Johnny Young

{{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox musical artist

Johnny Young (born Johnny Benjamin de Jong, 12 March 1947, Rotterdam, Netherlands) is an Australian singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host. He had a number-one hit with the double-A-sided single, "Step Back" and a cover of the Strangeloves' "Cara-lyn" in 1966. He was concurrently the host of TV pop music program The Go!! Show. In the mid-1960s, he toured with the Rolling Stones and supported Roy Orbison.<ref name="Miles"/>

As a composer, he penned number-one hits, "The Real Thing" and "The Girl That I Love" for Russell Morris, "The Star" for Ross D. Wyllie and "I Thank You" for Lionel Rose. He also wrote a number-two single, "Smiley" for Ronnie Burns. He presented and produced the TV show, Young Talent Time, which screened on Network Ten from 1971 to 1988. It launched the careers of several teen pop stars and theatre actors, Danni Minogue, Tina Arena, Jamie Redfern, Jane Scali, Debra Byrne, Sally Boyden and Karen Knowles. Typically each episode closed with a ballad style sing-along rendition of the Beatles' song, "All My Loving".

At the Logie Awards of 1990, sponsored by TV Week, Young was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association's Hall of Fame in 2010 by Arena who performed Young's song, "The Star". He is the first person inducted into both halls of fame.

Biography

Early life

Johnny Young was born as Johnny Benjamin de Jong on 12 March 1947 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He was conceived as a result of an affair between his mother, Anna Wilhelmina (20 July 1913 – 29 December 1989) and a musician, Johannes.<ref name="NAADeJong"/><ref name="Aus Story"/><ref name="Money"/> He was raised as the youngest son of Anna and her husband Fokke Jan de Jong (22 March 1914 – 15 July 1989), who was in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and served in Indonesia after World War II.<ref name="NAADeJong"/><ref name="Aus Story"/> His half-siblings are Cornellia (born 13 February 1936), Antonia (born 22 August 1937) and Ferdinand (born 13 November 1944).<ref name="NAADeJong"/><ref name="Aus Story"/> Their father was still in Indonesia from December 1946 until September 1948 when Young was one-and-a-half years old.<ref name="Aus Story"/><ref name="NAA DeJong 2"/> The family migrated to Perth, Western Australia, Fokke arrived in July 1953,<ref name="NAA DeJong 2"/> and they settled in the Perth Hills suburb of Kalamunda, in the 1950s.<ref name="McF"/> Fokke worked as a welder on industrial projects including the Kwinana Oil Refinery. His mother was in a choir and inspired his early interest in music.<ref name="Marner"/> On 25 August 1959 Johnny, Ferdinand and Fokke were naturalised as Australian citizens.<ref name="NAA DeJong 2"/>

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.<ref name="Money"/> After leaving school, he worked as a trainee disc jockey and started singing at local dances.<ref name="McF"/> 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),<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Marner"/> which consisted of Young, John Eddy (guitar), Warwick Findlay (drums), Don Prior (bass guitar) and Tony Summers (guitar).<ref name="Strangers"/>

Pop singer

At eighteen-years-old, Young was host of TVW-7 Perth television pop music show Club Seventeen in early 1965.<ref name="McF"/> As Johnny Young & the Strangers he released two singles, "Club Seventeen"/"Oh Johnny, No" and "No Other Love"/"Heigh Ho", both on the 7-Teen label.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Miles"/> Young then signed with Clarion Records, a Perth-based label run by Martin Clarke.<ref name="McF"/> 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.<ref name="Clarke"/>

The following year, 1966, he formed Johnny Young & Kompany, As lead vocalist he was backed by Eddy (guitar), Findlay (drums), Summers (guitar) and Jim Griffiths (bass).<ref name="McF"/> 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).<ref name="McF"/> The single was released in May 1966 as a double-A-side with his cover version of "Cara-Lyn", originally by the Strangeloves.<ref name="CaraLyn"/> The release peaked at number one on the Go-Set National Top 40 in November.<ref name="GoSet"/> 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 Let It Be Me went to number four on Go-Set National Top 40.<ref name="GoSet"/>

Johnny Young & Kompany moved to Melbourne in mid-1966. Mick Wade (ex-the Vibrants) joined on guitar and organ.<ref name="McF"/> Young was interviewed by Go-Set writer, Ian "Molly" Meldrum for their 13 July issue.<ref name="KentThesis"/> 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.<ref name="Miles"/> 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 number three.<ref name="GoSet"/> 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).<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Miles"/> While touring in Brisbane he met Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and provided Gibb with airfare to Sydney for a television spot.<ref name="Miles"/> Another hit for Young was his slower version of the Beatles' song "All My Loving" which reached number four nationally in May; it later became his signature song.<ref name="GoSet"/><ref name="AllMyLovin"/>

Young won a Logie for "Best Teenage Personality" in 1967 for his work on The Go!! Show.<ref name="TV Week1967"/> On 9 August Go-Set published its annual pop poll and Young was voted third "Most Popular Male" behind Ronnie Burns and Rowe.<ref name="KentThesis"/> 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.<ref name="Miles"/><ref name="GoSet"/> "Craise Finton Kirk", written by Barry and Robin Gibb, was released in August and peaked at number 14.<ref name="Miles"/><ref name="GoSet"/> It was followed by "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You", written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, but did not chart.<ref name="Miles"/><ref name="GoSet"/> 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".<ref name="McF"/> Subsequent singles did not reach the Top 40. Young became a news and gossip writer for Go-Set from December 1968 to August 1969.<ref name="KentThesis"/>

Songwriter

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."<ref name="Marner"/> During 1968, back in Australia, Young wrote "The Real Thing" as a reaction against a Coca-Cola jingle, "Coke is the real thing". Young envisaged the song as a low-key acoustic ballad (in the style of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever") and he originally intended it for his friend and fellow singer Ronnie Burns. Young was practising the song in a dressing room during taping of TV pop music show Uptight when pop producer and fellow Go-Set writer Ian Meldrum heard it. Meldrum (who was also manager for solo singer Russell Morris (ex-Somebody's Image) was greatly impressed by the song and immediately insisted that Young cut a demo of it for Morris. Under Meldrum's production and with the collaboration of engineer John L. Sayers the song was radically transformed into a seven-minute psychedelic epic, with an elaborately edited backing track performed by an all-star band including ex-Zoot guitarist Roger Hicks (who composed the acoustic guitar intro), members of Melbourne band The Groop and backing vocalist Maureen Elkner. Reportedly the most expensive single ever recorded in Australia up to that time, it became one of the biggest Australian pop hits of 1969, peaking at number one in May and was number one on Go-Set Top Records for the Year of 1969, and made Morris an immediate national star.<ref name="GoSetRealThing"/> It was later covered by Kylie Minogue and by Midnight Oil. 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 number one in October.<ref name="Marner"/><ref name="GoSetGirl"/>

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 number one in November.<ref name="GoSetStar"/><ref name="PopArchiveStar"/> It had been written to describe the loneliness associated with fame in show business.<ref name="Marner"/> Young also wrote and produced hits for Burns including "Smiley", which peaked at number two in February 1970.<ref name="GoSetSmiley"/> It described their mutual friend, Rowe, who had been conscripted to serve in the Vietnam War.<ref name="Miles"/> Rowe recorded his own version on Missing in Action (2007). Young wrote "I Thank You" for former boxing champion Lionel Rose which reached number one in March.<ref name="Miles"/><ref name="GoSetThankYou"/> It was used by comedy duo, Roy and HG, for their calls of football grand finals in the 1990s.<ref name="Miles"/> 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.<ref name="KentThesis"/>

Young Talent Time

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 Wyllie and later hosted by Jeff Phillips – 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.<ref name="Miles"/>

As well as producing the television series, Lewis-Young Productions distributed related merchandise including records on their own label (L&Y), books and magazines, a board game and a set of chewing gum cards.<ref name="MemTVYTT"/> In 1972, Caravan Holiday, a short film, featured the original six Young Talent Team members plus two recently recruited new members, Greg Mills (later to be musical director in last years of YTT) and Julie Ryles (who died in early 2011) with cameos by pop star Johnny Farnham and long term judge Evie Hayes. Young was cast in multiple cameo roles as a service station attendant, farmer, speed boat attendant and camping park manager.<ref name="TroveYTT"/>

In 1989, Ten Network (formerly ATV-0), axed Young Talent Time quoting poor ratings against the popular variety series Hey Hey Its Saturday. Young had committed to building his own television studios to film Young Talent Time and was forced to sell his family home to finance the debts.<ref name="Miles"/> During the year his stepfather died and, with his mother, he tracked down his biological father. Soon after his mother also died, and his marriage was in trouble.<ref name="Aus Story"/> On 9 March 1990, Young was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards' Hall of Fame for "an outstanding and sustained contribution to Australian television."<ref name="LogieHoF"/>

From 24 October 2006, weekly magazine New Idea featured articles on Byrne's autobiography, Not Quite Ripe, which alleged that from the age of 12 she was introduced to sex, drugs and alcohol on Young Talent Time.<ref name="Edmonds"/><ref name="Whiting"/> The claims were vigorously denied by Young, he stated that Byrne was already 14 when she started and that drugs were not available on set, "Any drug-taking Debra did, she certainly didn't do it on our show."<ref name="Whiting"/><ref name="Newton"/> He said no-one on the show was aware of her affair with "Michael", a boom operator ten years her senior. According to Byrne the pair had run off together for a weekend when she was 15.<ref name="Whiting"/><ref name="Newton"/> A producer for the show had "Michael" replaced as boom operator.<ref name="Newton"/> Byrne also claimed that her parents knew of her relationship with "Michael".<ref name="Edmonds"/><ref name="Whiting"/>

In 2009, Young indicated that he was in talks with Network Ten to create an updated version of Young Talent Time. The new series aired on Network Ten from 22 January to 4 May 2012 and was hosted by Rob Mills, with Young serving as executive producer and judge.<ref name="Sydney"/><ref>TEN 2012 Programming Launch | TV Tonight</ref>

Philippines controversy

In the early 1990s, Young learned that Terry Higgins, a former Young Talent Time studio director, had contracted HIV.<ref name="Miles"/> By 1993, Young had financially supported Higgins, who sought alternative ozone therapy in the Philippines, but the clinic turned out to have a forged license<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and when it was raided, the Filipino authorities mistook Young for the owner and arrested him under charges of running an illegal AIDS clinic after accompanying Higgins.<ref name="NAADeJong"/><ref name="Aus Story"/><ref name="Money"/> Young was tested for HIV and threatened with deportation back to Australia. Subsequently, all charges were dropped, but Young's public image was damaged by media coverage of rumours regarding his sexuality. ABC Television produced an episode on Australian Story in February 2000 in which he discussed the events and their effect on his life and career.<ref name="Aus Story"/> A year after seeking the ozone therapy, Higgins died of AIDS with Young still supporting him.<ref name="Miles"/>

Later career

After Young Talent Time, Young continued in entertainment, he worked as a radio disc jockey and occasionally performed live. In 1999 he produced Cavalcade of Stars for Foxtel including repackaging segments of Young Talent Time and showcasing new Australian bands.<ref name="Miles"/>

In December 2000, Young relocated to Perth to become the breakfast host on Perth AM station 6IX. During 2001 to 2004, he periodically performed with Rowe, Buddy England (ex-The Seekers, The Mixtures) and Marcie Jones (Marcie and The Cookies) as the 'Legends of Sixties Rock' at venues across Australia – all four had appeared on The Go-Show.<ref name="Miles"/><ref name="KentThesis"/> While living in Perth, Young established a new outlet for his Johnny Young Talent School franchise. In 2001, the 30th anniversary of Young Talent Time was celebrated by Network Ten with a special documentary, Young Talent Time Tells All, which was followed on 4 November by a reunion party for former cast members.<ref name="Miles"/> Young attended with his daughter Anna – who had appeared on the show. Back in Perth, Young hosted The Pet Show on ABC Television in 2006.

On 27 October 2010, Johnny Young was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.<ref name="Cashmere"/><ref name="ARIAHoFAAP"/> 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."<ref name="APRA"/> Young was inducted by Tina Arena, a former Young Talent Team member, who performed his song, "Here Comes the Star" as a musical tribute.<ref name="ARIAHoFAAP"/><ref name="McCabe"/> Twenty-first century pop group, Short Stack performed Young's version of "Cara-Lyn".<ref name="Treuen"/> In late September 2021, Young Talent Time: Unmasked, a special celebrating the 50th anniversary of Young Talent Time, was broadcast,<ref name="Knox Sep 2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with Young, Dannii Minogue and Arena reminiscing via teleconferencing.<ref name="HAGN 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Young was raised as the son of Fokke Jan de Jong and his wife Anna. They already had three children Cornelia, Antonia and Ferdinand. His mother had an affair while her husband was stationed in Indonesia, and Young's biological father was a singer, Johannes.<ref name="Money"/> When Young was in his 40s he met Johannes and found that he had three other half-siblings.<ref name="Aus Story"/> His first marriage was to Jane, with whom he had his son Craig, but the marriage ended in divorce and Jane died of leukaemia.<ref name="Money"/> In the early 1970s, he married his second wife Cathy and they had two daughters Anna and Fleur.Template:Citation needed

Both his mother and step-father died in 1989 and his marriage to Cathy ended by 1995. Young married Rose McKimmie on 24 December 1999 in Bali and they lived in a battery-operated rural cottage about an hour-and-half from Melbourne.<ref name="Aus Story"/> In February 2014 he said the marriage to Rose had been a mistake and lasted only eighteen months.<ref name="Money"/> He married Marisha, an economist, in 2002 and they remain together as of 2017.<ref name="Money"/><ref name="Bennett"/>

Young has had three children, Craig (died c. 2014 of pancreatic cancer),<ref name="Bennett"/> Anna and Fleur; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Anna is a singing and dancing teacher for seniors at The Johnny Young Talent School,<ref name="Bennett"/> after studying at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and performing in musical theatre. Fleur works in fashion.<ref name="Bennett"/>

Discography

Albums

• Young Johnny (Johnny Young & Kompany) – Festival (1966)
• Johnny Young's Golden LP (Johnny Young & Kompany) – Clarion (MCL 32124) (1966)
• It's a Wonderful World – Clarion (MCL 32234) (1967)
• Surprises – Clarion (MCL 32752) (1968)
• The Young Man and His Music – Festival (L 34343) (1971)
• A Musical Portrait – L&Y (L 25071) (1973)
• The Best of Johnny Young – Calendar (L-15086) (1974)
• All My Loving – Pisces Records/Astor Records Template:Small (1978)<ref name="NLA All My Loving Album">Template:Citation</ref>

EPs

• Let It Be Me (Johnny Young & Kompany) – Clarion (MCX 11205) (1966)
• Kiss Me Now (Johnny Young & Kompany) – Clarion (MCX 11246) (1966)
• All My Loving – Clarion (MCX 11251) (April 1967)
• Craise Finton Kirk – Clarion (MCX 11379) (1968)

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Young was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | 2010 | himself | ARIA Hall of Fame | Template:Yes2

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Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Awards table |- | 2015 | himself | Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame | Template:Yes2 |}

Go-Set Pop Poll

The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.<ref name="Top40TV">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Awards table |- | 1967 | himself | Top Male Singer | style="background:tan;"| 3rd |- | 1970 | himself | Best Composer | style="background:gold;"| 1st |- | 1971 | himself | Best Composer / Songwriter | style="background:silver;"| 2nd |- | 1972 | himself | Best Songwriter | 5th

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West Australian Music Industry Awards

The West Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards celebrating achievements for Western Australian music. They commenced in 1985.

Template:Awards table |- | 2019 || Johnny Young || Hall of Fame || Template:Yes2 |-

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Notes

<references group="nb" />

I.^{{#if:| }} "Club Seventeen" / "Go Johnny Go" was released by Johnny Young & the Strangers on 7 Teen label (CST 001) as a double-A-sided single in January 1965 in Perth.<ref name="Miles"/>

II.^{{#if:| }} "Heigh Ho" / "No Other Love" was released by Johnny Young & the Strangers on 7 Teen label (CST 002) as a double-A-sided single in March 1965 in Perth.<ref name="Miles"/>

III.^{{#if:| }} "Step Back" / "Cara-Lyn" was released by Johnny Young & Kompany on Clarion label by Festival Records (MCK 1359) as a double-A-sided single in May 1966 in Perth.<ref name="Miles"/>

Further reading

• Template:Cite encyclopedia Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
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|CitationClass=web }} Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd Template:Webarchive in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition. As from September 2010, the on-line version appears to have an 'Internal Service Error'.

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0949712

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• Item PP135/2, De Jong, Anna Wilhelmina, Ferdinand, Johnny (migrant selection documents) Template:Webarchive at National Archives of Australia, page 4, includes a photo of De Jong, Johnny at age 11, taken before 23 May 1958.