Judith Durham, the frontwoman for The Seekers and an Australian folk singer, has died. She was 79 years old.
Durham died on Friday night at a Melbourne hospital due to complications from lung disease, according to multiple reports. Durham’s hits included “Georgy Girl,” “I’ll Never Find Another You,” “A World of Our Own,” and “The Carnival is Over.”
She was only 19 years old when she became famous after joining The Seekers in 1963. Following major success in the United Kingdom and the United States, the group would eventually sell 50 million records. Durham’s success would pave the way for a solo career, but he stayed with the group until the 1990s.
Durham’s career was so admired that Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called her “a national treasure and an Australian icon” after hearing the news.
“Judith Durham, a national treasure and an Australian icon, gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped pave the way for a new generation of Aussie artists,” Albanese wrote on Twitter. “Many will miss her kindness, and the anthems she gave to our country will never be forgotten.”
Durham was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 for his contributions to music. In 2003, she was awarded the Centenary Medal, and in 2015, she was named Victorian of the Year.
Durham was described as a “lifelong friend” and “shining star” by the group, which included Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley, and Athol Guy, in a statement to The Associated Press.
“Her struggle was intense and heroic, never complaining about her fate and fully accepting its conclusions,” according to the statement. “Keith, Bruce, and I are so fortunate to be able to share her magnificent musical legacy.”