Seekers were a popular Australian musical group known for their wholesome image. Musically, the quartet used a mix of pop and folk styles to create bright, upbeat songs. The Seekers were one of the most internationally popular Australian bands during the 1960’s. 
The Seekers were formed in 1962 in Melbourne by school friends Athol Guy (1940-…), Keith Potger (1941-…), and Bruce Woodley (1942-…), along with singer Ken Ray. Originally known as The Escorts, the band changed its name shortly before adding singer Judith Durham (1943-2022). Already a popular jazz singer, Durham was known for her perfect pitch and distinctive voice. After Ray’s departure from the band in late 1962, Durham became the group’s lead singer.
In 1963, the Seekers signed a record deal with the Melbourne music label W&G. Later that year, the group released its debut album, Introducing the Seekers. In 1964, they agreed to serve as on-board entertainment for an international cruise line traveling to England. Meanwhile, the group sent its records to British music producers. After hearing the records, top London music agency World Record Club signed the Seekers upon the band’s arrival in the United Kingdom.
The group released two records in 1964, The Seekers and Hide & Seekers. The same year, the Seekers signed a deal with EMI Records, the biggest record company in the world at the time. The group released three more albums in the 1960’s: A World of Our Own (1965), Come the Day (1966), and Seekers Seen in Green (1967).
The Seekers’ first single, “I’ll Never Find Another You” (1964), reached number one on the British music charts. In 1965, the band’s single “The Carnival Is Over” sold over 1.4 million copies in the United Kingdom. Another single, “Georgy Girl,” released in 1966, reached number one on the United States music charts. It was released alongside a film of the same name. “Georgy Girl” also later became the name of a musical about the Seekers, which was written by Durham’s brother-in-law, Patrick Edgeworth. At its peak, the band stood in popularity alongside such famed British musical groups as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In 1967, the band members were named Australians of the Year.
After several years of international touring, Durham left the Seekers in 1968. The group broke up following her departure. After almost a decade of solo careers, the men of the band released several Seekers albums in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. During this period, the Seekers went through several women lead singers, including the Dutch-Australian singer Louisa Wisseling and the Australian singer Cheryl Webb. Durham rejoined the group on tour in the 1990’s, and again for several more tours in the 2000’s. She died in 2022.
In 1995, the group was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. Durham, Guy, Potger, and Woodley were named Officers of the Order of Australia in 2014.
