Johnny Young

Just 2 weeks I saw on Facebook about the passing of one the legendary icons of Australian entertainment Johnny Young which I was sad to hear that and when you think of the name most of people would know Young Talent Time as well as those who grew up in the 60's and early 70's an singer with hit records including Step Back, Cara Lyn, Kiss Me Now, Let It Be and Craise Finton Kirk as well as writing hits for Russell Morris, Ross D Wylie and Ronnie Burns and also for those in Perth Club Seventeen and the national music show the Go Show. Johnny was born Johnny Benjamin De Jong in Rotterdam Netherlands March 12th 1947 and came to Australia in 1953 where he and his family settled in Perth Western Australia. He sang on saturdays on the saturday morning radio show Rumpus Room and was a trainee disc jockey as well as singing around the local dances after leaving school. He sang with the Nomads which later changed to the Strangers(Perth) and hosted the music show Club Seventeen on Channel 7 Perth and recorded for the label 7-Teen which he and the Strangers released 2 singles Club Seventeen Oh Johnny No (number 55 Perth) and No Other Love (number 20 Perth) both 1965 and signed up with Clarion Records an Perth record label which was owned by Martin Clarke which his recordings would be released connected through Festival Records. He formed the Kompany in 1966 and released the singles that launched him on the Australian music scene Step Back written by George Young and Stevie Wright of the Easybeats which he encountered them in Perth and Cara Lyn which was a cover of the Strangeloves song went to number 1 in Australia in 1966 as it would become one of the biggest Australian singles of the 1960's and in that year hosted the Australian music show The Go Show taking over from Ian Turpie which he would be there until 1967 as well as releasing 2 more hits for that year Let It Be Me and Kiss Me Now which John Farrar from the Strangers on the recording as it went top 5. He released 2 albums that year Young Johnny and Johnny Young's Golden LP and was a support act for Herman's Hermits early 1966 in Perth as well as the support act for Roy Orbison, The Walker Brothers and the Yardbirds in January 1967 which included Brisbane at Festival Hall January 28th and on June 16th 1967 he made his last appearance as host on the Go Show as he went to England to try to take a crack on the international music scene which it did'nt happened for Johnny but learnt songwriting as he stayed with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees and had the singles during 1967 All My Loving which would become his signature song on Young Talent Time, Lady and Craise Finton Kirk which was a cover of the Bee Gees song which were hits as well as winning the Logie for Best Teenage Personality. Johnny came back to Australia in 1968 which he would have 1 more top 40 hit with It's a Sunny Day and started to do songwriting which would become very successful with the Real Thing and The Girl That I Love/Part Three Into Paper Walls for Russell Morris, The Star for Ross D Wylie, Smiley for Ronnie Burns and I Thank You for Lionel Rose as well as Teeny Bopper for Issi Dye in 1971. On April 24th 1971 the variety show Young Talent Time which was inspired by the American TV show the Mickey Mouse Club with Johnny Young as host commenced on TV on Channel 0(now Ten) and it would last 17 years as Johnny would be there throughout it's run which was an launching pad for many acts who would go on to great success in the entertaining business including Jamie Redfern, Debbie Byrne, Karen Knowles, Sally Boyden, Danni Minouge, Tina Arena and many others and did shows all around Australia as well as making albums as well as guest stars including well known names in Australian music as well as the Monkees. The show ended on December 23rd 1988 after 804 episodes and in 1990 was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. throughout the years after that Johnny worked on radio and performing around Australia including the Legends of the 60's show with Normie Rowe, Buddy England and Marcie Jones which the backing band had Murray Robertson from the Melbourne rock group The Thunderbirds as well as hosting the Pet Show on the ABC in 2006 and in 2010 was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame by Tina Arena. From 2011-19 performed on the Go Show concerts which he would compered the show as well as singing some of his hits as well as the ones he wrote and was in the 50th anniversary of Young Talent Time with the TV Special Unmasked as well as performing 1 show in Adelaide in 2021 which was on the bill were Karen Knowles, Nicole Cooper, Jane Scally, Phillip Gould, Bevan Addinsall, Steven Zammitt, Joey Dee and Lorena Novoa with Greg Mills who was one of the regulars in the 70's as music director.He was in the Tina Arena documentary Unravel Me which it's out now as it was one of his last interviews. Besides from watching Johnny Young on Young Talent Time I also listen to his music which I became aware of him being a singer when I use to listen to 4KQ (brisbane radio station) mainly on Jukebox Saturday Night as well as Sunday Morning 60's and even Easter Weekend of 1000 hits as well as becoming aware of him as a songwriter throughout the 90's and I got to see him live 6 times first with the Legends of the 60's show at Kedron Wavell Sunday May 26th 2002 which I remember Johnny went into the audience as man who could not sing along to a song got him to sing How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, 2nd time was with Normie Rowe at Twin Towns Saturday February 21st 2004 which it had been very hot that day as it was over 40 degrees and the last 4 were the Go Show Gold which the 1st was at Jupiters(now The Star) Saturday August 16th 2014 as it was the 1st time that the Go Show Gold came to Queensland, QPAC Concert Hall Saturday July 23rd 2016 which Max Merritt was supposed to come but could not due to health issues and was replaced by Glenn Shorrock, Twin Towns Friday December 8th 2017 which had Little Pattie and Lucky Starr on the bill along with the Mixtures, Normie Rowe, Ronnie Burns, Doug Parkinson, Tony Worsley and Colleen Hewett which I got Johnny Young's autograph and photo which was an honour and an thrill and QPAC Thursday May 2nd 2019 which had Marty Rhone, Issi Dye and Rob EG on the bill as I wore the Go Show shirt at the show that night which were all FANTASTIC and AWESOME which I treasure those experiences. It's the end of era with the passing of Johnny Young as we will see another performer like him again but the great music he made as well as the ones he wrote live on forever and it will never die as great music endures as well as being appreciated as well as his work on Young Talent Time as well as the Go Show and Club seventeen be remembered and let's hope one day that Johnny Young's music come out on CD again as there is fans who are discovering him for the first time want to hear those songs from the 60's as well as the albums he made as well as let's hope for Young Talent Time to be seen on DVD as well as streaming one day but who knows as his legacy well be remembered which he was very entertaining and giving the audiences an great time as well as putting on FANTASTIC shows. Thank You for the memories and the legacy as well as entertaining us for 60 years