Aussie music legend Col Joye dies aged 89
Colin Frederick Jacobsen AM - better known as Col Joye - was most famous for his role as the frontman of Col Joye and the Joy Boys, and for his 'discovery' of iconic Australian band the Bee Gees.
Col Joye has died aged 89.
He was the first Aussie pop star to hit number 1 on local charts with the single 'Bye Bye Baby' in 1959, which he performed with backing vocals from The Sapphires, the first all-female, all-First Nations singing group in Australian history.
He began his music career in Sydney in 1957 playing in his brother Kevin's band, then called the KJ Quintet.
According to the National Portrait Gallery, the band impulsively changed their name to 'Col Joye and the Joy Boys' for their set at the Manly Jazzerama - a decision which 'they are said to have regretted'.
Joye would go on to rack up another three top 10 hits with the Joy Boys as they rode the rock n' roll wave throughout the early 1960s.
Aside from performing, Joye launched a succesful talent scouting, management and record label operation when he opened ATA Studios at Glebe in Sydney.
In 1963, Joye happened across a group of young performers from Redcliffe calling themselves the Bee Gees, who at the time were touring Queensland resorts to make ends meet.
Joye performed in Vietnam for Aussie troops near the frontline. Picture: supplied
After parting ways with the group - who would of course go on to achieve international fame - Joye continued to make music, and even performed alongside Little Pattie for troops stationed in Vietnam in 1966.
As he performed at the Australian base in Nui Dat, the infamous Battle of Long Tan began less than 10km away.
Joye produced his final hit - a country record called 'Heaven is my Woman's Love' in 1973.
Despite suffering numerous injuries in 1990 after falling six metres while pruning a neighbour's tree, Joye recovered and continued touring in 1998.
In his retirement, Joye donated more than 1200 items to the National Film and Sound Archive.
More to come.
Jack Nivison
Cadet Journalist
Jack began his journalism career as a freelancer for the New England Times, a small community paper based in Armidale, regional New South Wales. He is currently a Sydney-based Cadet Journalist at News Corp.
Jack Nivison
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