jeff young, jorgen carlsson, erik eldenius, toshi yanagi
Influences
Ray Charles, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Steve Winwood, Robert Cray,
Bob Marley, Bobby Blue Bland, Mccoy Tyner, Miles Davis,
Herbie Hancock, Jackson Browne, Donald Fagen,
Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer
Sounds Like
Jeff worked around local venues in a variety of R&B and rock bands before enrolling at Ithaca College to study music in 1974. He started a quartet and played around the college town, enjoying jazz big band while studying classical piano before taking off to study in London. It's no wonder when he started singing in a host of venues there, he found his audience; many of the British rock bands Jeff was a fan of, like The Animals, Free, and Traffic, were very influenced by black American R&B artists such as Sam Cooke, Bobby Bland, and Ray Charles... all of which Jeff had heard at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem when he was a kid. Playing and singing in London brought his earliest influences with these artists full circle.
In 1978 and '79, Jeff was hired to tour with Randy Crawford on the Crusader's Street Life Tour of Europe, and then with the French rock band, Gong, before heading back to NYC in the early eighties where he gained a reputation as a lead and background vocalist who could also play many styles as a keyboardist. Jeff started singing jingles for TV and pursuing his own artistic endeavors.
In the late eighties, he was hired to sing and play in the Broadway musical, "The Gospel at Colonus". This gospel tour-de-force featured the Soul Stirrers, The Five Blind Boys, and Morgan Freeman. After a two-month run on Broadway, Jeff and several members of the rhythm section started playing clubs around the area, which led to the formation of a band that was eventually called, "Jeff Young and the Youngsters". Donald Fagen, of Steely Dan, heard The Youngsters one night and hired the whole band... first to play two songs with him for a benefit show at The Long Star Caf.., and then for a big show at New York's Beacon Theatre. The Youngsters were the rhythm section behind Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Pheobe Snow, and Bozz Scaggs. Jeff helped arrange the music with Donald, and learned valuable lessons about music, people, and business.
The nineties found Jeff almost constantly touring with a wide variety of artists to promote their records. Curtis Stigers needed to have a strong band to play his hits, "I Wonder Why" and "Never Saw a Miracle." Jeff played organ, piano, and sang background vocals. Their musical and personal connection continues.
Between tours with Curtis, Shawn Colvin, and various gigs, Jeff always found the time for his own craft. His own CD, "Acting on IMpulse" was made in New York and Los Angeles with hand-picked musicians that Jeff was sure could contribute something special to his tracks. "Acting on Impulse" is a collection of songs that tell stories from Jeff's musical world.
In '93, Jeff toured with Jackson Browne, supporting the "I'm Alive" CD, as well as recorded "Looking East" and "Best of Jackson Browne" CD's. When Jackson auditioned Vonda Shephard for backing vocals for 1994's upcoming tour, she jointed the band after only three songs. Vonda and Jeff became musical soul mates and she hired Jeff for many sessions for the hit TV series, "Ally McBeal". She introduced Jeff to Susanna, who became his wife, and to guitarist Michael Landau. Jeff moved to the West Coast in '96 and he and Susanna started their family. They continue working with Jackson and Vonda.
Michael Landau asked Jeff to play a show at The Baked Potato in L.A. with drummer, Toss Panos, which eventually inspired the creation of Blue Horn's "Noise for Neighbors" in October of 2000.
Not long after recording "Noise for Neighbors" a friend from the days of touring with Curtis Stigers asked Jeff if he'd be interested in touring with Sting for the second half of the "Brand New Day" Tour. Jeff can be heard on the CD and DVD of Sting's "All This Time".
2002 found Jeff working on Jackson Browne's CD, "The Naked Ride Home", and performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in March 2004.
In the summer of 2006 Jeff toured with Donald Fagen and Steely Dan.It all began
with a phone call to Donald about a possible New York Rock and Soul Reunion.Instead
Donald asked Jeff to join the band to support his latest CD "Morph The Cat".
What captures Jeff at his best is performing and recording his own songs with
the Youngsters-Jorgan Carlsson, Eric Eldenius, and Toshi Yanagi.
"Songs From a Red Wurlitzer" is the first CD and is available thru CD BABY and ITUNES
Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Sting, Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morissette, Curtis Stigers,
Bonnie Raitt, Bo Didley, Bagdad Cafe, Taylor Hicks, Chuck Jackson, Randy Crawford,
Gong,
New York rock and soul.
jeff young and the youngsters's Friend Space (Top 20)
Hey Jeff! Hope things are great, Sue said the back house is amazing! cool... I started recording my new album, I really want you to play and sing on it!!!! Speak soon and hopefully see ya soon, maybe on my way to Australia. Jackie
Thanks for the add, I love your music btw!
If you get a chance, please take a listen to our first New Age release "Instrumental Piano Music" by Solo Piano Relaxing Music. We'd love to know what you think of it!
Regards
LR
