Johnny Young was born as Johnny Benjamin de Jong on 12 March 1947 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The family migrated to Western Australia, and they settled in the Perth Hills suburb of Kalamunda, in the 1950s. Young's mother took him to Saturday morning radio shows for children and he would sing along. He performed solo songs wearing a specially made jacket. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee disc jockey and started singing at local dances. From the age of 14, for 18 months he was lead vocalist of the Nomads, later known as the Strangers (not the Melbourne group called the Strangers), which consisted of Young, John Eddy on guitar, Warwick Findlay on drums, Don Prior on bass and Tony Summers on guitar.
At 18, Young was host of TVW-7 Perth television pop music show Club Seventeen in early 1965. As Johnny Young & the Strangers he released two singles on the 7-Teen label. Young then signed with Clarion Records, a Perth-based label run by Martin Clarke. In an interview Clarke said "We just got together and he said he wanted to make a national hit and branch out, he was very ambitious." Clarke, armed with his recordings of Young, went to Sydney and secured a deal with Festival Records to have the Clarion label manufactured and distributed throughout Australia.
The following year, 1966, he formed Johnny Young & Kompany, As lead vocalist he was backed by John Eddy on guitar, Warwick Findlay on drums, Tony Summers on guitar and Jim Griffiths on bass. After performing as supporting act to the Easybeats in early 1966, Young recorded "Step Back", which was co-written by the Easybeats' members Stevie Wright and George Young (no relation). The single was released in May 1966 as a double-A-side with his cover version of "Cara-Lyn", originally by the Strangeloves. The release peaked at #1 on the Go-Set National Top 40 in November. It was one of the biggest-selling Australian singles of the 1960s, behind Normie Rowe's "Que Sera Sera / Shakin' All Over". In October, his EP 'Johnny Young and Kompany' went to #4 on Go-Set National Top 40.
Johnny Young & Kompany moved to Melbourne in mid-1966. Mick Wade (ex-the Vibrants) joined on guitar and organ. Young was interviewed by Go-Set writer, Ian "Molly" Meldrum for their 13 July issue. Later that year Young compered the short-lived television pop show Too Much and in 1967 he hosted The Go!! Show, following the resignation of Ian Turpie. In January the band released covers of the Everly Brothers' hits "When Will I Be Loved? / Kiss Me Now" as another double-A-sided single which peaked at #4. He disbanded Kompany to go solo and supported Roy Orbison, The Walker Brothers, The Mixtures and The Yardbirds at the Festival Hall, Melbourne on Australia Day (26 January). While touring in Brisbane he met Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and provided Gibb with airfare to Sydney for a television spot.
Young won a Logie for "Best Teenage Personality" in 1967 for his work on The Go!! Show. On 9 August Go-Set published its annual pop poll and Young was voted third "Most Popular Male" behind Ronnie Burns and Rowe. However, the show was axed by mid-year, and he relocated to London where he shared a flat with Gibb. In July, he released "Lady", written by Gibb especially for him, which reached the Top 40.
"Craise Finton Kirk", written by Barry and Robin Gibb, was released in August and peaked at #25. It was followed by "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You", written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, but did not chart. Young briefly returned to Perth in September and teamed up with drummer Danny Finley (ex-MPD Ltd), they both flew to London to form Danny's Word with Rob Alexander on guitar and Pete Friedberg on bass guitar. After four weeks rehearsal in London the band played a residency at the Star Club in Hamburg as a precursor to touring Australia. Due to other commitments the band split on return from Germany when Pete Friedberg left to work with other bands including Ainsley Dunbar's Blue Whale and Dusty Springfield. Young returned to Australia in January 1968 with Rod Alexander and recorded "Unconcientious Objector" and his last Top 40 single, "It's a Sunny Day". Subsequent singles did not reach the Top 40. Young became a news and gossip writer for Go-Set from December 1968 to August 1969.
While sharing a flat with Barry Gibb in London in late 1967, Young was encouraged to write songs. Gibb taught him that "there are no rules in song-writing, there is a structure, but what you need to do is find the 'hook', and it could be in the melody, the chorus, the words or even an identifiable riff, and that can be the difference in writing a hit record." Some of the songs he ended up writing were: "The Real Thing" sung by Russell Morris, which became one of the biggest Australian pop hits of 1969, peaking at #1 in May and was #1 on Go-Set Top Records for the Year. Young's next song for Morris, "The Girl That I Love", was released as a double-A-side with "Part Three into Paper Walls" (another epic extended production co-written by Morris and Young) which reached #1 in October.
TV pop music show, Uptight, was hosted by Ross D. Wyllie who recorded the Young-penned, "The Star" – it was later covered by Herman's Hermits as "Here Comes the Star" – which replaced "The Girl That I Love" at #1 in November. "Smiley", which peaked at #2 in February 1970. was written for Ronnie Burns. Young then wrote "I Thank You" for former boxing champion Lionel Rose which reached #1 in March. On 11 July 1970, Go-Set pop poll voted Young as most popular 'Composer' of the year and in 1971 he finished second behind Morris.
In 1970, Young formed a production company with Kevin Lewis (former Festival Records executive), Lewis-Young Productions, which developed the pop music television show Happening '70 – hosted by Ross D. Wyllie – for the ATV-0 channel, it was subsequently followed by Happening '71 and Happening '72. Lewis-Young Productions also developed Young Talent Time from April 1971, a children's variety show and talent quest with Young as host. Regular cast members were known as the Young Talent Team, the show was a launching pad for several Australian performers including Jamie Redfern, Debra Byrne, Dannii Minogue and Tina Arena. The directors were Garry Dunstan and Terry Higgins. Each episode typically ended with Young and the team singing "All My Loving" as a lullaby. Young established the Johnny Young Talent School for performance arts in 1979, some of its students became contestants and regulars on Young Talent Time. 2004 Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea trained with the school, as did the 2008 winner, Wes Carr
On 27 October 2010, Johnny Young was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. On news of his impending induction Young said "I have always felt like the luckiest kid on the block to be able to continue working in the music industry for 50 years in so many areas when basically I am just a rock and roller. To receive this honour is the cherry on an amazing cake. I am very grateful to all those who supported and encouraged me." Young was inducted by Tina Arena, a former Young Talent Team member, who performed his song, "Here Comes the Star" as a musical tribute. Contemporary pop group, Short Stack performed Young's version of "Cara-Lyn"
''No Other Love / Heigh Ho'' [as Johnny and The Strangers] 1965 7 Teen
''Step Back (#2) / Cara-Lyn'' (#2) [with Kompany] 1966 Clarion
''When Will I Be Loved (#4) / Kiss Me Now'' (#4) [with Kompany] 1966 Clarion
''Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You / Wonderful World'' 1967 Clarion
''Lady (#37) / Good Evening Girl'' 1967 Clarion
''Craise Finton Kirk (Royal Academy Of Arts) (#25) / I Am The World''1967 Clarion
''Unconscientious Objector / Epitaph To Mr. Simon Sir'' 1968 Clarion
''It's A Sunny Day (#29) / My World'' 1968 Clarion
''Mrs. Willoughby / 1-2-3'' 1968 Clarion
''Just Another Rock And Roller (#66) / Another One Of Those Songs'' 1973 Festival
'Kiss Me Now And When Will I Be Loved' 1966 Clarion
'Johnny Young' 1967 Clarion
'Lady' 1967 Clarion
'Craise Finton Kirk' 1967 Clarion
'Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You' 1968 Clarion
'It's A Sunny Day-Mrs. Willougby' 1969 Clarion
'A Musical Portrait' 1973 L&Y
"Craise Finton Kirk", written by Barry and Robin Gibb, was released in August and peaked at #25. It was followed by "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You", written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, but did not chart. Young briefly returned to Perth in September and teamed up with drummer Danny Finley (ex-MPD Ltd), they both flew to London to form Danny's Word with Rob Alexander on guitar and Pete Friedberg on bass guitar. After four weeks rehearsal in London the band played a residency at the Star Club in Hamburg as a precursor to touring Australia. Due to other commitments the band split on return from Germany when Pete Friedberg left to work with other bands including Ainsley Dunbar's Blue Whale and Dusty Springfield. Young returned to Australia in January 1968 with Rod Alexander and recorded "Unconcientious Objector" and his last Top 40 single, "It's a Sunny Day". Subsequent singles did not reach the Top 40. Young became a news and gossip writer for Go-Set from December 1968 to August 1969.
While sharing a flat with Barry Gibb in London in late 1967, Young was encouraged to write songs. Gibb taught him that "there are no rules in song-writing, there is a structure, but what you need to do is find the 'hook', and it could be in the melody, the chorus, the words or even an identifiable riff, and that can be the difference in writing a hit record." Some of the songs he ended up writing were: "The Real Thing" sung by Russell Morris, which became one of the biggest Australian pop hits of 1969, peaking at #1 in May and was #1 on Go-Set Top Records for the Year. Young's next song for Morris, "The Girl That I Love", was released as a double-A-side with "Part Three into Paper Walls" (another epic extended production co-written by Morris and Young) which reached #1 in October.
TV pop music show, Uptight, was hosted by Ross D. Wyllie who recorded the Young-penned, "The Star" – it was later covered by Herman's Hermits as "Here Comes the Star" – which replaced "The Girl That I Love" at #1 in November. "Smiley", which peaked at #2 in February 1970. was written for Ronnie Burns. Young then wrote "I Thank You" for former boxing champion Lionel Rose which reached #1 in March. On 11 July 1970, Go-Set pop poll voted Young as most popular 'Composer' of the year and in 1971 he finished second behind Morris.
In 1970, Young formed a production company with Kevin Lewis (former Festival Records executive), Lewis-Young Productions, which developed the pop music television show Happening '70 – hosted by Ross D. Wyllie – for the ATV-0 channel, it was subsequently followed by Happening '71 and Happening '72. Lewis-Young Productions also developed Young Talent Time from April 1971, a children's variety show and talent quest with Young as host. Regular cast members were known as the Young Talent Team, the show was a launching pad for several Australian performers including Jamie Redfern, Debra Byrne, Dannii Minogue and Tina Arena. The directors were Garry Dunstan and Terry Higgins. Each episode typically ended with Young and the team singing "All My Loving" as a lullaby. Young established the Johnny Young Talent School for performance arts in 1979, some of its students became contestants and regulars on Young Talent Time. 2004 Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea trained with the school, as did the 2008 winner, Wes Carr
On 27 October 2010, Johnny Young was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. On news of his impending induction Young said "I have always felt like the luckiest kid on the block to be able to continue working in the music industry for 50 years in so many areas when basically I am just a rock and roller. To receive this honour is the cherry on an amazing cake. I am very grateful to all those who supported and encouraged me." Young was inducted by Tina Arena, a former Young Talent Team member, who performed his song, "Here Comes the Star" as a musical tribute. Contemporary pop group, Short Stack performed Young's version of "Cara-Lyn"
SINGLES
''Oh, Johnny No / Club Seventeen'' [as Johnny and The Strangers] 1965 7 Teen''No Other Love / Heigh Ho'' [as Johnny and The Strangers] 1965 7 Teen
''Step Back (#2) / Cara-Lyn'' (#2) [with Kompany] 1966 Clarion
''When Will I Be Loved (#4) / Kiss Me Now'' (#4) [with Kompany] 1966 Clarion
''Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You / Wonderful World'' 1967 Clarion
''Lady (#37) / Good Evening Girl'' 1967 Clarion
''Craise Finton Kirk (Royal Academy Of Arts) (#25) / I Am The World''1967 Clarion
''Unconscientious Objector / Epitaph To Mr. Simon Sir'' 1968 Clarion
''It's A Sunny Day (#29) / My World'' 1968 Clarion
''Mrs. Willoughby / 1-2-3'' 1968 Clarion
''Just Another Rock And Roller (#66) / Another One Of Those Songs'' 1973 Festival
EPs
'Johnny Young And Kompany' (#4) 1966 Clarion'Kiss Me Now And When Will I Be Loved' 1966 Clarion
'Johnny Young' 1967 Clarion
'Lady' 1967 Clarion
'Craise Finton Kirk' 1967 Clarion
'Every Christian Lionhearted Man Will Show You' 1968 Clarion
'It's A Sunny Day-Mrs. Willougby' 1969 Clarion
ALBUMS
'It's A Wonderful World' 1967 Clarion
'Surprises' 1968 Clarion
'Young Happening' Universal Summit
'The Young Man & His Music' 1973 Universal Summit'All My Loving' 1978 Pisces
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Young
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Young
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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