Jesse Colin Young, the acclaimed frontman and bassist of The Youngbloods, died at his home in Aiken, SC, on March 16.
Deadline reported that Jesse Colin Young, known for his role in The Youngbloods, passed away at 83, leaving behind a musical legacy accentuated by the hit "Get Together."
Born in 1942, Young became synonymous with the American rock band The Youngbloods, which burst onto the music scene in the mid-1960s.
Following their formation, the group relocated to Boston and soon released their debut album with RCA Victor in early 1967. Despite their promising start, the initial public response was underwhelming.
The band's first single from their debut, "Grizzly Bear," managed only a mid-level chart position, hitting the mid-50s on the Billboard Hot 100.
This modest success was followed by "Get Together," which initially peaked at No. 62 during the iconic Summer of Love. At the time, despite an appearance on American Bandstand, The Youngbloods seemed unlikely to achieve significant success.
However, the cultural winds would soon shift in their favor. By 1969, America was deeply entrenched in societal changes, and the message of unity and peace espoused by "Get Together" began to resonate more profoundly with the public.
Jesse Colin Young himself recounted in a 2019 NPR interview how the song's resurgence was propelled by persistent advocates within their record label. The head of promotion at RCA, Augie Blum, famously confronted his superiors about re-releasing the track. Despite initial resistance, his insistence led to a change of heart within the company.
"They told him, 'Now Augie, we don't do that. You know we released it once. That's it.' And he said, 'You release a song again or I’m out of here,'" Young explained. Blum's gamble proved fortuitous as the country was indeed ready to embrace the song's call for togetherness.
The reissued "Get Together" quickly climbed to No. 5 on the pop chart, perfectly aligning with the peak of the 1960s counterculture movement. Its themes of love and unity found a new and eager audience, propelling The Youngbloods into the national spotlight.
The song's influence extended far beyond its chart success, however. Over the years, "Get Together" has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, serving as a cultural touchstone. Its inclusion in TV series like "This Is Us" and "Supernatural," movies such as "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," and even in Ken Burns' influential documentaries, "Baseball" and "The Vietnam War," underscore its lasting relevance.
While "Get Together" was originally penned by Chet Powers under the pseudonym Dino Valenti, it was The Youngbloods, under Young's leadership, who immortalized the song.
The tune's call for peace and understanding remains poignant, echoing Young's own values and vision throughout his musical career.
Jesse Colin Young's contributions to music and culture are indelibly marked by his ability to capture the spirit of his times, transform it into song, and touch the hearts of listeners across generations. As news of his passing spreads, fans old and new revisit the sounds and messages that defined an era.
At the age of 83, Young’s passing marks the end of an era but also celebrates a legacy that continues to inspire through the timeless message of "Get Together."