Col Joye

Joye started his career as a jewellery salesman, after leaving school, before performing and recording with his backing band, the KJ Quintet, that would become the Joy Boys[2] which included his brothers Kevin and Keith, Joye enjoyed a string of hits on the local and national singles charts of Australia beginning in 1959. Joye's first single, "Stagger Lee" was a cover of the Lloyd Price US original. However, his third single "Bye Bye Baby" reached No.3 on the Australian Kent Music Report charts in 1959, followed by "Rockin Rollin Clementine" also peaking at No. 3.[3] His fifth single, "Oh Yeah Uh Huh", became his most successful, peaking at No. 1. He also had other charting singles, including "Yes Sir That's My Baby" peaking at No. 5 nationally.

Joye was an original member of Brian Henderson's Bandstand television program, and appeared regularly on the show for fourteen years. He toured Australia with fellow Bandstand acts, including Judy Stone, the De Kroo Brothers, Sandy Scott and Little Pattie. Joye's popularity leveled off after the changes to the music scene associated with the rise of the Beatles, and it was not until 1973 that he had another hit record, with "Heaven Is My Woman's Love" reaching No. 1 on the Go-Set charts in 1973.[3]

During the period between personal musical successes in the 1960s, Col and Kevin Jacobsen built an influential entertainment management, publishing and recording business, including ATA Studios in Glebe, New South Wales. This business worked with developing and promoting artists including the Bee Gees, and their brother Andy Gibb. Their promotions company, Jacobsen Entertainment, continued into the 2000s, with Col and Kevin remaining as principal members.[6]

Joye won several music awards, including two ARIA Music Awards, and he earned numerous gold and platinum records. On 8 June 1981, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his entertainment and philanthropic work.[7] Joye also continued to perform publicly, including providing entertainment at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs post-1985 NSW Rugby League grand final victory celebration.[8] Joye was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988, the first year of such inductions.

In 1998, Australia Post issued a special-edition set of twelve stamps celebrating the early years of Australian Rock 'n' Roll, featuring Australian hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. One of the stamps commemorated Joye, based on the song "Oh Yeah Uh Huh". Australia Post wrote that "Each of them said something about us, and told the rest of the world this is what popular culture sounds like, and it has an Australian accent".[9]

In 2010, "Bye Bye Baby", by Col Joye and the Joy Boys with backing vocals from the Sapphires, was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia register.[10] The curator's notes stated that:

There is not a lot to this pop song, written by American Frank McNulty, other than a catchy title hook. The lyrics are about the singer saying goodbye to his girlfriend and how lonely he will be without her until the next time they meet.The original recording was made using a nylon string guitar, bass (wonderfully out of tune in the beginning) and minimalist drums with Col Joye almost whispering the vocals (as he had a cold at the time). This is the released version, with added celeste and 'ooh-ahh' backing vocals from the Sapphires, presumably to give it a little more musical interest.[11]

In 1990, while pruning a neighbour's tree with a chainsaw as a favour, Joye slipped and fell six metres onto brick paving below, striking his head and falling into a coma, as well as sustaining serious lower back and shoulder injuries. Initially given a poor prognosis, he eventually recovered to start performing and touring again in 1998.[12]

• Listen to an excerpt of 'Bye Bye Baby' on australianscreen online