Legendary 1960s Singer Jesse Colin Young Dies at 83
Music lovers around the world are mourning the loss of Jesse Colin Young, the iconic frontman of the 1960s folk-rock band The Youngbloods. He passed away peacefully at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, on the afternoon of March 16, at the age of 83.
In an official statement, his representatives confirmed the news and paid tribute to Young’s wide-reaching impact on American music. “Jesse Colin Young was a singular figure whose voice and songwriting bridged genres—folk, jazz, rock, country, and blues—and spoke to a generation craving unity and change,” the statement read.
Young, born Perry Miller on November 22, 1941, in Queens, New York, rose to fame as the voice behind Get Together, the hit anthem of peace and harmony that became synonymous with the Woodstock era and the broader message of love in the 1960s.
Raised in Pennsylvania, Young was musically gifted from an early age. He later attended the prestigious Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and briefly enrolled at Ohio State University before following his passion into the world of folk music. That decision would shape the course of his life and leave an indelible imprint on music history.
In the early part of his career, Young released solo albums such as The Soul of a City Boy (1964) and Young Blood (1965). Shortly after, he joined forces with Jerry Corbitt, Joe Bauer, and Lowell Levinger to form The Youngbloods, blending socially conscious lyrics with acoustic-driven rock to carve out a place in the emerging counterculture.
With a career spanning over six decades, Young continued to write, perform, and inspire generations of musicians. His voice—soulful, steady, and unshakably sincere—captured a spirit of togetherness during one of America’s most turbulent eras.
Jesse Colin Young’s legacy will forever be tied to the call for peace and connection—a message that still resonates today.