Jesse Colin Young was a moderately successful folk singer with two LPs under his belt–Soul of a City Boy (1964) and Youngblood (1965)–when he met fellow folk singer and former bluegrass musician from Cambridge named Jerry Corbitt. When in town, Young would drop in on Corbitt, and the two played together for hours, exchanging harmonies.
Beginning in January 1965, the two began performing on the Canadian circuit as a duo (eventually as the Youngbloods, Young played bass, and Corbitt played piano, harmonica and lead guitar). Corbitt introduced Young to a bluegrass musician, Lowell Levinger, who had the nickname of “Banana.” Levinger could play the banjo, mandolin, mandola, guitar and bass; he had played in the Proper Bostoners and the Trolls, and knew of a fellow tenant who could flesh out the band. Joe Bauer, an aspiring jazz drummer with experience playing in society dance bands, was at first unmoved by the offer to perform in a rock and roll outfit, but soon gave in.
Get Together
Love is but the song we sing,
And fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know whyC’mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev’rybody get together
Try and love one another right nowSome will come and some will go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grassC’mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev’rybody get together
Try and love one another right nowIf you hear the song I sing,
You must understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It’s there at your commandC’mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev’rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!
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