Johnny Young, the ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted singer, songwriter and bandleader who ushered in generations of Australian artists through his long-running TV series, Young Talent Time, has died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79.
Born Johnny de Jong in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Young migrated with his family when he was a youngster, setting up home in Perth, Western Australia. He began his career in music as a disc jockey, then struck gold as a teen idol, and as a bandleader with The Strangers. Young had a national smash with the double A-sided single featuring “Step Back” and “Cara Lyn.”
He was a natural in front of the cameras, and it was through the medium of TV that Young would become a household name, initially as host of the Go Show, and later with his own primetime show Young Talent Time.
A year-long stint in London during the swinging ‘60s didn’t pan out for Young. On his return to Australia, he pivoted into songwriting, penning “The Real Thing” for Russell Morris, and contributing works for The Seekers, Herman’s Hermits and others.
At the turn of a new decade, Young launched a weekly TV format that would reach into the lives of millions of Australians – and change the lives of many youngsters.
Young Talent Time first aired April 24, 1971, and would become one of the country’s longest running TV programs, airing for 18 seasons until 1988, with a reboot in 2012. A total of 819 episodes beamed out. A reunion show was taped in 2023 to celebrate its 52nd anniversary.
“The whole feel of Young Talent Time was based on the love that I had for the Mickey Mouse Club,” he said of the beloved show that he created, hosted and produced.
With its joyful mix of music, dance, fun and friendship, the show gave a platform to a young Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Debra Byrne, Jamie Redfern, Jane Scali, Sally Boyden, Karen Knowles, Philip Gould and many others.
Arena was on hand to induct Young into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2011, a class that included John Williamson, Models, The Loved Ones and The Church.
“I cast my mind back to when I was a little girl, and you were there for me,” she said of Young, who was visibly holding back tears from his table, “teaching, nurturing, supporting, protecting, mentoring and always smiling.” She added, “You supported me like a father would his daughter, and you took me through some of the greatest moments of my childhood. Even when the road wasn’t easy for you.”
In his now-legendary speech, the Church frontman Steve Kilbey gave a shout out to Young from the stage, and reenacted to the room the music man’s enthusiastic straight-armed clap whilst singing “Cara Lyn.”
Even veteran rockers liked Johnny Young.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said Young gave “the gift of joy” to Australia. “A wonderful singer in his own right, he established himself in our homes and our hearts as the genial and generous host of Young Talent Time, the launchpad for an incredible new generation of entertainers,” he writes. “How lucky we were to have him. May he rest in peace.”
Minogue considers Young a man who “holds a place in so many hearts,” she writes, “and today my heart is broken.”
The pop artist’s social post continues, “He has so many achievements from his music and TV career, pop writing and releases, and family entertainment on our televisions. For me, this is where my career started, and generations of Aussies hold Young Talent Time and the song ‘All My Loving’ so fondly in their memories. His show brought 17 years of colour, choreography, sequins, music and smiles to our Saturday nights.
“My heart goes out to his family and to his YTT family. From cast, crew and every Johnny Young Talent School member, this is a very sad ‘Goodnight Australia.’”
The Young Talent Time collection is preserved as an artifact of Australian history and pop culture as part of the National Film and Sound Archive.
