Cathy Young (vocalist)

In 1951[1] Young was born in Toronto, Ontario.[2] She began singing at the age of three and became a busker as a teenager. When she was sixteen, she sang at The Mynah Bird in Yorkville, Toronto.[1]

After performing at a Queen's Park LOVE IN in May 1967[1] and performances at The Rock Pile, Young was signed by Shel Safran, manager of the Detroit band, The Amboy Dukes.[3] Young released her debut album A Spoonful Of Cathy Young in April 1969 on Mainstream Records. Her first album was named 'Pick of the Week ' by Billboard magazine in May 1969.[4] In 1973, Young released her second album Travel Stained on GRT Records.[2] While she continues her music career, Young has portrayed Mary Magdalene in Robert Stigwood's musical Jesus Christ Superstar[5] and voice acted for multiple video games including part of The Black Mirror series.[1] She also has voice directed the English version of the award winning video game " Drakensang, River of Time ". Young was also a founding member of the Spirit of Yorkville Alumni, and the Spirit of Yorkville Music Festival in Toronto.[6] Most recently, Cathy Young has been honored by her 1st album Cover being represented on the 70 foot mural on a 22 story building, the second tallest mural in the world, by noted Artist Adrian Hayles, featuring iconic musicians and singers who have performed on Yonge St. The mural has been nominated for a Historical Society award. The honors continue with an inclusion of Cathy’s first recording on Mainstream Records USA, to the Friar’s Music Museum in Toronto located at the world famous Yonge & Dundas Square. Cathy Young was featured in the book, Music from Far and Wide: Celebrating 40 Years of the Juno Awards (Key Porter Books) and Bill King’s recent book ‘ Talk ‘ Conversations in all Keys ( 7 Arts Press ).

• A Spoonful of Cathy Young (1969)
• Travel Stained (1973)
• Young, Live & Rare (2016)

In 1974, Young won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year.[7] The following year, she was nominated for the Juno Award for Best Female Artist.[8] In 2011, Young was featured in the documentary Yonge Street - Toronto Rock & Roll Stories.[9] Young was honoured in multiple tribute concerts held during the period of October 2012 to June 2013.[10] In November 2017 Young's image was included in the 22 storey mural at 423 Yonge Street depicting Music icons who have performed in historic Yonge Street venues. The mural was created by noted Toronto artist Adrian Hayles. Young's first recording on Mainstream Records USA, inducted to the Friar’s Music Museum in Toronto located at the world famous Yonge & Dundas Square.