Posted on 08/07/2022 8:26:14 AM PDT by T-Bird45
Judith Durham, the lead singer of The Seekers whose song "Georgy Girl" was an international hit, has died.
The Seekers were a huge hit in the '60s, racking up big hits like "I'll Never Find Another You," and "A World of Our Own." But, "Georgy Girl" was a monster ... the title song to the movie with the same name that also became a blockbuster.
Universal Music Australia announced her death, saying she had a brief stay in a hospital and ultimately died from a chronic lung disease.
The company said in tribute, “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.”
SNIP = = = = = = = = =
The Seekers were around in a big way from 1963 - 1968, aligning with The Beatles' run.
The group sold 50 million records which was a huge feat.
The group received the Australian of the Year award in '67. Although they broke up about a year later, they reunited from time to time ... as recently as 2014.
So very true. She also helped many of us know and remember a different time (and place) when our lives were uncluttered and more simple.
She was my idea of the beautiful girl next door -- who could sing her heart out. She was a lovely and beautiful person who represented her country well. Aussies should be very proud they had her and so sad that she has left us.
RIP - Your 79 years of life on this earth is proof that God knows what he is doing.
Very sad. May she RIP. Thank God for blessing her with an exquisite voice and the willingness to share it with the world.
Ditto, that!
RIP, loved that song and the movie. But that’s one of those movies that never seems to be on TV, does anyone know why?
She trained for operatic singing. She quit the group at the height of their popularity cause she felt like she was too fat. She didn’t have time to grow into her popularity.
Some of her recordings as seen on YouTube exhibit her incredibly superb voice. Just great.
Try....Colors of My life, the Carnival is Over, What a Morning, Danny Boy, or the sweetly naive optimistic Come the Day. She arguably had the best pop voice...the range, easy transitions, strength, clarity, never goes off note...lovely...
Her husband died of a neurogenic disease.
“John Prine”
Hubby and I are very sad about him too!
I just heard “John Deere Green” by Joe Diffie on the radio this weekend for the first time in years. What genius that song was.
Dittoes on “Another You” - Durham was just wonderful; she made that group.
Another of my favorites is the Seekers doing “I am Australian”, which I think only became a thing once they were past the peak of their early popularity. If you’ve ever known any Aussies - particularly those who were raised in Oz before it became a disarmed woketocarcy - you’ll be moved by the song, which at least to me typifies the national pride of a hard-working, hard-playing free-spirited people who were not ashamed of their roots, and still had fond feelings for new immigrants as well as the original inhabitants.
“She quit the group at the height of their popularity cause she felt like she was too fat.”
That’s a new bit of info to me and one I would vigorously tell her was untrue. She was beautiful and well-proportioned to my eye.
This past spring I spent a lot of time one afternoon watching all their videos. I grew up with them and never really appreciated how good they were or how wonderful a singer Judith Durham was.
Having seen those videos, I have to say she was one of the best in my time.......Even into her later years she kept her voice.
There was one docu video that explained how they made the big show. It was sheer luck and a pirate radio station.
The Seekers - I Am Australian, Georgy Girl & Waltzing Matilda* Live, 1994:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYEskzWt6I
You can say that about Olivia Newton-John since she was born in Cambridge England and moved to Australia when she was around 6 years old but any other true Aussie would give you an earful if you mixed them up with the uh bloody poms. :)
The Bee Gees also moved to Australia from England.
Beautiful voice.
My dad loved that song “Georgy Girl.” It was played a lot when we lived in Italy, so hearing it always takes me back to those idyllic days.
R.I.P., Judith.
And the core of AC/DC is from Scotland.
RIP!
The day before yesterday, I was watering flowers in the front yard and she came to mind out of the blue, just for watering sunflowers.
For no apparent reason, I wondered if she had passed and I missed it, and if FR would have/had a thread about it. I had played some songs off of YouTube only a few weeks ago, so if she had died I would have noticed the info in the comments.
The thought lingered because I also wondered if her death would be some kind of sign. I meant to look her up when I came back inside, but forgot.
A sign because I've often posted:
Thank you for all of your joy and inspiration, dear departed Seeker.Seekers - Keep A Dream In Your Pocket Extended Fan Version
Keep a dream in your pocket and a song in your heart
Keep the lamp of your learnin' burnin' bright
Keep your eye on your horizon and a smile on your face
As you travel down the highway of your lifeDon't listen to those voices that say it can't be done
They build walls where there was never one before
No, there's nothing that can stop you, nothing that can drag you down
If you keep lookin' for that ever-open doorSo if you follow your dream to the end of the road
Taking care not to let it fade away (not fade away)
If you follow your dream and you follow it well
It will lead you to the promise of a bright, shiny day.
Your hopes and dreams live on.
Keep a dream in your pocket:
Yeah I forgot those.
Our family used to scrape together change and go to a Minor League baseball game in Lynchburg, Virginia about once a month. Georgy Girl was in heavy rotation at the time and the ball park would play it 10 or 12 times every game. I loved hearing it because I loved her voice.
Rest in Peace Judith Durham, you brought a lot of joy to millions you would never meet.
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