Judith Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judith Durham
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Durham in 1970 (Allan Warren)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Judith Mavis Cock |
| Born | 3 July 1943 Essendon, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 5 August 2022 (aged 79) |
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| Years active | 1961–2022 |
| Labels | Columbia, A&M, Pye, EMI, Decca |
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Judith Durham AO (born Judith Mavis Cock; 3 July 1943 – 5 August 2022) was an amazing Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. She became famous as the lead singer of the popular folk music group, The Seekers, starting in 1963.
The Seekers were the first Australian pop group to become super successful in the United Kingdom and the United States. They sold over 50 million records around the world! Judith left the group in 1968 to start her own solo music career. Later, in 1993, she sometimes performed and recorded with The Seekers again, but she mostly focused on her solo work. In 2015, she was named Victorian of the Year for her contributions to music and her charity work.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Judith Mavis Cock was born on July 3, 1943, in Essendon, Victoria, Australia. Her father, William Alexander Cock, was a pilot in World War II.
From a young age, Judith loved music. She first wanted to be a pianist and studied classical piano at the University of Melbourne. She also had training in classical singing and enjoyed performing blues, gospel, and jazz music.
When she was 18, Judith's singing career began. She asked to sing with the Melbourne University Jazz Band at a club. In 1963, she started performing regularly with Frank Traynor's Jazz Preachers. She decided to use her mother's maiden name, Durham, for her performances. That same year, she recorded her first music, an EP called Judy Durham, with the Jazz Preachers.
Joining The Seekers
The Seekers group included Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley, and Keith Potger. Keith Potger worked at a radio station, which helped them make a demo tape. This tape led to them signing a record deal with W&G Records. In 1963, they released their first album, Introducing the Seekers.
In early 1964, The Seekers traveled to the United Kingdom by ship, performing music during the journey. They originally planned to stay for only ten weeks. However, their first album was so popular that they kept getting more and more bookings!
On November 4, 1964, The Seekers recorded "I'll Never Find Another You" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London. This song quickly became a huge hit, reaching number one in the UK and Australia in February 1965. In 1966, their song "Georgy Girl" was also a massive success, reaching number two in the United States.
The Seekers made history on March 12, 1967. Over 200,000 people came to see them perform at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia. This was a record for attendance at a concert in Australia! Their TV special, The Seekers Down Under, had a huge audience. In early 1968, all members of The Seekers were honored as "Australians of the Year 1967". After a tour in New Zealand in February 1968, Judith told the group she would be leaving. She officially left in July 1968.
Solo Music Career
After leaving The Seekers, Judith Durham returned to Australia in August 1968. She released several solo albums, including For Christmas with Love, Gift of Song, and Climb Ev'ry Mountain.
Judith also used her music to support important causes. For example, she recorded The Australian Cities Suite, and all the money from its sales went to charities like the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Australia.
In 2006, Judith began working on a modern version of Australia's national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair". She first performed her new version in May 2009.
On February 13, 2009, Judith surprised everyone by performing at the Myer Music Bowl again. She sang "The Carnival Is Over" for the 50th anniversary of the venue. In October 2011, she signed a special international music deal with Decca Records.
To celebrate her 75th birthday in June 2018, a collection of 14 songs that had never been released before came out on an album called So Much More.
Personal Life and Challenges
On November 21, 1969, Judith married her musical director, a British pianist named Ron Edgeworth. They lived in the UK and Switzerland for many years.
In 1990, Judith, Ron, and their tour manager were in a car accident. Judith suffered a fractured wrist and leg. The huge support from her fans after the accident made her think about reuniting with The Seekers for a special show. During this reunion, Ron was diagnosed with a serious illness called motor neurone disease. He passed away on December 10, 1994, with Judith by his side.
In May 2013, while on The Seekers' Golden Jubilee tour, Judith had a stroke. This affected her ability to read and write, including musical notes. She worked hard to get these skills back during her recovery. Luckily, her amazing singing voice was not affected by the stroke.
Charting Singles
Here are some of Judith Durham's songs that became popular on music charts:
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
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| "The Olive Tree" | 1967 | — | 33 |
| "A World of Our Own" (with The Seekers) | 1994 | — | 76 |
| "Georgy Girl" (with The Seekers) | — | 79 | |
| "I Am Australian" (with Russell Hitchcock and Mandawuy Yunupingu) | 1997 | 17 | — |
Honours and Awards
Judith Durham received many special honors and awards throughout her life:
- In 1966, The Seekers won the Carl Alan Award for Best New Group in London.
- In 1968, Judith and The Seekers were all named Australians of the Year 1967.
- In 1995, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
- In 2001, she was given the Centenary Medal for her valuable service to Australian society through music.
- In 2003, Rotary International made her a Paul Harris Fellow for her charity work.
- In 2006, Judith and The Seekers received the Key to the City from Melbourne's Lord Mayor.
- In 2012, Australia Post honored The Seekers with a special Legends Of Australian Music postage stamp.
- In 2014, Judith was given an even higher honor, becoming an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
- In 2015, she was named 2015 Victorian of the Year.
Judith Durham and The Seekers were also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1995, recognizing their huge impact on Australian music. In 2013, she received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music from APRA.
See also
In Spanish: Judith Durham para niños
Images for kids
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Durham in 1970 (Allan Warren)
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Promotional photo for Durham's solo album Gift of Song, 1970
