Legendary TV host and producer Johnny Young, best known for Young Talent Time and The Go Show!! has died.
Legendary TV host and producer Johnny Young, best known for Young Talent Time and The Go Show!! has died aged 79.
In a statement released by his family, it was revealed that Young passed away following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Johnny was the creator, host and producer of the much loved television show Young Talent Time. He wrote and produced many iconic hit songs including The Real Thing and Smily,” the statement read.
“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.”
At the height of its 18 year run from 1971 until 1988, Young Talent Time was unstoppable.
The talent quest beamed to living rooms around the country for 42 weeks a year, and with Summer ‘Best Of” episodes, was on screens all year round. During its ‘down’ time there were sell-out concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, shopping centre visits, TV Week magazine covers, Logie Awards, King of Pop, a Young Talent Time School and booming pop careers for its graduates.
“I can walk down the street and people will recognise me, but they won’t remember my name. But they’ll sing ‘Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you….’ It’s very flattering,” Young once told TV Tonight.
Young, who created the show with business partner Kevin Lewis, drew inspiration from The Mickey Mouse Club.
“Young Talent Time was based on the feeling that I got from The Mickey Mouse Club. It had similarities… an elder brother and a group of kids singing and dancing, just very simple entertaining stuff.
“But I changed it to an hour, added the talent quest component and it became Young Talent Time.
“We sang All My Loving on the first show, sitting around a piano with no strings and backing and “ooohs”. That developed later on. People used to tune in, just to see that because it was so it was so ‘family’ and so lovely.
“We started off with a 13 week contract and after 13 weeks we got a 4 year contract. We were perfect programming for them.”
Over the years 34 young singers would learn their craft on the show, many becoming household names and some spawning lifelong careers: Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Karen Knowles, John Bowles, Joey Perrone, Sally Boyden, Beven Addinsall, Derek Redfern and more.
The show’s judges variously including Evie Hayes & Frank Tupper (original judges), Ron Tudor, Ronnie Burns, Honour Blackman, Nancye Hayes, would also cast their eye over numerous other artists: John St. Peeters, John Foreman, Asher Keddie, Livinia Nixon, Silvie Paladino and ‘associate YTT‘ member, a young Denis Walter.
“Young Talent Time stands alone. Nobody else has done it. Everybody loves the memory of it, and everybody loves the feeling of it,” he said.
“The only thing that I regret is that I didn’t write All My Loving. Paul McCartney keeps getting his royalties!”
Dutch born Young began as a pop star in Perth before 1967 he hosted The Go!! Show in Melbourne following the resignation of Ian Turpie
He had also hosted pop shows Club Seventeen and Young Summer Happening, a summer replacement for Fredd Bear’s Breakfast-A-Go Go .
Young was also a savvy businessman, co-founding Lewis-Young Productions with Kevin Lewis of Festival Records, before Television House which operated the Young Talent Time School across Australia, produced 1984 telemovie Matthew and Son with Paul Cronin, Darius Perkins and Nicole Kidman and afternoon music quiz Long Play hosted by Ronnie Burns & Jane Scali.
Young was inducted into the TV Week Logie Hall of Fame in 1990 and the ARIA Hall of Fame for his musical career, including writing The Real Thing, Smiley and The Star. He also recorded Step Back and Cara-Lyn.
Young Talent Time was later revived by 10 in 2012 hosted by Rob Mills.
Denis Walter said, “John was multi talented…singer, songwriter, television host, record producer. He did it all so well and launched my career via Young Talent Time.”
Beven Addinsall posted, “A heartbreaking day. It’s the middle of the night here in Scotland, woken to heartbreaking news. RIP my dear friend. Thank you for being such a massive and positive influence on my life. You started my career at the age of 12, I’m still doing what I love after all of these years. I have you to thank for that.”
This post updates.