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Congressman and Louisiana House member Buddy Leach dies

Congressman and Louisiana House member Buddy Leach dies

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Anthony Claude “Buddy” Leach Jr., who spent a term in the US House and ran the budget committee in the Louisiana House before leading the state Democratic party, has died. He was 88.

Leach died Saturday, according to a statement by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards that did not include a cause of death.

Leach was elected to the Louisiana House three times starting in 1968 before winning a term in 1978 in the US House from the state’s 4th District along the state line with Texas. The Democrat lost his reelection bid in 1980 to Buddy Roemer, who was at the time a Democrat also.

Leach would return for one term in the Louisiana House in 1983, serving as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Leach unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2003 and state treasurer in 1987. His last public role was two years as chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party starting in 2010.

Leach was born in 1934 in Vernon Parish and served in the US Army from 1956 to 1959.

Edwards said Leach was a strong leader with a big heart who generously supported his wife’s Louisiana First Foundation to help children.

“Buddy Leach dedicated his life to serving our great state. From the Louisiana Legislature to Congress to his many civic contributions he, Buddy worked to make life better for all Louisianans, ”Edwards said in a statement. “When I decided to run for governor, he was one of the first people to encourage me.”

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US

Judith Durham, Australia’s folk music icon, dies at 79

Seekers lead singer Judith Durham with fellow band member and guitarist Athol Guy attends at media conference in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10, 2013. Lead singer of The Seekers, Durham, has died aged 79 in Melbourne, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022 after suf

MELBOURNE, Australia — Judith Durham, Australia’s folk music icon who achieved global fame as the lead singer of The Seekers, has died. She was 79.

Durham died in Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on Friday night after suffering complications from a long-standing lung disease, Universal Music Australia and Musicoast said in a statement on Saturday.

She made her first recording at 19 and rose to fame after joining The Seekers in 1963. The group of four became the first Australian band to achieve major chart and sales success in the UK and the United States, eventually selling 50 million records.

International hits included “The Carnival is Over,” “I’ll Never Find Another You,” “A World of Our Own” and “Georgy Girl.”

Durham embarked on a solo career in 1968 but recorded with The Seekers again in the 1990s.

“This is a sad day for Judith’s family, her fellow Seekers, the staff of Musicoast, the music industry and fans worldwide, and all of us who have been part of Judith’s life for so long,” said The Seekers’ management team member Graham simpsons.

Her bandmates in The Seekers — Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and Athol Guy — said their lives had been changed forever by losing “our treasured lifelong friend and shining star.”

“Her struggle was intense and heroic, never complaining of her destiny and fully accepting its conclusion. Her magnificent musical legacy from Ella Keith, Bruce and I are so blessed to share, ”they said.

Tributes flowed for the beloved singer, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing Durham as “a national treasure and an Australian icon.”

“Judith Durham gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped blaze a trail for a new generation of Aussie artists,” Albanese wrote on Twitter. “Her kindness of her will be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our nation will never be forgotten.”

In her home state Victoria, Premier Dan Andrews said Durham had conquered the music world both in Australia and overseas.

“With her unique voice and stage presence leading The Seekers, the band became one of Australia’s biggest chart toppers,” he said.

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