Judy Durham reflects on The Seekers in the past
The Seekers were a pop music phenomenon fifty years ago. Although the Australian band from the 1960s reached the top of the world charts, its sole US tour was in 1967, with lead singer Judith Durham, members Athol Guy, Keith Potger, and Bruce Woodley not present.
From her Melbourne home, Durham recalled, “That was a college campus tour.” Their busy itinerary started in Hollywood on September 28 when they appeared on “The Joey Bishop Show,” and it concluded on November 4 at Alfred State College in New York after over two dozen performances.
We were under contract to a booking agency that represented theatrical performers, so even though we were well-known in the UK, we occasionally had to sign for long seasons,” Durham continued. “It never seemed like there was a good time to go on a major-name US tour. We ought to have been playing Shea Stadium by the time The Beatles performed there.
Despite this, the group’s pop-folk fusion became well-liked in the United States, and their breakthrough song, “Georgy Girl,” was nominated for a 1967 Oscar for “Best Song” in the film of the same name.
We received an invitation to perform the song at the awards ceremony. However, our management requested that we stay true to our promise to perform a pantomime season in Bristol, UK! We were all so incredibly let down. We were forced to watch the show, in which dancers and Mitzi Gaynor sang “Georgy Girl” while sporting an outrageous attire.
James Mason and Alan Bates appeared in the picture, which lost to “Born Free.” Lynn Redgrave played Georgy, a young child with musical talent who struggles with her image as she tries to find her identity in London’s swinging 1960s.
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