32 Facts About Judith Durham

Judith Mavis Durham was an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician who became the lead singer of the Australian folk music group the Seekers in 1962.

Judith Durham spent summer holidays at her family's weatherboard house on the west side of Durham Place in Rosebud.

Judith Durham's father accepted work in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1949.

From early 1950, the family lived in Taroona, a suburb of Hobart, where Judith Durham attended the Fahan School before moving back to Melbourne, residing in Georgian Court, Balwyn, in 1956.

Judith Durham was educated at Ruyton Girls' School Kew and then enrolled at RMIT.

Judith Durham had some professional engagements playing piano, had classical vocal training as a soprano, and performed blues, gospel, and jazz pieces.

Judith Durham's 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.

Judith Durham recorded two other songs with the Jazz Preachers, "Muddy Water" and "Trombone Frankie".

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.

In 1975, Judith 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.

Judith Durham staged a series of concerts at The Troubadour, Melbourne in 1987 with Edgeworth, performing originals the two had written.

In January 1992, Judith Durham released "Australia Land of Today" which peaked at number 124 on the ARIA charts.

In 2003, Judith Durham toured the UK in "The Diamond Tour" celebrating her 60th birthday.

In 2006, Judith Durham started modernising the music and phrases of "Advance Australia Fair".

Judith Durham recorded The Australian Cities Suite album with all proceeds to go to the charitable sector.

In October 2011, Judith Durham signed an exclusive international deal with Decca Records.

On 21 November 1969, Judith Durham married her musical director, British pianist Ron Edgeworth, at Scots' Church in Melbourne.

The driver of the other car died at the scene and Judith Durham sustained a fractured wrist and leg.

The response from her fans led to Judith Durham's considering getting back together with the other members of the Seekers for a silver jubilee show.

Judith Durham died from the disease on 10 December 1994 with Durham by his side.

In 2000, Judith 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.

In May 2013, during the Seekers' golden jubilee tour, Judith Durham suffered a stroke that diminished her ability to read and write both visual language and musical scores.

Judith Durham's singing ability was not affected by the stroke.

Judith Durham was a devout Christian who was hesitant about secular music.

Judith Durham frequently sang Gospel and Jazz, which reflected this trait.

On December 22,2016, Judith Durham posted a message on her Official Facebook page.

Judith Durham felt that the values that were instilled into her since her youth were still imprinted in her to the present.

Judith Durham stated that she had a very wide perception, and that she had begun feeling interested in esoteric things.

Judith Durham was born with asthma and at age four caught measles, which left her with a life-long chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis.

Judith Durham died from the disease at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on 5 August 2022, at age 79.

Judith Durham was given a state memorial service by the state of Victoria on 6 September 2022 at Hamer Hall.

Judith Durham is interred with her husband, Ron Edgeworth, at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale.