Sir Leslie Ronald "Jimmy" Young CBE (21 September 1921 – 7 November 2016) w… Read Full Bio ↴Sir Leslie Ronald "Jimmy" Young CBE (21 September 1921 – 7 November 2016) was an English singer and radio personality. Early in his career he had two number ones and several other top ten hits in the UK chart, but he became better known for his long-running show on BBC Radio Two.
Young was born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. The son of a baker and a dressmaker, he attended East Dean Grammar School. After his parents divorced in 1939, he left for South Wales to work as an electrician. Young later joined the RAF staying until 1949 and attaining the rank of sergeant PT Instructor.
Young was signed to the then new label Polygon Records in 1950, alongside Petula Clark. He released numerous records on the label, all conducted by Ron Goodwin, the biggest seller of which was "Too Young" (1951), a big sheet music seller at the time. It was a cover of Nat King Cole's American recording. There were also two duets with Petula Clark that year, "Mariandl" and "Broken Heart".
In 1952, he signed a recording contract with Decca. Young enjoyed Top 10 successes with "Eternally", "Chain Gang" and "More" (with which he surpassed Perry Como's American original in the British Singles Chart listings). His most successful year as a recording artist was 1955, when "Unchained Melody" (from the film Unchained) and "The Man from Laramie" (from the film of the same name) were successive releases and both number one hits.
After a period with Radio Luxembourg, Young joined the BBC as one of the first disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, presenting the weekday mid-morning show from 1967 to 1973.[4] In 1973 he joined BBC Radio 2, where he presented a regular programme (which he referred to as 'The JY Prog'), until his retirement from broadcasting at the end of 2002.
He developed a popular approach to current affairs and regularly interviewed Margaret Thatcher while she was prime minister. He broadcast from around the world, including several live shows from Moscow, the first in 1977, and interviewed every British prime minister from 1964 to 2010. His theme music was "Town Talk" by Ken Woodman & His Piccadilly Brass. BFN ('Bye for now') was one of his catchphrases.
Although he was offered the opportunity to present a weekend current affairs programme, he turned it down. His radio slot was taken over by the former Newsnight presenter, Jeremy Vine. Shortly after leaving the BBC, Young wrote a newspaper column attacking his former employer for instances of "brutality", and making clear that it had not been his idea to leave.
Young returned to BBC Radio 2 in 2011 with a special one-hour programme in celebration of his 90th birthday. Sir Jimmy Young at 90, broadcast on 20 September 2011, heard him in conversation with his friend and former sparring partner Ken Bruce, looking back over his career. In March 2012 Young returned to presenting on BBC Radio 2 after over nine years when he joined Desmond Carrington on a weekly show entitled Icons of the 50s. Young received an OBE in 1979, a CBE in 1993, and, at the beginning of 2002, he was knighted for services to broadcasting.
Young continued to write a weekly column for the Sunday Express newspaper until he retired from this role in November 2014.
Discography
"Too Young" – (1951)
"Faith Can Move Mountains" – (1953) – UK Number 11
"Eternally" – (1953, music by Charles Chaplin, words by Geoff Parsons) – UK Number 8
"Unchained Melody" – (1955) – UK Number 1 (with Bob Sharples and His Music, Decca: F10502)
"The Man from Laramie" – (1954) – UK Number 1 (with Bob Sharples and His Music, Decca: F10597)
"Someone on Your Mind" – (1955) – UK Number 13
"Chain Gang" – (1956) – UK Number 9
"Wayward Wind" – (1956) – UK Number 27
"Rich Man Poor Man" – (1956) – UK Number 25
"More" – (1956) – UK Number 4
"Round and Round" – (1957) – UK Number 30 (with the Mike Sammes Singers)
"Miss You" – (1963) – UK Number 15
"Unchained Melody" (re-recording) – (1964) – UK Number 43 (with the Mike Sammes Singers)
According to a family spokesperson, Young died "peacefully at home" in the afternoon of 7 November 2016, with his wife Alicia by his side.
Young was born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. The son of a baker and a dressmaker, he attended East Dean Grammar School. After his parents divorced in 1939, he left for South Wales to work as an electrician. Young later joined the RAF staying until 1949 and attaining the rank of sergeant PT Instructor.
Young was signed to the then new label Polygon Records in 1950, alongside Petula Clark. He released numerous records on the label, all conducted by Ron Goodwin, the biggest seller of which was "Too Young" (1951), a big sheet music seller at the time. It was a cover of Nat King Cole's American recording. There were also two duets with Petula Clark that year, "Mariandl" and "Broken Heart".
In 1952, he signed a recording contract with Decca. Young enjoyed Top 10 successes with "Eternally", "Chain Gang" and "More" (with which he surpassed Perry Como's American original in the British Singles Chart listings). His most successful year as a recording artist was 1955, when "Unchained Melody" (from the film Unchained) and "The Man from Laramie" (from the film of the same name) were successive releases and both number one hits.
After a period with Radio Luxembourg, Young joined the BBC as one of the first disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, presenting the weekday mid-morning show from 1967 to 1973.[4] In 1973 he joined BBC Radio 2, where he presented a regular programme (which he referred to as 'The JY Prog'), until his retirement from broadcasting at the end of 2002.
He developed a popular approach to current affairs and regularly interviewed Margaret Thatcher while she was prime minister. He broadcast from around the world, including several live shows from Moscow, the first in 1977, and interviewed every British prime minister from 1964 to 2010. His theme music was "Town Talk" by Ken Woodman & His Piccadilly Brass. BFN ('Bye for now') was one of his catchphrases.
Although he was offered the opportunity to present a weekend current affairs programme, he turned it down. His radio slot was taken over by the former Newsnight presenter, Jeremy Vine. Shortly after leaving the BBC, Young wrote a newspaper column attacking his former employer for instances of "brutality", and making clear that it had not been his idea to leave.
Young returned to BBC Radio 2 in 2011 with a special one-hour programme in celebration of his 90th birthday. Sir Jimmy Young at 90, broadcast on 20 September 2011, heard him in conversation with his friend and former sparring partner Ken Bruce, looking back over his career. In March 2012 Young returned to presenting on BBC Radio 2 after over nine years when he joined Desmond Carrington on a weekly show entitled Icons of the 50s. Young received an OBE in 1979, a CBE in 1993, and, at the beginning of 2002, he was knighted for services to broadcasting.
Young continued to write a weekly column for the Sunday Express newspaper until he retired from this role in November 2014.
Discography
"Too Young" – (1951)
"Faith Can Move Mountains" – (1953) – UK Number 11
"Eternally" – (1953, music by Charles Chaplin, words by Geoff Parsons) – UK Number 8
"Unchained Melody" – (1955) – UK Number 1 (with Bob Sharples and His Music, Decca: F10502)
"The Man from Laramie" – (1954) – UK Number 1 (with Bob Sharples and His Music, Decca: F10597)
"Someone on Your Mind" – (1955) – UK Number 13
"Chain Gang" – (1956) – UK Number 9
"Wayward Wind" – (1956) – UK Number 27
"Rich Man Poor Man" – (1956) – UK Number 25
"More" – (1956) – UK Number 4
"Round and Round" – (1957) – UK Number 30 (with the Mike Sammes Singers)
"Miss You" – (1963) – UK Number 15
"Unchained Melody" (re-recording) – (1964) – UK Number 43 (with the Mike Sammes Singers)
According to a family spokesperson, Young died "peacefully at home" in the afternoon of 7 November 2016, with his wife Alicia by his side.
Chain Gang
Jimmy Young Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Chain Gang' by these artists:
(FLAC) Otis Redding That's the sound of the men They are working on the…
Bobby Scott THE CHAIN GANG Bobby Scott They put me on the chain gang…
BRVNDONP I put this city on my shoulders I keep the realest…
Close Your Eyes Yeah there ain't nowhere like London town, I swear, but…
Cooke (Hooh aah) (hooh aah) I hear somethin' sayin' (Hooh aah)…
Danni Leigh Chain gang, chain gang Oh, turn me loose Why don't you set…
Diana Ross and the Supremes Ho ha ho ha I hear someon sayin' Ho ha ho ha Ho…
Dreaming Awake I'm burning the notion Of selling emotions I'll give my cond…
Eddy Mitchell De douleur je crie .... La, au bout de la terre Se…
Freddie Hart (Chain gang chain gang) I was just a kid a roamin'…
GlokkNine Breaking rocks out here on the chain gang(uh, yeah) Breaking…
Goldie Lookin' Chain Turn up the beat and make it sweet Album four has…
Hell Razah [sample: Richard Pryor] I was on the Chain Gang... Chain Gan…
Jackie Wilson With Count Basie Don't you know That's the sound of the men…
Jay-Ray & Gee We hit his block all you hear is that choppa…
Jesse Woods Walking slow like a highway chain gang Fishin' feelings out …
Jim Croce Chain Gang - Written by - Sam Cooke He Don't Love…
Johnny and Jack I was just a kid roamin' around travelin' through a…
KITCHEN - Sam Cooke (Hooh aah) (hooh aah) I hear somethin' sayin' (Hooh aah) (h…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo I hear somethin' sayin' (Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!) (Hooh! aa…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo w. Lou Rawls I hear somethin' sayin' (Hooh! aah!) (hooh! aah!) (Hooh!…
Lou Rawls (Hoh! Ah!) I hear something saying (Hoh! Ah!) (Hoh! Ah!)(We…
Michael Murphey All day long, they work so hard Until the sun is…
Minus20 All gang, all men, old school, young champ All black,and the…
MOD SUN This is all I do! Yeah this is what it sounds…
Nylons - (Acappella) [Chorus] Oh don't you know That's the sound of the men Worki…
Otis Redding That's the sound of the men They are working on the…
Pow Wow (S.Cooke) Well, don't you know That's the sound of the m…
Sam Cooke (Hooh aah) (hooh aah) I hear somethin' sayin' (Hooh aah) (h…
Showaddywaddy I hear something sayin' That's the sound of the men, working…
Steeler Anyway you slice it I've got to get out of this…
The Band (Well, don't you know) That's the sound of the men working…
The Blue Hearts 僕の話を聞いてくれ 笑いとばしてもいいから ブルースにとりつかれたら チェインギャングは歌い出す 仮面をつけて生きる…
The Congos I hear somethin' sayin' That's the sound of the men working…
The Nylons [Chorus] Oh don't you know That's the sound of the men Worki…
The Persuasions (Well, don't you know) That's the sound of the men…
The Supremes Ho ha ho ha I hear someon sayin' Ho ha ho ha Ho…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jimmy Young:
Do I Love You? Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
Don't Worry About Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Ebb Tide First the tide rushes in, plants a kiss on the…
Faith Darling, you will see I can move mountains If you have faith…
Faith Can Move Mountains Darling, you will see I can move mountains If you have faith…
I Thought Of You Last Night I thought of you last night I thought of you and…
I'll Sing to You Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
Ill Sing To You Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
It's Always You Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
Little Things Mean A Lot Blow me a kiss from across the room Say I look…
Man from Laramie The man from Laramie He was a man with a peaceful…
P.S. I Love You Standing by my window, listening for your call Seems I reall…
The Man from Laramie The man from Laramie He was a man with a peaceful…
Too Young They try to tell us were too young Too young to…
Unchained Melody Oh, my love, my darling I've hungered for your touch A…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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