The Youngbloods lost one of their own this past weekend after paramedics were called to his home. The star was a musician, a father, and a devoted husband to his wife.
Tragedy struck the music industry with the loss of folk musician Jesse Colin Young from the Youngbloods. According to his case report, the coroner revealed that the rock singer passed away at 3:13 p.m. on March 16, 2025.
Documents show that the musician died at Aiken Regional Medical Center. South Carolina’s Aiken County Coroner’s Office stated that Young’s manner of death was natural, as he succumbed to a heart attack.
The coroner’s office explained that the artist passed away due to cardiac complications resulting from atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Young was 83.
His death was confirmed this week in an Instagram post that featured a throwback photo of the singer holding his guitar. The statement read, “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jesse Colin Young. A father, husband, and legendary musician, Jesse was a positive force in this world, spreading joy and hope through his music and the lives he touched.Aloha, [sic] Jesse. Our songbird will be missed.”
Reports indicate the artist was at home that Sunday afternoon when paramedics were called. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to his case report, the late singer’s body is currently at a funeral home in South Carolina.
During a 2012 interview, at the age of 70, the frontman revealed that he had Lyme disease, a condition that sometimes weakened him and remained undiagnosed for two decades. He only began treating it in the two years leading up to the interview.
At the time, the late artist admitted, “I struggle with it.” Explaining how his diagnosis came about, he described his life before, saying, “I lived in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, on the edge of Point Reyes National Seashore, so I had a 150,000-acre backyard. I used to walk it every day – full of ticks.”
However, he added, “The Lyme disease wasn’t discovered for another 20-some years after that. From 1967 on, I was walking in the woods all the time. It’s been treated for only the last two years.”
His battle with Lyme disease was another reason he considered retiring from touring, as his health fluctuated. He explained, “It keeps getting better since I’ve been treated, and I can manage it a lot more easily at home than I can on the road.”
According to his website, Young played a pivotal role in shaping American roots music for over 50 years. As the frontman of the Youngbloods, he helped define the Woodstock era with “Get Together,” a song that calls for peace. He later built a successful solo career, blending social activism with masterful guitar work and vocals.
Born in Queens, New York, on November 22, 1941, the artist—originally known as Perry Miller—grew up in a musical household. He learned to play multiple instruments and performed in Greenwich Village during the 1960s folk revival.
After releasing two solo albums, he formed the Youngbloods with Jerry Corbitt. Their song “Get Together” became a timeless anthem. Young played bass and took over as the band’s primary songwriter after Corbitt left.
He wrote “Darkness Darkness,” later covered by Robert Plant, and “Sunlight,” a track recorded by Three Dog Night. After the Youngbloods disbanded, he built a home studio and released successful solo albums, including “Song for Juli” and “Songbird.”
In the 1970s, he was instrumental in shaping the Americana sound. He also became an activist, performing at the first “No Nukes” concert and singing “Get Together” alongside David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash.
During the 1980s, he collaborated with Carly Simon and co-founded Ridgetop Music with his wife, Connie. However, in 1995, a fire destroyed their home, forcing them to relocate to Hawaii. Inspired by the island’s culture, he recorded “Living in Paradise.”
After Lyme disease forced him to step away from touring, he returned to the stage in 2015 to perform for veterans upon his recovery. In 2019, he released “Dreamers,” an album that addressed social issues such as immigration and the #MeToo movement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched “One Song at a Time,” revisiting his past work online. He also re-recorded “Get Together” with Steve Miller to raise funds for WhyHunger. Later, he released “Highway Troubadour,” an acoustic album featuring songs from throughout his career.
The late musician consistently used music to reflect the times. From the 1960s to the present, his work continues to inspire with messages of unity and change.
