JUDITH DURHAM

Judith Durham, OAM (born Judith Mavis Cock, 3 July 1943) was an Australian jazz singer and musician who became the lead vocalist for the Australian popular folk music group the Seekers in 1963. She left the group in mid-1968 to pursue her solo career. Her first solo television special screened on the Nine Network in September. 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). During her solo career in the late 60s early 70s she recorded albums titled 'For Christmas With Love' (1969), 'Gift Of Song' (1970) and 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' (1971).

In the mid 1970s she returned to traditional jazz and recorded 'Volumes 1 and 2 of The Hottest Band In Town'. She then moved to Queensland and focused on her songwriting. In 1994, Durham began recording albums again, including 'Mona Lisas' in 1996 under the direction of producer Gus Dudgeon. This was re-released as 'Always There' in 1997 with the addition of Durham's solo recording of fellow Seeker Bruce Woodley's "I am Australian" (with Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply and Mandawuy Yunupingu of Yothu Yindi) and the Smith Family theme song of the title.

Her recording of "Always There" was first released on the 1997 double CD 'Anthems', which also featured Bruce Woodley's "Common Ground" and the Seekers' "Advance Australia Fair" arrangement. In 2000, Durham's album 'Let Me Find Love', a top ten hit on the Australian album charts, was re-released as 'Hold on to Your Dream', with the addition of "Australia Land of Today" (which she had written). In 2001, she did another Australian tour and in 2003 she toured the UK to celebrate her 60th birthday. Her birthday concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London was filmed and released on DVD in late 2004.

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. It was released on 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, Durham performed a one-hour a cappella concert in Melbourne as a launch for her album 'Up Close and Personal'.

In October 2011, it was announced Durham had signed an exclusive international deal with Decca Records. George Ash, President of Universal Music Australasia said "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."

Between 2011 and 2016, Decca Records re-released 'Gift of Song' and 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', 'The Australian Cities Suite' and 'Up Close and Personal '(as An A Capella Experience) as well as two compilations and a new studio album, 'Epiphany'.In June 2018, to celebrate Durham's 75th birthday, a collection of 14 previously unreleased songs was released on the album 'So Much More'. Durham was born with asthma and at age four she caught measles, which left her with a life-long chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis. Durham died from that disease at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on 5 August 2022, at age 79. She was given a state funeral by the state of Victoria.

SINGLES

''Just A Closer Walk With Thee'' 1967 W&G
''The Olive Tree (#61) / The Non-Performing Lion Quickstep'' 1967 Columbia
''Again And Again / Memories'' 1967 Columbia
''The Light Is Dark Enough / Wanderlove'' 1970 A&M
''That's How My Love Is / There's A Baby'' 1970 A&M
''Down By The Riverside / Chase Those Blues Away'' 1974 Interfusion
''I Wanna Dance To Your Music / Mama's Got The Blues'' 1974 Interfusion
''I Love You / Gloryland'' 1975 Interfusion

EPs

'Judy Durham' 1963 W&G

ALBUMS

'Gift Of Song' 1970 A&M
'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' 1971 A&M
'Judith Durham And The Hottest Band In Town' 1974 Interfusion
'Judith Durham & The Hottest Band In Town Volume 2' 1974 Interfusion
'Let Me Find Love' 1994 EMI
'For Christmas With Love' 1994 EMI
'Mona Lisas' 1996 EMI
'Always There' 1997 EMI
'Judith Durham & Ron Edgeworth – The Hot Jazz Duo' 1999 WEA
'Hold On To Your Dream' 2000 Musicoast
'Epiphany' 2011 Decca
' The Australian Cities Suite' 2012 Decca
'Live In London' 2014 Musicoast
'An 'A Cappella' Experience' 2016 Decca
'So Much More' 2018 Musicoast

  

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Durham

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/