澳大利亚电视主持人、歌手和音乐制作人Johnny Young于近日去世，享年79岁[1][2]。他死于胰腺癌[1][2]。Young最为人所知的身份是儿童才艺秀《Young Talent Time》的制作人和主持人，该节目从1971年7月首播[2]，持续至1989年[2]，期间培养了42名儿童成为Young Talent Team成员[2]。
Young在音乐创作领域也颇有建树，创作了多首澳大利亚畅销歌曲，其中包括1966年的年度最畅销单曲《Step Back》和1969年的年度最畅销歌曲《The Real Thing》[2]。通过《Young Talent Time》，他为Tina Arena、Dannii Minogue等众多日后的明星奠定了职业基础[1][2]。2010年，Tina Arena为Young引荐加入ARIA名人堂[1]，他还在1990年被引荐进入Logies名人堂[1]。
Young的幸存者包括妻子Marisha、妹妹Cornelia、女儿Anna和Fleur、七个孙子女和两个曾孙[2]。同业人士对他的去世表示哀悼，歌手Russell Morris称Young为"伟大的朋友"和"才华横溢的人"[1]。
Australian television icon Johnny Young has passed away at age 79 from pancreatic cancer following a brief illness.[1][2] Young, born March 12, 1947,[2] built a legendary career as a television host, singer, and songwriter that spanned decades and shaped the careers of numerous Australian entertainment figures.
Young is best remembered as the creator and host of Young Talent Time, a children's talent showcase that premiered in July 1971 and ran for 18 years until 1989.[2] The program became a launching pad for future stars, including Dannii Minogue and Tina Arena,[1][2] with 42 young performers becoming members of the Young Talent Team during its run.[2] Beyond his hosting duties, Young achieved significant success as a songwriter and recording artist, penning multiple hit songs that defined Australian popular music. His composition "Step Back" became Australia's top-selling single in 1966, while "The Real Thing" topped the charts in 1969.[2]
Young's contributions to entertainment were widely recognized throughout his life. He was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 1990,[1] and Tina Arena later nominated him for the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2010.[1] He is survived by his wife Marisha, sister Cornelia, daughters Anna and Fleur, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.[1][2]