Johnny Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Young
Young Talent Time media event, Luna Park Sydney, January 2012
Background information
Birth name	Johnny Benjamin Arthur de Jong
Also known as	John B. Young
Born	(1947-03-12)12 March 1947 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Origin	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died	August 2026(2026-08-00) (aged 79) Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	musician singer songwriter record producer disc jockey television presenter television producer radio presenter entrepreneur
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	1965–2026
Labels	7-Teen Clarion Festival L&Y Calendar

Johnny Young, whose birth name was Johnny Benjamin Arthur de Jong, was a famous Australian musician, singer, and TV host. He was born on March 12, 1947, and passed away in August 2026. He was also a talented songwriter, record producer, and radio presenter.

Johnny Young became a popular pop singer in Australia. In 1966, he had a number-one hit song called "Step Back," which was released with another song, "Cara-lyn." At the same time, he hosted a TV pop music show called The Go!! Show. He even toured with famous bands like the Rolling Stones and performed with Roy Orbison in the 1960s.

Johnny Young was also a gifted songwriter. He wrote several number-one hits for other artists, including "The Real Thing" for Russell Morris and "The Star" for Ross D. Wyllie. He also wrote "I Thank You" for Lionel Rose, a former boxing champion.

He is perhaps best known for hosting and producing the TV show Young Talent Time from 1971 to 1988. This show helped many young performers, like Danni Minogue and Tina Arena, start their careers. Each episode usually ended with Johnny and the team singing the Beatles' song "All My Loving" and his famous farewell, "Goodnight Australia."

Johnny Young received many honors for his work. He was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 1990 and the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2010. He was the first person to be recognized in both of these important halls of fame.

Life and Career Highlights

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Johnny Young was born on March 12, 1947, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. His mother, Anna, had another child, Johnny, with a musician named Johannes. He was raised by his mother, Anna, and her husband, Fokke Jan de Jong, as their youngest son. His adoptive father, Fokke, was a soldier who served in Indonesia after World War II. He had older half-siblings named Cornellia, Antonia, and Ferdinand.

His family later moved to Perth, Western Australia, settling in Kalamunda in the 1950s. Fokke worked as a welder. His mother loved music and inspired him to start singing. Johnny and his family became Australian citizens in 1959.

As a child, Johnny's mother took him to children's radio shows where he loved to sing. After school, he became a trainee disc jockey and began singing at local events. When he was 14, he became the lead singer for a band called the Nomads, which later changed its name to the Strangers.

Rising Pop Star

At 18, Johnny Young hosted a TV pop music show in Perth called Club Seventeen in 1965. He released two singles with Johnny Young & the Strangers. He then signed with Clarion Records, hoping to make national hits.

In 1966, he formed Johnny Young & Kompany. After performing with the Easybeats, Johnny recorded "Step Back." This song, released in May 1966 with his cover of "Cara-Lyn," quickly became a national number-one hit. It was one of the best-selling Australian singles of the 1960s.

Johnny Young & Kompany moved to Melbourne in mid-1966. Later that year, Johnny hosted the TV show Too Much, and in 1967, he took over as host of The Go!! Show. In January, his band released another successful double-sided single, "When Will I Be Loved?" / "Kiss Me Now", which reached number three. He then decided to perform solo and supported famous artists like Roy Orbison. Another big hit for Johnny was his slower version of the Beatles' song "All My Loving", which became his signature song.

In 1967, Johnny won a Logie Award for "Best Teenage Personality" for his role on The Go!! Show. After the show ended, he moved to London and lived with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees. He later returned to Australia and continued to release music. He also wrote for Go-Set magazine for a short time.

Talented Songwriter

While living in London, Johnny learned a lot about songwriting from Barry Gibb. Gibb taught him to find the 'hook' – that special part of a song that makes it catchy and memorable. Back in Australia in 1968, Johnny wrote "The Real Thing."

With the help of producer Ian Meldrum, the song became a long and exciting musical piece. It featured many talented musicians and became a huge hit, reaching number one in 1969. It was said to be one of the most expensive songs recorded in Australia at that time. Later, famous artists like Kylie Minogue and Midnight Oil also performed their own versions of the song. His next song for Russell Morris, "The Girl That I Love," also reached number one.

Johnny also wrote "The Star" for Ross D. Wyllie, which also hit number one. This song was written to show the feelings of loneliness that can come with being famous. He also wrote "Smiley" for Ronnie Burns, which reached number two. The song "Smiley" was about their friend, Normie Rowe, who was serving in the military at the time. Johnny also wrote "I Thank You" for former boxing champion Lionel Rose, which became a number-one hit. This song was later used by a comedy duo for sports broadcasts. In 1970, Johnny Young was voted the most popular 'Composer' of the year in the Go-Set pop poll.

Young Talent Time Era

In 1970, Johnny Young and Kevin Lewis formed a production company. In 1971, they created Young Talent Time, a popular TV show for children. Johnny hosted the show, which featured young performers showcasing their talents. It helped launch the careers of many Australian stars, including Jamie Redfern, Debra Byrne, Dannii Minogue, and Tina Arena. Each episode usually ended with Johnny and the team singing "All My Loving" together.

In 1979, Johnny started the Johnny Young Talent School, where many students later appeared on Young Talent Time. Future music stars like Anthony Callea and Wes Carr also trained at his school. The production company also sold related items like records, books, and games. In 1972, a short film called Caravan Holiday featured the Young Talent Team, along with guest appearances by pop star Johnny Farnham and judge Evie Hayes.

In 1989, Young Talent Time ended its run on television. Johnny faced financial challenges after the show ended, including having to sell his home. During this time, he also experienced personal losses, including the deaths of his adoptive father and mother. His second marriage also ended. In 1990, Johnny was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards' Hall of Fame for his amazing contributions to Australian television.

Later, in 2006, some claims were made about the environment on Young Talent Time by a former cast member. Johnny Young strongly denied these claims, stating that the show was a safe place for young performers. In 2012, a new version of Young Talent Time aired, with Johnny Young as an executive producer and judge.

Later Career and Legacy

After Young Talent Time, Johnny Young continued his career in entertainment. He worked as a radio host and sometimes performed live. He produced a show called Cavalcade of Stars, which included parts of Young Talent Time and featured new Australian bands.

In 2000, Johnny moved back to Perth and became a breakfast radio host on station 6IX. He also performed with other musicians as the "Legends of Sixties Rock" across Australia. He also opened another Johnny Young Talent School in Perth. In 2001, Network Ten celebrated the 30th anniversary of Young Talent Time with a special documentary and a reunion party for former cast members. Johnny attended with his daughter Anna, who had also appeared on the show. In 2006, Johnny hosted The Pet Show on ABC Television.

On October 27, 2010, Johnny Young was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. He was very grateful for this honor, saying he felt lucky to work in the music industry for 50 years. Tina Arena, a former Young Talent Time member, inducted him and performed his song "Here Comes the Star." In 2021, a special called Young Talent Time: Unmasked celebrated the show's 50th anniversary, with Johnny and other stars sharing memories.

Personal Life

Johnny Young was raised by his mother, Anna, and her husband, Fokke Jan de Jong. He later learned that his biological father was a singer named Johannes. When Johnny was in his 40s, he met Johannes and discovered he had three half-siblings.

Johnny had three children: a son named Craig, and two daughters, Anna and Fleur. He also had nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His son, Craig, passed away around 2014 from pancreatic cancer. His daughter Anna is a singing and dancing teacher at The Johnny Young Talent School, continuing his legacy in performance arts. His daughter Fleur works in fashion.

Johnny Young passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 79. His death was announced on August 14, 2026.

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 (L-107) (1978)

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)

Singles

Awards and Recognition

Johnny Young received several important awards for his contributions to music and television.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate excellence in Australian music.

Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame honors Australia's greatest songwriters.

Go-Set Pop Poll

The Go-Set Pop Poll was an annual survey by a teen music newspaper to find the most popular personalities.

West Australian Music Industry Awards

These awards celebrate achievements in Western Australian music.