Australian musician Johnny Young has died at the age of 79 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. The singer-songwriter was known for launching generations of Australian artists through his TV series Young Talent Time.
Career Highlights
Born Johnny de Jong in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Young moved to Perth, Western Australia, with his family as a child. He began his music career as a disc jockey before becoming a teen idol and bandleader with The Strangers. He released a hit single with the double A-side featuring “Step Back” and “Cara Lyn”.
Young became a household name hosting the Go Show and later his own primetime show, Young Talent Time, which ran for nearly two decades.
Songwriting Success
In the 1960s, Young spent a year in London but found more success back in Australia when he turned to songwriting. He wrote “The Real Thing” for Russell Morris and contributed works for The Seekers and Herman's Hits, among others.
