Beloved Australian musician and Young Talent Time host Johnny Young has passed away, aged 79, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
His family confirmed the sad news in a statement, per Nine News.
“Johnny was the creator, host and producer of the much loved television show Young Talent Time,” the statement read.
“He wrote and produced many iconic hit songs including ‘The Real Thing’ and ‘Smiley’.”
“Johnny leaves behind his wife Marisha, sister Cornelia, daughters Anna and Fleur, son Craig (dec.), seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The family respectfully asks for privacy during this difficult time. Details of a memorial service will be announced soon.”
Young’s passing was announced publicly on Today Extra on Friday morning, with host David Campbell describing him as a “pioneer” of Australian music.
“Most of us grew up with Johnny, and he was an incredible early pop star and pioneer and loved Aussie music,” David said, moments after hearing the news.
“When he got on TV and said ‘all my love’ every weekend… it was a beautiful part of growing up in Australia – he loved Aussie talent as well – and an esssntial part of our culture. He’ll be very greatly missed.”
Young rose to fame as a pop star in the mid-1960s, scoring major hits including “Step Back” and his cover of The Strangelove’s “Cara-lyn”. He also was an avid DJ and composer who wrote hits for other artists.
With a passion for Australian music and platforming young up-and-comers, Young created Young Talent Time with his business partner and former music label executive Kevin Lewis.
He hosted the series from 1971 to 1988, and effectively launched the careers of some of our biggest stars today including Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue.
For many who grew up watching Young Talent Time, there was nothing more memorable than Young singing the lullaby All My Loving with the Young Talent Team at the end of each episode.
In 1990, Young was inducted into the TV WEEK Logie Hall Of Fame for his ongoing contribution to Australian Television.
He was later inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Associations Hall of Fame in 2010 by Tina Arena who performed his song “The Star”.
For generations of Australians, Johnny Young was the face of Saturday-night television, a music-maker and a champion of young talent. His influence on Australian entertainment spanned decades, leaving behind a legacy that will live on through the performers he helped discover and the songs and television moments he gave the country.
Vale Johnny Young.
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