Australian Music Icon Col Joye Passes Away at 89

Exploring genres like pop, rock, and country, Col Joye spent the majority of his life in the music industry. For over six decades, the singer released several studio albums. His last, Back to Rock ‘N’ Roll, hit shelves in 1990. Although not recording new music for years, Joye remained a fixture in the music industry. He not only teamed up with his brother, Kevin Jacobsen, to form the KJ Quintet, but also helped shine a light on the famed Bee Gees. Sadly, on August 5th, Joye passed away at the age of 89. 

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Celebrated for his memorable career in the Australian music industry, the CEO of ARIA, Annabelle Herd, released a statement about the singer’s contributions. “From music to TV, publishing to concert promotion, artist management and live performances, Col Joye made a remarkable contribution to Australian music for more than six decades.”   

Discussing how the US and UK dominated music at the time, Herd insisted that Joye carved a path for future Australian singers. “At a time when the local industry was dominated by US and UK artists, he proved that Australians would embrace local artists and local music.”

Saddened over the loss of an Australian legend, Herd concluded, “Our deepest condolences go to Col’s family. He will be sadly missed.”

The Legacy Of Col Joye

Taking a look back at his career in the spotlight, his group, Col Joye and the Joy Boys, made history in the late 1950s when they recorded the No. 1 hit “Bye Bye Baby.” Thrilled over the success of the song, the band became the first group from Australia to top the national charts that same year with “Oh Yeah Uh Huh.”

Outside of making history, both Kevin and Joye also explored the business side of the music industry when they created Joye Enterprises. Having both a label and a talent agency, the brothers eventually signed the Bee Gees. Much like Joye, the group made history when they landed No. 1 on the Hot 100 thanks to “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” At the time, the Bee Gees became the first Australian group to top the Hot 100. 

Leaving his own mark on music and helping other bands achieve success, Joye eventually found his way into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988. While passing away at 89, his legacy remained a shining moment in the history of Australian music. 

(Photo by Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images)