PLANS are underway to honour the late Brian Young, and include an album of artists he took on tour, as well as a bronze bust.
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Samantha Hart is the daughter of Bob Howson, who toured with Youngie in the early 1980s.
Now she is the driving force behind plans for a memorial CD, which will include artists who toured with The Brian Young Show, along with several of Brian’s own songs.
“He lived with us for a little while,” Samantha said. “He actually gave me my nickname – Sammy Turtle – as a kid.”
She recalled fond memories of joining Brian on floats during the Tamworth Country Music Festival Cavalcade, and said her plans to get an album recorded of artists who toured with Brian, as well as getting a bronze bust made, would be a wonderful way to honour his legacy in country music.
Steve Newton from Enrec Studios is on board to compile the album and seven artists who toured with The Brian Young Show have already contributed songs.
Brian, who passed away on May 14 this year, became a legend on the Australian rodeo scene in the 1950s and ’60s, competing all over the country.
In 1954 he won the World Champion Bull Riding title at Home Hill. In 1961, he kicked off his recording career with his own composition, Black Man Jacky Jacky, released on W&G Records.
Brian went on to record for EMI then Opal Records, and in 1978 was inducted into Hands of Fame Park. In 1991 he won a Golden Guitar for Thistles on the Hillside, and was elevated to the Roll of Renown in 1999.
Lindsay Butler and Shaza Leigh, both toured with The Brian Young Show.
“Lindsay was a mate of Youngie’s for around 50 years,” Shaza said. “(They were) both originally stable mates on the Opal Records label.”
They would later join forces when Brian released albums on Butler’s own record label, LBS Records. Shaza in turn started her professional touring career as part of Youngie’s Sound of Country Music roadshow in 1987, which hit hard times that year.
Shaza financed the 1988 tour, rebranded the roadshow as The Brian Young Show and toured as a managing co-partner until 1993 when they dissolved the business partnership, leaving Youngie with a 70-acre property in the Whitsundays, new equipment and touring vehicles.
The business had become highly successful and a major touring show on the Australian circuit, focusing on the remote areas of our country.
“The Brian Young Show was the single most important thing in Youngies’s life,” Shaza said.
“He was extremely proud of his show and was driven to keep putting a great new show together every year. It consumed him and all else paled in significance next to his roadshow.
“I believe it was that dedication which kept his show on the road as long as he did.”
When Youngie’s health failed and he was forced to retire his show, Lindsay and Shaza included him in their roadshow for the final two years of his touring career to enable him to say farewell to his fans and friends and LBS Music also released a final album for their legendary country mate titled The Last of the Travelling Showmen.
This album featured a selection of the best artists to tour with Brian performing duets with him.
With plans of adding Youngie to the row of bronze busts in Bicentennial Park, Samantha is now working on forming a committee to get the fundraising started.
If anyone is interested in joining the committee to help organise the fundraising, they can contact Samantha by email at brian youngshow@gmail.com.