The Seekers To Receive APRA’s Ted Albert Honour

Legendary Australian pop band The Seekers will be awarded APRA's top honour at this year's ARPA Awards, with the news coming as vocalist Judith Durham continues to recover from a cerebral haemorrhage in hospital.

Awarded for Outstanding Services To Australian Music, The Seekers are still recording and performing with original members from their 1960s line-up – a remarkable achievement of determination and talent. They've been awarded joint Australians Of The Year, have been inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame, have had tracks added to the National Film And Sound Archive – the Ted Albert is one of the last pieces of industry recognition they've yet to receive.

Their biggest hits include Morningtown Ride, The Carnival Is Over and American hit Georgy Girl.

In a joint statement the band offered, “Over the past 50 years, we've been the proud recipients of many awards from all over the world, but recognition in our own country has always meant a great deal to us. We are truly honoured to receive the Ted Albert Award, named after such a legendary and iconic figure in the Australian music industry.”

The Ted Albert honour has previously been awarded to Slim Dusty, Michael Chugg, Denis Handlin, Jimmy Little and Paul Kelly.

“Surely no other Australian act has had such enormous international appeal while retaining its unadorned sense of 'Australianness',” added APRA|AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle. “The Seekers really put Australian music on the map: a succession of top five hits around the world, including three UK number ones, all achieved at the height of the popularity of The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys and Motown. The Seekers often outsold them all. And 50 years later the music sounds every bit as great as it did then.”

The Seekers in 1967

Earlier today Graham Simpson, General Manager, Musicoast relased an update on Durham's condition.

“Judith is now in the Rehabilitation Unit at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne and has begun an active rehabilitation program,” he wrote. “When I visited her at the weekend she was in excellent spirits, and keen to progress with her treatment. Yesterday, we had an hour-long conversation about the forthcoming compilation album to be released by Universal Music to celebrate Judith's 70th birthday in July – 23 tracks from her five decades of recording, including several that have never been available on CD before, as well as two newly-recorded tracks.

“Judith talked of the loving care and support she continues to receive from the wonderful team at Epworth, and the flowers, cards and letters she has received from so many thoughtful people all over the world. She has asked me to pass on her love and gratitude to every one of you.”

The APRA Awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on Monday 17 June, hosted by Jonathan Biggins and Clare Bowditch.