Otha Young
Encyclopedia
Otha Young was an American
singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and the longtime musical partner of Grammy-Award winning country-pop artist Juice Newton
.
In the early 1970s, Young and Newton began playing together and formed the band Juice Newton and Silver Spur in Los Angeles
. By 1978, the band would evolve into Newton's solo act, with Young writing, playing and producing for Newton regularly until his death, although other artists recorded Young's songs as well.
As a songwriter, Young was best known for Juice Newton's #1 hit from 1982, "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)
", which reached the top spot on both Billboard's "Adult Contemporary" and "Hot Country" charts, as well as reaching #7 on the Hot 100, remaining in the Top 40 for 18 weeks. According to Billboard, the song was #21 of the year's Hot 100 biggest hits.
Other Otha Young-penned Top-10 hits include: 1978's "Sweet, Sweet Smile" (The Carpenters), 1987's "Don't You" (Forester Sisters) and 1986's "What Can I Do With My Heart?" (Juice Newton).
; he is survived by his wife Brenda and their daughter Makena.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and the longtime musical partner of Grammy-Award winning country-pop artist Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
.
In the early 1970s, Young and Newton began playing together and formed the band Juice Newton and Silver Spur in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. By 1978, the band would evolve into Newton's solo act, with Young writing, playing and producing for Newton regularly until his death, although other artists recorded Young's songs as well.
As a songwriter, Young was best known for Juice Newton's #1 hit from 1982, "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)
The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)
"The Sweetest Thing " is a country-pop song written by Otha Young . Young was the long-time musical partner of Juice Newton and wrote the song for her in the mid-1970s.-History:...
", which reached the top spot on both Billboard's "Adult Contemporary" and "Hot Country" charts, as well as reaching #7 on the Hot 100, remaining in the Top 40 for 18 weeks. According to Billboard, the song was #21 of the year's Hot 100 biggest hits.
Other Otha Young-penned Top-10 hits include: 1978's "Sweet, Sweet Smile" (The Carpenters), 1987's "Don't You" (Forester Sisters) and 1986's "What Can I Do With My Heart?" (Juice Newton).
Death
Otha Young died on August 6, 2009, aged 66, at UCLA Medical Center from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
; he is survived by his wife Brenda and their daughter Makena.