By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
Jesse Colin Young was a singer and songwriter who passed away recently at the age of 83. If you’re like me, you’ll more than likely know only one of his singles, a song called “Get Together” which he sang with his group “The Youngbloods” in 1969. Jesse has released 17 studio albums, 7 compilation albums and more than 17 singles. He was a founding member of “The Youngbloods” and their lead singer. With his group, he amassed another 5 studio albums, 3 compilation albums and 2 live albums as well as 20 single releases. In spite of all this vinyl being released and with a career spanning decades, only one top 40 hit emerged, the song “Get Together.” This song, released during the summer of 1969, for me, summed up the decade of the 1960’s. The youth of the 1960’s saw it all in that decade and with the 1970’s just months away, changes were coming.
We were growing up, celebrating at Woodstock spreading peace, love and music and putting Americans on the moon, all this while the Vietnam war was still raging half a world away. Jesse was talented enough to get the opportunity to write and record a catalogue of music over the years through his group and as a solo artist. Ironically, his biggest hit was not one of his own. “Get Together” was written by Chet Powers, a member of the underground group “Quicksilver Messenger Service,” famous for their one almost top forty hit, “Fresh Air” which peaked at number 49. Chet wrote the song and recorded it under his stage name “Dino Valenti” around 1963. Other artists also recorded the song, but the hit version came from The Youngbloods. Originally released with some chart success off their debut album in 1967, the song regained popularity after the song was used in a radio public service commercial. It was re-released becoming a top 5 hit in 1969. Jesse would follow his dream, releasing his last album in 2020 and continuing to perform until 2 years ago. He may not have written “Get Together,” but he is the one who found that song and brought that most important message to not only America, but the entire world! “Come on, people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”
