Jimmy Young (broadcaster)
Jimmy Young | |
---|---|
Born | Leslie Ronald Young 21 September 1921 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England |
Died | 7 November 2016 London, England | (aged 95)
Other names | JY, Jimbo |
Education | East Dean Grammar School |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1950–2002 |
Employer(s) | BBC Radio 1 (1967-73) BBC Radio 2 (1973-2002) |
Known for | "Unchained Melody", "The Man from Laramie" |
Spouses | Wendy Wilkinson
(m. 1946, divorced)Sally Douglas
(m. 1950, divorced)Alicia Padstow (m. 1996) |
Children | 1 |
Sir Leslie Ronald Young
Early life
Young was born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. The son of a baker and a dressmaker, he attended East Dean Grammar School. Young nearly died from bronchitis, double pneumonia and pleurisy as a child.[2] He excelled at boxing and rugby, playing for Cinderford RFC and later turning down a place with Wigan's rugby league team.[3]
After his parents divorced in 1939, he left for South Wales to work as an electrician.[4] Young later joined the RAF, becoming a PT instructor, staying until 1949.[5]
Singing career
Young signed to the new
In 1952, he signed a
Disc jockey and radio broadcaster
After a period with Radio Luxembourg,[9] Young joined the BBC. He became a host of Housewives' Choice, on the BBC Light Programme,[10] and later he became one of the first disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, presenting the weekday mid-morning show from 1967 to 1973.[11] He then joined BBC Radio 2 in 1973, where he presented a daily lunchtime news and current affairs programme. The show (which he referred to as "The JY Prog"), ran from 2 July 1973 to 20 December 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.[5]
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 and retiring from the BBC, Young wrote a newspaper column criticising his former employer for instances of "brutality", and making clear that it had not been his idea to leave.[12] He declined lunch with his successor and the pair never met.[13]
He continued to write a weekly column for the
Young returned to
Awards
Young was appointed an
Autobiography
His first autobiography, J.Y.: The Autobiography of Jimmy Young, was published by W.H. Allen in 1974. His second autobiography, Forever Young: The Autobiography, was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2003.[18] In addition he wrote a book in 1982 simply entitled 'Jimmy Young' that concentrated on his broadcasting career.
Death
According to a family spokesman, Young died "peacefully at home" in the afternoon of 7 November 2016, aged 95, with his wife Alicia by his side.[19]
Books
- Young, Jimmy (1974). J.Y.: An Autobiography of Jimmy Young. ISBN 978-0491013710.
- Young, Jimmy (2003). Forever Young: The Autobiography. ISBN 978-0340734377.
Discography
- "Too Young" – (1951)
- "UKNumber 11
- "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" – (1955) – UK Number 1 (with Bob Sharples and His Music, Decca: F10597)
- "Someone on Your Mind" – (1955) – UK Number 13 (with Bob Sharples and His Music) (US London1639)
- "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)[20]
- "Miss You" – (1963) – UK Number 15
- "Unchained Melody" (re-recording) – (1964) – UK Number 43 (with the Mike Sammes Singers)[20]
References
- ^ "Veteran broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young dies". sky.com. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- Sunday Express. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Leigh, Spencer (8 November 2016). "Jimmy Young obituary: Chart-topping singer and Margaret Thatcher's favourite broadcaster". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (7 November 2016). "Broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young dies aged 95". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Jimmy Young: Too old?". BBC News. 2 November 2001. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ Ruby, Jennifer (7 November 2016). "Veteran broadcaster and singer Sir Jimmy Young dies at the age of 95". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ISBN 9780857123602.
- ^ a b c "Sir Jimmy Young: You Ask The Questions". The Independent. 30 October 2003. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Benji (20 September 2011). "Sir Jimmy Young: I've forgiven the BBC for sacking me". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Obituary: Jimmy Young". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Jimmy Young | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Sir Jimmy vents anger in column". BBC News. 5 January 2003. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ^ Moss, Stephen (1 June 2020). "Jeremy Vine: 'At the BBC you can have values but you can't have views – that's how I operate'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Although parting is such sweet sorrow, it's time for me to go", Sunday Express page 37, 2 November 2014
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 welcomes back legendary broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young CBE" (Press release). BBC. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- ^ "1979 Birthday Honours". The London Gazette. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ UK list: "No. 53153". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1992. p. 9.
- ^ "Sir Jimmy Young: You Ask The Questions". The Independent. 30 October 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "Broadcaster Sir Jimmy Young; Veteran broadcaster dies aged 95". BBC News. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
- "Obituary: Jimmy Young" – a BBC News obituary, 7 November 2016
- "Sir Jimmy's radio days" – BBC News profile, 20 December 2002
- Harry Warren's 'Keep Young and Beautiful' (a song used by Jimmy Young in his radio days)
- Radio Rewind biography
- Jimmy Young discography at Discogs
- Classic BBC Radio Theme ~ The JY Prog (Town Talk) on YouTube