Judith Durham

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Judith Durham
AO
Durham in 1970
Durham in 1970
Background information
Birth nameJudith Mavis Cock
Born(1943-07-03)3 July 1943
Essendon, Victoria, Australia
Died5 August 2022(2022-08-05) (aged 79)
Prahran, Victoria, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • tambourine
Years active1961–2022
LabelsColumbia, A&M, Pye, EMI, Decca
Websitejudithdurham.com

Judith Durham AO (born Judith Mavis Cock; 3 July 1943 – 5 August 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and musician who became the lead singer of the Australian popular folk music group the Seekers in 1963.

The group became the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States and have sold over 50 million records worldwide. Durham left the group in mid 1968 to pursue her solo career. In 1993, Durham began to make sporadic recordings and performances with the Seekers, though she remained primarily a solo performer. On 1 July 2015, she was named Victorian of the Year for her services to music and a range of charities.

Early life

Durham was born Judith Mavis Cock on 3 July 1943 in Essendon, Victoria, to William Alexander Cock, a navigator and World War II pathfinder, and his wife, Hazel (née Durham).[1] From her birth until 1949, she lived on Mount Alexander Road, Essendon.[2]She spent summer holidays at her family's weatherboard house (which since has been demolished) on the west side of Durham Place in Rosebud.[3][better source needed]

Her father accepted work in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1949. From early 1950, the family lived in Taroona, a suburb of Hobart, where Durham attended the Fahan School before moving back to Melbourne, residing in Georgian Court, Balwyn, in 1956. She was educated at Ruyton Girls' School Kew and then enrolled at RMIT.[4]

Durham at first planned to be a pianist and gained the qualification of Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA), in classical piano at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. She had some professional engagements playing piano and also had classical vocal training and performed blues, gospel and jazz pieces. Her singing career began one night at the age of 18 when she asked Nicholas Ribush, leader of the Melbourne University Jazz Band, at the Memphis Jazz Club in Malvern, whether she could sing with the band. In 1963, she began performing at the same club with Frank Traynor's Jazz Preachers, using her mother's maiden name of Durham. In that year she also recorded her first EP, Judy Durham, with Frank Traynor's Jazz Preachers for W&G Records.[5]

The Seekers

Main article: The Seekers

The Seekers consisted of Durham, Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley and Keith Potger, an ABC radio producer; through Potger's position the three were able to make a demo tape in their spare time. This was given to W&G Records, which wanted another sample of Durham's voice before agreeing to record a Jazz Preachers' album. W&G instead signed the Seekers for an album, Introducing the Seekers, in 1963. Durham, however, recorded two other songs with the Jazz Preachers, "Muddy Water" (which appeared on their album Jazz from the Pulpit) and "Trombone Frankie" (an adapted version of Bessie Smith's "Trombone Cholly").[6]

In early 1964, the Seekers sailed to the United Kingdom on SS Fairsky on which the group provided the musical entertainment. Originally they had planned to return after ten weeks, but they received a steady stream of bookings through the Grade Agency because they had sent the agency a copy of their first album.[7] On 4 November 1964 at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, the Seekers recorded "I'll Never Find Another You". In February 1965, the song reached number one in the UK and Australia.[8][9] The group had further Top 10 hits with "A World of Our Own", "Morningtown Ride" and "Someday, One Day".[8][10] "Georgy Girl" reached number two (Billboard chart) and number one (Cashbox chart) in the United States.[11] "The Carnival Is Over" is still one of the top 50 best-selling singles in the UK.[11]

On 12 March 1967, the Seekers set an official all-time Australian record when more than 200,000 people (nearly one tenth of the city's entire population at that time) flocked to their performance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia. Their TV special The Seekers Down Under scored the biggest TV audience ever (with a 67 rating), and early in 1968 they were all awarded the nation's top honour as "Australians of the Year 1967".[12] On a tour of New Zealand in February 1968, Durham advised the group that she was leaving the Seekers and left in July 1968.[13]

Solo career

Promotional photo for Durham's solo album Gift of Song, 1970

Durham returned to Australia in August 1968 and her first solo television special, An Evening with Judith Durham, screened on the Nine Network in September. During her solo career, she released albums titled For Christmas with Love, Gift of Song and Climb Ev'ry Mountain. In 1970, she made the television special Meet Judith Durham in London, ending with her rendition of "When You Come to the End of a Perfect Day" by Carrie Jacobs-Bond (1862–1946).[14]

In 1975, Durham starred in an acting and singing role as Sarah Simmonds, a burlesque type performer in "The Golden Girl", an episode of the Australian television series Cash and Co. Set in the 1800s Australian goldfields, the episode also featured Durham's husband, Ron Edgeworth, on piano. She performed six songs; "Oh Susanna", "When Starlight Fades", "Maggie Mae", "Rock of Ages", "There's No Place Like Home" and "The Lord Is My Shepherd".[15]

Durham recorded The Australian Cities Suite album with all proceeds to go to the charitable sector. The album was released April 2012. This project was to benefit charities working with the Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund, including Orchestra Victoria and the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Australia[16] (Durham was national patron).[17]

In 2003, Durham toured the UK in "The Diamond Tour" celebrating her 60th birthday. The tour included the Royal Festival Hall[18] and a CD and DVD of the concert was issued.[19]

In 2006, Durham started modernising the music and phrases in the Australian National Anthem, "Advance Australia Fair". She first performed it in May 2009 at Federation Hall, St Kilda Road.[20][21] It was released as a CD single.

On 13 February 2009, Durham made a surprise return to the Myer Music Bowl when she performed the closing number at the RocKwiz Salutes the Bowl – Sidney Myer Music Bowl 50th Anniversary with "The Carnival Is Over". On 23 May 2009, she performed a one-hour 'a cappella' concert in Melbourne as a launch for her album Up Close and Personal.[22]

In October 2011, Durham signed an exclusive international deal with Decca Records. George Ash, president of Universal Music Australasia, said that "It is an honour to have Judith Durham join Decca's wonderful roster of artists. When you think of the legends that have graced the Decca Records catalogue it is the perfect home to welcome Judith to, and we couldn't be more excited to work with Judith on not only her new recordings but her incredible catalogue as well."[23]

In June 2018, to celebrate Durham's 75th birthday, a collection of 14 previously unreleased songs was released on the album So Much More.[24]

Personal life

On 21 November 1969, Durham married her musical director, British pianist Ron Edgeworth,[25] at Scots' Church in Melbourne. Edgeworth had been with a group, The Trebletones, on the same tour. They chose not to have children.[10] Durham and her husband were vegetarian; she became a vegan after 2015.[26] She also avoided alcohol and caffeine.[27]

They lived in the UK and Switzerland until the mid-1980s when they bought property in Nambour, Queensland. In 1990, Durham, Edgeworth and their tour manager, Peter Summers, were involved in a car accident on the Calder Freeway. The driver of the other car died at the scene and Durham sustained a fractured wrist and leg. The response from her fans made Durham consider getting back together with the other members of the Seekers for a Silver Jubilee show. During this reunion Edgeworth was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He died on 10 December 1994 with Durham by his side.[28]

In the late 1990s, Durham was stalked by a former president of a Judith Durham fan club,[29] a woman who sent her dozens of doormats through the post. The woman was subsequently prosecuted,[30] and was later imprisoned for other serial crimes.[31]

In 2000, Durham broke her hip and was unable to sing "The Carnival Is Over" at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney with the Seekers. However, she sang it from a wheelchair at the 2000 Paralympics shortly after.[32]

In May 2013, during the Seekers' Golden Jubilee tour, Durham suffered a stroke that diminished her ability to read and write—both visual language and musical scores. During her convalescence, she made progress to rebuild those skills. Her singing ability was not affected by the stroke.[33]

Death

Durham had asthma when she was born and at age four she caught measles, which left her with a life-long chronic lung disease called bronchiectasis.[34] Durham died from bronchiectasis at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on 5 August 2022, aged 79.[35] She will be given a state funeral by the state of Victoria.[36]

Solo releases

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[37] 		NZ
[38] 		UK
[39][40]
For Christmas with Love
  • Released: November 1968
  • Label: Goodyear, Columbia
 — — —
Gift of Song
  • Released: 1970
  • Label: A&M Records
 — — —
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
  • Released: 1971
  • Label: A&M Records
 44 — —
Judith Durham and The Hottest Band in Town
  • Released: June 1974
  • Label: Pye Records
 — — —
Judith Durham and The Hottest Band in Town Volume 2
  • Released: September 1974
  • Label: Pye Records
 — — —
Let Me Find Love 8 — —
Mona Lisas
  • Released: March 1996
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Note: Re-released as Always There in 1997[41]
 — — 46
Future Road (with The Seekers)
  • Released: October 1997
  • Label: EMI Records
 4 13 —
The Australian Cities Suite
  • Released: October 2008
  • Label: Musicoat
 81 — —
Up Close and Personal
  • Released: May 2009
  • Label: Musicoat
  • Note: Re-released as An Acappella Experience in 2016
 — — —
Epiphany
  • Released: October 2011
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 — — —
It's Christmas Time
  • Released: November 2013
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 — — —

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certification
AUS
[37] 		NZ
[38] 		UK
[40]
The Hot Jazz Duo (with Ron Edgeworth)
  • Released: April 1979
  • Label:
 — — —
25 Year Reunion Celebration (with The Seekers)
  • Released: November 1993
  • Label: EMI Music
 9 22 93
1968 BBC Farewell Spectacular (with The Seekers)
  • Released: November 1999
  • Label: Mushroom
 12 — —
Live in Concert (Melbourne Welsh Male Choir with Judith Durham)
  • Released: September 2002
 — — —
Live in London
  • Released: October 2014
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 — 16 —

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certification
AUS
[37] 		NZ
[38] 		UK
[40]
Australia's Own Judith Durham
  • Released: 1971 (Australian release)
  • Label: Summit Records Australia
 — — —
Here Am I
  • Released: 1972 (international release))
  • Label: A&M Records
 — — —
The Silver Jubilee Album (with The Seekers)
  • Released: March 1993
  • Label: EMI Records
 3 3 —
A Carnival of Hits (with The Seekers)
  • Released: April 1994
  • Label: EMI Records
 — — 7
Colours of My Life
  • Released: November 2011
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 40 — —
The Platinum Album
  • Released: July 2013
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 36 — —
So Much More
  • Released: 29 June 2018
  • Label: Decca, UMA
 46 — —

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details
Judy Durham
(with Frank Traynor's Jazz Preachers)

Charting singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions
AUS
[37] 		UK
[39][46]
"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

  • In 1966, the Seekers (Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley, Keith Potger) received the Carl Alan Award for Best New Group (1965) at the Top Of The Pops Awards, in London.[47]
  • In 1968, Durham and the other members of The Seekers were named jointly and severally Australians of the Year 1967.[48]
  • In the 1995 Australia Day Honours, Durham, along with the other members of The Seekers, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[49]
  • In 2001, Durham was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Governor-General for valued service to Australian society through music.[50]
  • In 2003, Rotary International invested Durham as a Paul Harris Fellow, in recognition of her extensive work on behalf of charities.[51]
  • In 2006, Durham and the other members of The Seekers were presented with the Key to the City by Melbourne's Lord Mayor, John So.[52]
  • In 2012, Durham and the other members of the Seekers were honoured by Australia Post with a special Legends Of Australian Music postage stamp.[53]
  • In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Durham, along with the other members of The Seekers, was advanced as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).[54]
  • In 2015, Durham was named 2015 Victorian of the Year.[55]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1995[56] Judith Durham (and the Seekers) Hall of Fame Inducted

APRA Awards

These annual awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.[57]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013[58] Judith Durham (and the Seekers) Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music awarded

Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019[59] Judith Durham AWMA Honour Roll inducted

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015[60] Judith Durham (and the Seekers) Hall of Fame inductee

References

  1. ^ Veitch, Harriet (6 August 2022). "Judith Durham: A Seeker who found international fame". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Judith Durham forged an untrodden path for Australian singers". The Australian. 6 August 2022.
  3. ^ Information from Judith emailed by her manager, Graham Simpson,9 September 2011, 11:19 AM. Hi ---, Judith has asked me to write specifically to you to try to clarify your query about "Emily Durham's house". She does not remember now whether the house was demolished at the time Durham Place was subdivided, but her recollection of the century-old house is a weatherboard with a front verandah standing in the middle of a large block between the beach and the main road. etc.
  4. ^ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "Durham Judith Mavis". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
  5. ^ Malt Creative. "Welcome to Judith Durham". Judith Durham. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Popsike.com". Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  7. ^ {{cite newsjournal=The Guardian|date=8 August 2022|access-date=9 August 2022|title=Obituary Judith Durham}}
  8. ^ a b "Official UK Chart". Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ "David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1970-1992"". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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  13. ^ "The Judith Durham Story". Judith Durham. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  14. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Durham, Judith (1970). "When you come to the end of a perfect day". Meet Judith Durham [television special]. London. Retrieved 3 April 2011. Song starts at 44 seconds into the video.
  15. ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 July 2019). "Australian Singers Turned Actors". Filmink. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Judith Durham heads to Canberra". Canberra CityNews. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  17. ^ "'Our treasured lifelong friend': The Seekers' Judith Durham is remembered as a 'shining star'". ABC News. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
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  28. ^ Simpson 2003.
  29. ^ Walsh, Stuart (8 December 1998). "Seekers fan appeals against stalking conviction". AAP General News (Australia). Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020 – via internetblog57.blogspot.com.
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  34. ^ "Durham's voice stays pure despite the blows". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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  37. ^ a b c d Australian Albums Chart peak positions:
  38. ^ a b c "Charts.nz – Judith Durham Discography". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  39. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 173. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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  47. ^ "New Music Awards – 1965". Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  48. ^ "The Seekers: Athol Guy, Judith Durham, Keith Potger, and Bruce Woodley". Australian of the Year. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
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  50. ^ "It's an Honour". itsanhonour.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  51. ^ "Rotary Central Melbourne" (PDF). pp. 45, 106. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Judith Durham". Ruyton Girls' School. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  53. ^ "The Australia Post Legends Awards". Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  54. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours: Australians recognised for services to community". ABC News. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  55. ^ Webb, Carolyn (1 July 2015). "Judith Durham named 2015 Victorian of the Year". The Age. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  56. ^ ARIA Hall of Fame, retrieved 15 February 2020.
  57. ^ "History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
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  59. ^ "The Seekers' Judith Durham To Join The Aust Women In Music Awards Honour Roll". The Music.com. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  60. ^ "The Age Music Victoria Awards 2015 10th Edition". Music Victoria. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2020.

Sources

  • Simpson, Graham (2003). Colours of My Life: The Judith Durham Story. Random House Australia. ISBN 1-85227-038-1.

External links

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