When Judith Durham, the lead vocalist for the Australian vocal group the Seekers, died of chronic lung disease in Melbourne at age 79 on August 5, 2022, the world lost an artist who was a mega-star in her home country and in the U.K., albeit underrated in the United States. In America, the Seekers were known for two top 10 singles: 1965’s folk-pop “I’ll Never FInd Another You” (#4) and 1966-67’s swinging #2 hit “Georgy Girl,” from the Lynn Redgrave film of the same name. A third hit, 1965’s “A World of Our Own,” fell in between and scraped into the top 20, and while there were five other charting singles in the States, none succeeded at that level.

A statement from the group’s other members followed Durham’s passing: On behalf of Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley, Athol Guy said, “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.”

Even Australia’s Prime Minister at the time, Anthony Albanese, described Durham in a tweet as “a national treasure” who “gave voice to a new strand of our identity.”

Formed in Melbourne in 1962, The Seekers originally included Guy on double bass and vocals, Woodley on guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals, and Potger on 12-string guitar, banjo and vocals. Durham, who played piano as well as sang, joined in 1963 and the group relocated to the U.K. the following year, where it found quick success in early 1965.

Signed in the United States to Capitol Records, their success crossed over in early 1965 with the longing “I’ll Never Find Another You,” written by Tom Springfield. The uptempo song, which also topped the chart in Britain, was followed a couple of months later by the optimistic “A World of Our Own,” a top 20 single also written by Springfield.

The Seekers did not score another hit in America until the end of 1966, when they released “Georgy Girl,” also written by Springfield. A song that encouraged a young woman to step out from the shadows and discover herself, its sing-along qualities helped propel the catchy tune nearly to the top of the charts.  The Georgy Girl album became their only LP to sell significantly in the U.S., reaching #10.

Related: What were the #1 singles of 1967 in the U.S.?

After a few lower-charting hits, the group’s presence in America diminished, but they remained a force in Australia, starring in their own television specials and, in 1967, performing in front of a crowd of more than 200,000 at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The Seekers were honored individually as Officers of the Order of Australia in 2014.

Durham—born Judith Mavis Cock on July 3, 1943, in Essendon, Victoria, Australia—left the Seekers in 1968 and embarked on a successful solo career, releasing about a dozen studio solo albums and enjoying further success as an actress. In 1993, she joined the three male members of the Seekers for a reunion and continued to make sporadic live appearances with the group. They also recorded three new albums with the full original lineup.

Durham was not involved with the New Seekers, formed by Potger after the Seekers had broken up. The new group scored such early ’70s hits as “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” and “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma,” among others.

In 2013, Durham suffered a stroke, which affected her ability to read and write but not her singing.

Watch the Seekers perform “Georgy Girl”

“Georgy Girl” is included on a 2026 collection, What’s It All About? Film and TV Music of Swinging London, via Cherry Red Records. The 3-CD set of 96 tracks also includes such favorites as Tom Jones’ “Thunderball,” Lulu’s “To Sir With Love,” and songs from such acts as the Yardbirds, the Spencer Davis Group, the John Barry Orchestra and Herman’s Hermits. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.

Related: Musicians that we lost in 2022