Australian Music Icon Col Joye Dies at 89

Australia is mourning the loss of one of its music pioneers, Col Joye, who passed away at the age of 89. Born Colin Jacobsen, Joye was the first Australian pop artist to top the local music charts and played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s early rock and roll scene.

Joye launched his music career in 1957 as a member of The KJ Quintet, a band led by his brother, Kevin Jacobsen, in Sydney. The group later rebranded as Col Joye and the Joy Boys to secure a performance at the Manly Jazzerama festival. With their younger brother Keith joining on bass, the Joy Boys quickly became a fixture in the Bankstown music scene.

Their breakthrough came in 1959 when their second single, Bye Bye Baby, soared to number one on the Sydney charts. The band followed up with three more top-10 hits, cementing their place in Australian music history.

Beyond performing, Joye was a trailblazer behind the scenes. Alongside his brother Kevin, he co-founded a successful music management, publishing, and recording company in the 1960s. One of their most notable signings was the Bee Gees, whom Joye discovered performing in Surfers Paradise in 1961. He signed the Gibb brothers to Joye Music, and they went on to provide backing vocals on Joye’s 1963 hit, Starlight of Love.

Col Joye’s popularity endured into the 1970s, with his 1973 single Heaven Is My Woman’s Love reaching number one nationally.

Joye’s legacy as a performer, entrepreneur, and mentor leaves an indelible mark on the Australian music industry.