RIP Col Joye

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has led the tributes for Australian music legend Col Joye, following his death at the age of 89.

As a singer he enjoyed numerous hits in the late 50s, 60s and 70s, solo, and with his band the Joy Boys. Later he and his brother Kevin Jacobsen (Col’s real name is Colin Jacobsen AM) started a hugely influential entertainment management, publishing and recording business, introducing Australia and the world to bands like The Bee Gees.

Col was one of our first rock and rollers to find chart success, alongside the mighty Johnny O’Keefe. Col Joye and the Joy Boy‘s breakthrough hit, Bye Bye Baby, is now part of the Sounds of Australia collection at the NFSA. One of the most extraordinary things about the song was that Col had a heavy cold on the day of the recording but pushed through. You can actually hear him sniffling in the background!

Also in 1959 Col released Oh Yeah, Uh Huh which was the first Australian made record to go to No 1.

In the early 60s Col was at a party on the Gold Coast. He was about to head off to bed in the wee hours of the morning when three children got up and sang. So astonished was Col at their talent that he invited them to join him and and at his church the next morning. Col said later that somewhere a recording of that which began:

“I’m Barry Gibb and my address is ….”

Still exists.

Col took the recording to Festival Records who said no on account of the brothers Gibb’s ages. So he and thought he’d try assisting them himself, with the resulting record, Spicks and Specks, below:

The Bee Gees, as they became, decided to try their luck in London and the rest, as they say, is history. But when their younger brother Andy wanted to see if he too could have a singing career, Barry, Robin and Maurice sent Andy back to Australia to be guided by Col and Kevin again.

From the 70s onwards Col and Kevin not only had their record label and publishing company but an expansion into international acts touring saw them bring artists like Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and many, many more to Australia.

A legend of and great friend to the Australian music industry and radio, Vale Cole Joye.

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and music historian for Radio Today.