Judith Durham, Australia’s folk music icon, dies at 79

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Judith Durham, Australia’s folks music icon who achieved international fame because the lead singer of The Seekers, has died. She was 79.

Durham died in Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Friday evening after struggling problems from a long-standing lung illness, Common Music Australia and Musicoast mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.

She made her first recording at 19 and rose to fame after becoming a member of The Seekers in 1963. The group of 4 turned the primary Australian band to attain main chart and gross sales success within the U.Ok. and the US, ultimately promoting 50 million information.

Worldwide hits included “The Carnival is Over,” “I’ll By no means Discover One other You,” “A World of Our Personal” and “Georgy Lady.”

Durham launched into a solo profession in 1968 however recorded with The Seekers once more within the Nineteen Nineties.

“It is a unhappy day for Judith’s household, her fellow Seekers, the employees of Musicoast, the music business and followers worldwide, and all of us who’ve been a part of Judith’s life for thus lengthy,” mentioned The Seekers’ administration workforce member Graham Simpson.

Her bandmates in The Seekers — Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and Athol Man — mentioned their lives had been modified endlessly by dropping “our treasured lifelong pal and shining star”.

“Her battle was intense and heroic, by no means complaining of her future and totally accepting its conclusion. Her magnificent musical legacy Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share,” they mentioned.

Tributes flowed for the beloved singer, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing Durham as “a nationwide treasure and an Australian icon.”

“Judith Durham gave voice to a brand new strand of our identification and helped blaze a path for a brand new era of Aussie artists,” Albanese wrote on Twitter. “Her kindness will probably be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation won’t ever be forgotten.”

In her residence state Victoria, Premier Dan Andrews mentioned Durham had conquered the music world each in Australia and abroad.

“Along with her distinctive voice and stage presence main The Seekers, the band turned one in all Australia’s greatest chart toppers,” he mentioned.