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation won’t ever be forgotten.”
