Youngbloods Lead Singer Jesse Colin Young Passes Away at 83.

Jesse Colin Young Passes Away

Jesse Colin Young, co-founder and frontman of the 60s group Youngbloods, has passed away at the age of 83.

Musician Perry Miller died at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, on Sunday (March 16), as confirmed by his wife and manager, Connie. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Legacy of the Youngbloods

The Youngbloods are best known for their 1969 folk anthem “Get Together,” which encapsulated the counter-culture ideals of the 60s: “Smile at your brother/everyone is going together/try to love each other right now.“

While Young did not write this iconic track, he penned numerous other songs for the Youngbloods. A statement announcing his death highlighted his “socially conscious lyrics combined with exceptional guitar skills and magnificent vocals.”

His commitment to social and environmental causes became a driving force in his career, and he participated in the 1979 protest “No Nuclear” at Madison Square Garden alongside Crosby, Stills, and Nash, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and others.

Young developed his musical skills on the piano and classical guitar, with a love for blues that led him to Greenwich Village. He released several solo folk albums in the mid-60s, including “Soul of a City Boy” and “Young Blood.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xgxqxmu7os

After teaming up with guitarist Jerry Corbitt, they formed the Youngbloods along with pianist/guitarist Lowell Levinger and drummer Joe Bauer, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1967.

The two biggest hits of the Youngbloods were “Grizzly Bear” and “Get Together.” The latter initially peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, but achieved greater success after being featured in a PSA by the National Conference of Jews and Christians.

Bolstered by RCA’s support, the song re-entered the charts, eventually reaching a peak of number five on the Hot 100. Following this, Young became the primary songwriter for the group, creating two minor hits on their third album “Elephant Mountain,” including “Darkness, Darkness,” which was later covered by Robert Plant in 2002. The band released a few live albums and two more studio records before disbanding in 1972.

That same year, Young launched a solo career and released several albums, including “Song for Juli” and “Songbird.” In the early 1990s, he co-founded his own record label with his wife, Connie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDJJNFEBWB0

A later diagnosis of Lyme disease forced him to step back in 2012, but he turned to YouTube to share his performances and document his recovery. He released what would be his final album in 2019, titled “Dreamers.”

In a 2021 interview with Goldmine, Young revealed that he had never heard earlier versions of “Get Together,” recorded by the Kingston Trio and Jefferson Airplane.

“I walked down the stairs (at Au Go Go) and heard music, thinking, ‘Damn, it should be an open mic or something,’” he recalled. “For some reason, instead of turning back, I went down the second staircase, and there was a guy named Linhart singing ‘Get Together.’ It was as if the heavens opened, and my life changed.”

“I knew that this song was my path forward, not only as a musician but also as a person.”