Youngbloods frontman Jesse Colin Young, behind hit Get Together, dies aged 83
The band rose to fame in the 60s.
Jesse Colin Young, best known for his biggest hit Get Together, has died at age 83.
He was the founding member and singer-songwriter of the group Youngbloods, who rose to fame in the 60s.
His wife and manager Connie Young announced he had died in his home in Aiken, South Carolina on Sunday.
Young had been a solo artist with two albums released before he joined forces with Jerry Corbitt, Lowell ‘Banana’ Levinger and drummer Joe Bauer to form Youngbloods.
Youngbloods released a cover of Chet Powers Get Together in 1967, which peaked at number five in the Billboard Hot 100 two years later.
The group embodied the Woodstock generation, singing about peace, love, and brotherhood on their debut album.
He continued to release music until as recently as 2019 (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)In 1972, Youngbloods split with Young going on to release several solo albums featuring tracks like Four in the Morning, Sunlight, and Peace Song.
He continued releasing records under his label Warner Nros well into the 00s, with environment and social activism as the forefront of his message.
Young and his family relocated to Hawaii after losing their home in the Mount Vision fire in California in 1995, he had also just started his own personal label around this time.
After Walk the Talk in 2003 and Living in Paradise in 2004, Young took his longest break since the 60s and paused for 15 years before releasing music again.
During this time he was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease, retiring from music except when working with his son Tristan.
Then in 2019, Young recorded Dreamers with his son, who is a bassist, which serves as his final album.
Tributes for the late singer have continued to come in since the announcement.
Radio host Eric Alper shared: ‘Known for Get Together, Darkness, Darkness, Sunlight, and more, his music carried messages of peace and unity that will live on for generations.’
The Youngbloods consisted of Young, Lowell ‘Banana’ Levinger, Jerry Corbitt and Joe Bauer (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Publicist Danny Deraney said, ‘Rest in Power Jesse Colin Young. His soft tenor voice sold the song Get Together as the anthem for peace in the 1960’s.’
Musician David Maida posted a picture with Young and added, ‘All the great ones are leaving us. Rest In Peace my friend Jesse Colin Young of the Youngbloods.
‘I will miss having coffee hanging backstage and hearing you perform with great impeccable talent! Thanks for the music.’
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