JOHNNY YOUNG

Biography

Johnny Young was born Johnny Benjamin Arthur de Jong on 12 March 1947 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and migrated to Western Australia with his family at age three, growing up on a farm in Kalamunda in the Perth Hills. He began his entertainment career early, performing solo songs in specially made jackets at Saturday morning radio shows as a child. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee disc jockey and started singing at local dances, eventually becoming the lead vocalist of The Nomads (later known as The Strangers) from age 14 for 18 months. At eighteen, he hosted the TVW-7 Perth television pop music show Club Seventeen in early 1965, launching his path to stardom.

Young's breakthrough came in 1966 when he formed Johnny Young & Kompany and recorded "Step Back," co-written by The Easybeats' Stevie Wright and George Young, which became a number-one hit alongside a cover of the Strangeloves' "Cara-lyn." During this period, he concurrently hosted the TV pop music program The Go!! Show and achieved further success with a slower version of The Beatles' "All My Loving," which reached number four nationally in May and became his signature song. He toured with the Rolling Stones and supported Roy Orbison, while also meeting Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in Brisbane and providing crucial support for Gibb's career development. Young's pop career spanned three frantic years as one of Australia's top beat performers in the 1960s, though his attempt to break into the UK scene proved unsuccessful.

After his pop career faltered, Young transitioned into multiple entertainment roles, becoming a radio DJ, television presenter, songwriter, and record and television producer. He joined Melbourne's 3XY radio station in April 1968 as the drive-time host and released his last Top 40 single "It's a Sunny Day" in mid-1968. Young became a prolific songwriter, composing hits for other artists including Russell Morris' "The Real Thing" and "Part Three Into Paper Walls," Ronnie Burns' "Smiley," and Lionel Rose's "I Thank You"—all national number-one singles. He later became best known as the gentle, ever-smiling host of Young Talent Time, establishing himself as a significant figure in Australian entertainment across multiple decades.

Fun Facts

• Young met Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees while touring in Brisbane and provided Gibb with airfare to Sydney for a crucial television spot, significantly helping launch Gibb's Australian career.
• He won a Logie Award for 'Best Teenage Personality' in 1967 for his work on television, cementing his status as a major Australian pop idol during the 1960s.
• Young performed as a supporting act to the Easybeats in early 1966, and the Easybeats' members Stevie Wright and George Young co-wrote his breakthrough hit 'Step Back,' which became a number-one single.
• His slower cover version of The Beatles' 'All My Loving' became his signature song and reached number four nationally in May 1966, demonstrating his ability to reinterpret classic material with his own artistic style.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Barry Gibb - Met in Brisbane during touring; encouraged and coached Young in songwriting while in London (Songwriting development; co-wrote 'Craise Finton Kirk' and 'Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You') [mid-1960s onwards]

Key Collaborators

• The Easybeats - Young performed as supporting act; Stevie Wright and George Young co-wrote 'Step Back' ('Step Back' (1966)) [1966]
• John Eddy - Guitarist in The Nomads/Strangers and Johnny Young & Kompany (Multiple singles and performances) [1961-1967]
• Warwick Findlay - Drummer in The Nomads/Strangers and Johnny Young & Kompany (Multiple singles and performances) [1961-1967]
• Tony Summers - Guitarist in The Nomads/Strangers and Johnny Young & Kompany (Multiple singles and performances) [1961-1967]
• Jim Griffiths - Bass guitarist in Johnny Young & Kompany (Multiple singles and performances) [1966-1967]
• Rod Alexander - Guitarist in Danny's Word; collaborated on return to Australia ('Unconcientious Objector' and 'It's a Sunny Day') [1967-1968]
• Danny Finley - Drummer; formed Danny's Word with Young in London (Danny's Word performances and recordings) [1967]

Artists Influenced

• Russell Morris - Young wrote 'The Real Thing' and 'Part Three Into Paper Walls' for Morris ('The Real Thing' (national #1), 'Part Three Into Paper Walls' (national #1)) [late 1960s]
• Ronnie Burns - Young wrote 'Smiley' for Burns ('Smiley' (national #1)) [late 1960s]
• Lionel Rose - Young wrote 'I Thank You' for Rose ('I Thank You') [late 1960s]
• Ross D. Wyllie - Young wrote 'The Star' for Wyllie, later successfully covered by Herman's Hermits as 'Here Comes the Star' ('The Star') [late 1960s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Jack & Diane (American Fool)
2. Hurts So Good (American Fool)
3. Small Town (Scarecrow)
4. Pink Houses (Uh-HUH!)
5. Cherry Bomb (The Lonesome Jubilee)
6. Authority Song (Uh-HUH!)
7. Ain't Even Done With The Night (Nothin' Matters And What If It Did)
8. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock) (Scarecrow)
9. Paper In Fire (The Lonesome Jubilee)
10. Rain On The Scarecrow (Scarecrow)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia