The voice of an iconic 1960s folk-rock song is dead at age 83.
Jesse Colin Young, the leader of the ‘60s group the Youngbloods, died Sunday at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, according to a press release. A cause of death was not announced.
Young was a singer-songwriter and bassist in The Youngbloods, which he co-founded in 1965 with guitarist Jerry Corbitt, pianist-guitarist Lowell Levinger and drummer Joe Bauer. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Young sang lead vocals on the band’s biggest hit, “Get Together,” written by Dino Valenti under his real name, Chet Powers.
The hippie anthem, also known as “Let’s Get Together” and “Everybody Get Together,” was covered by major artists like Jefferson Airplane, Richie Havens, Kingston Trio, We Five, Pat Benatar, and the Dave Clark Five. Nirvana even used the song’s famous lyrics (“Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now”) on the “Nevermind” album track “Territorial Pissings.”
Youngbloods songs also included “Grizzly Bear,” which hit No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the Vietnam War tune “Darkness Darkness,” which earned Robert Plant a Grammy nomination with his 2002 cover. The Youngbloods broke up in 1971.
Young, who was born Perry Miller in Queens, N.Y., later performed as a solo artist, most recently releasing the album “Dreamers” in 2019. Popular releases include the 1975 album “Songbird” and the 1977 single “Higher & Higher.”
Jesse Colin Young attends Reel To Reel: Jesse Colin Young at GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live on October 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)Getty Images for The Recording A
“It is with deep sadness that we announce music legend Jesse Colin Young, who left a unique mark on the intersecting worlds of folk, blues, jazz, country, and rock & roll, died in his home in Aiken, South Carolina,” a statement said.
“As the frontman of The Youngbloods, he immortalized the ideals of the Woodstock generation with ‘Get Together,’ an international hit that called for peace and brotherhood during the turbulent 1960s,” the statement continued. “An acclaimed songwriter, singer, instrumentalist, producer, label owner, podcast host, and longtime social/environmental activist, he has established a permanent place in America’s musical landscape, while continuing to make modern music that’s every bit as vital as his work during the counterculture era.”
