JOHNNY AND THE STRANGERS / JOHNNY YOUNG AND KOMPANY / KOMPANY

In the early 1960s in Perth, WA, Johnny Young’s backing band, originally called The Strangers, featured John Eddy (guitar), Tony Summers (guitar), Don Prior (bass), and Warwick Findlay (drums). They appeared on the local TV pop show Club Seventeen in early 1965 and released two singles, both on the 7-Teen label under the name Johnny and The Strangers. Young later signed with Clarion Records, a Perth label run by Martin Clarke, who recalled that Young was eager to make a national hit and expand his career. Clarke took Young’s recordings to Sydney, securing a deal with Festival Records to have Clarion manufactured and distributed across Australia.

In 1966, The Strangers changed their name to Kompany to avoid confusion with another Melbourne band called The Strangers. The lineup was now Eddy on guitar, Findlay on drums, Summers on guitar, and Jim Griffiths on bass, replacing Don Prior. Early that year, after opening for the Easybeats, Young recorded ''Step Back,'' co-written by Stevie Wright and George Young of the Easybeats (no relation). Released in May as a double A-side with his cover of the Strangeloves’ ''Cara-Lyn,'' the single hit #1 on the Go-Set National Top 40 in November. It became one of Australia’s biggest-selling singles of the 1960s, second only to Normie Rowe’s ''Que Sera Sera / Shakin’ All Over.'' In October, his EP 'Johnny Young And Kompany' reached #4 on the same chart.

Johnny Young & Kompany relocated to Melbourne in mid-1966. Mick Wade (ex-The Vibrants and The Harts) joined on guitar and organ, but his time with the group was brief. Soon after, they brought in two former MPD Ltd members, Mike Brady (vocals/guitar) and Danny Finley (drums), and welcomed back Don Prior. In 1967, Young departed to pursue a highly successful solo career. The Kompany released two singles on Clarion before disbanding. Tony Summers accepted an offer from The Masters Apprentices, while Mike Brady went on to become a music industry legend. Tony Summers died in 2025.

Members

Johnny Young (vocals), Tony Summers (guitar), John Eddy (guitar), Don Prior (bass), Warwick Findlay (drums), Mike Brady (vocals / guitar), Danny Finley (drums), Morrie Pearson (drums), Jim Griffiths (bass)

SINGLES (As Johnny and The Strangers)
''Oh, Johnny No / Club Seventeen'' 1965 7 Teen 
''No Other Love / Heigh Ho'' 1965 7 Teen 

SINGLES (As Johnny Young and Kompany)
''Step Back (#1) / Cara-Lyn'' (#1) 1966 Clarion 
''When Will I Be Loved (#4) / Kiss Me Now'' (#4) 1966 Clarion 

EPs (As Johnny Young and Kompany)

'Johnny Young and Kompany' (#4) 1966 Clarion
'Kiss Me Now And When Will I Be Loved' (#4) 1966 Clarion

SINGLES (As The Kompany)
''I've Been Around / Tell Her No'' (#77) 1967 Clarion 
''Little Joe The Boxer / The Family Way'' 1967 Clarion