Jesse Colin Young, born Perry Miller, is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of the 1960s group The Youngbloods. After the band's split in 1972, he launched a solo career, releasing multiple albums on Warner Bros. Records, including popular titles like 'Song for Juli' and 'Songbird'. He continued his musical journey with Elektra and Cypress Records in the 1980s and later established his own label, Ridgetop Music, in 1993. Following a relocation to Hawaii after the Mount Vision Fire, Young periodically released music. Diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, he initially retired but returned to performing in 2016 with his son, releasing the album 'Dreamers' in 2019.
On November 22, 1941, Perry Miller, later known as Jesse Colin Young, was born. He would become a singer and songwriter and a founding member of the band The Youngbloods.
In 1959, Jesse Colin Young, then known as Perry Miller, won a scholarship to attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
In 1961, Jesse Colin Young transferred to New York University, balancing his studies with performances in Greenwich Village.
In 1964, Jesse Colin Young's debut album, "The Soul of a City Boy", was released.
In 1965, Jesse Colin Young released his second album, "Young Blood", produced by Bobby Scott.
In 1966, Jesse Colin Young's daughter Juli was born with his first wife, Suzi Young.
In 1966, the Youngbloods, with Jesse Colin Young, released their debut single "Grizzly Bear" after signing with RCA Records.
In 1967, Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods moved to Marin County, California.
In 1967, The Youngbloods released their debut album "The Youngbloods", which included the song "Get Together".
In 1969, "Get Together" became an international hit for the Youngbloods after being used in a public service commercial.
In 1969, during the production of the album Elephant Mountain, Jerry Corbitt left The Youngbloods, leading Jesse Colin Young to become the group's main songwriter.
In 1970, Jesse Colin Young built a recording studio next to his home in Inverness, California.
In 1970, Three Dog Night covered Jesse Colin Young's song "Sunlight" on their album "Naturally".
In 1971, Jesse Colin Young built a house on a ridgetop in Inverness, California.
In November 1972, Jesse Colin Young disbanded The Youngbloods after their final album, High on a Ridge Top.
In 1972, Jesse Colin Young built a recording studio at his Inverness property.
In 1972, The Youngbloods disbanded, marking a turning point in Jesse Colin Young's career as he transitioned to a solo artist.
In 1973, Jesse Colin Young released Song for Juli, which included “Morning Sun" written after the birth of his son Cheyenne.
In 1973, Jesse Colin Young's fourth solo album, "Song for Juli", was released and became a sleeper hit.
In 1974, Jesse Colin Young released the album "Light Shine" and toured as an opening act for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 1974, Jesse Colin Young toured his fifth album, Light Shine, as an opening act for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 1975, Jesse Colin Young released "Songbird", which became his highest-charting album.
In 1975, Jesse Colin Young released his album "Songbird", which became his highest-charting album, reaching number 26 in the US and number 20 in Canada.
In 1976, Jesse Colin Young released the live album "On the Road", continuing his successful solo career.
In 1976, Jesse Colin Young released the live album "On the Road", which charted on the Billboard top 200 albums chart.
In 1977, Jesse Colin Young released "Love on the Wing", which charted on the Billboard top 200 albums chart.
In 1978, Jesse Colin Young switched labels to Elektra Records and released "American Dreams".
In 1979, Jesse Colin Young performed as a part of the No Nukes protest concerts organized by Musicians United for Safe Energy.
In 1982, Jesse Colin Young released "The Perfect Stranger" on Elektra Records, which did not achieve as much commercial success as his previous albums.
In 1987, Jesse Colin Young released "The Highway Is for Heroes" on Cypress Records, which did not meet with the same commercial success as his earlier works.
In 1993, Jesse Colin Young and his wife Connie founded Ridgetop Music to re-release his 1970s catalog and release new music.
In 1994, Jazzie Young, daughter of Jesse Colin Young and Connie Darden, was born.
In 1994, Jesse Colin Young released the album "Swept Away" on his label, Ridgetop Music.
In October 1995, Jesse Colin Young's house in Inverness was destroyed in the Mount Vision fire, leading to the family's relocation to Hawaii.
In 1995, The recording studio at Jesse Colin Young's Inverness property was untouched by the forest fire.
In 2001, Jesse Colin Young independently released the album 'Walk the Talk', collaborating with his son Cheyenne Young, godson Ethan Turner, and former Youngbloods member Lowell "Banana" Levinger.
In 2002, Jesse Colin Young released 'Songs for Christmas' as part of a CD re-release project, and Robert Plant covered his song "Darkness, Darkness".
In 2002, Robert Plant covered Jesse Colin Young's song “Darkness, Darkness”, which received a Grammy nomination.
In 2004, Jesse Colin Young released the Hawaii-influenced album 'Living in Paradise' with Artemis Records.
In 2006, Jesse Colin Young and his family moved to Aiken, South Carolina, the hometown of his second wife, Connie Darden-Young.
In 2012, Jesse Colin Young quit performing music due to being diagnosed with "chronic Lyme disease".
In 2012, Jesse Colin Young received a diagnosis of "chronic Lyme disease" and decided to retire from music.
In 2016, Jesse Colin Young returned to performing music, inspired by his son Tristan and his classmates.
In 2016, Jesse Colin Young's son, Tristan, graduated from the Berklee College of Music.
In 2017, Jazzie Young, Jesse Colin Young's daughter, began releasing music independently.
In February 2019, Jesse Colin Young released his new solo record, "Dreamers," with a band of his son's classmates.
In 2019, Jesse Colin Young released a new album, 'Dreamers,' marking a significant milestone in his later career.
In 2019, Tristan Young co-produced his father Jesse Colin Young's album 'Dreamers'.
Jesse Colin Young continued to perform live as late as 2023, marking a long career in music.
Jesse Colin Young, born Perry Miller, died on March 16, 2025. He was an American singer and songwriter, known for being the lead singer of the Youngbloods.