Who is Neil Young? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Neil Percival Young

Age: 79 Years, 79 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Daryl Hannah (m. 2018), Pegi Young (m. 1978–2014), Susan Acevedo (m. 1968–1970)

father: Scott Young

mother: Edna Young

children: Amber Jean Young, Ben Young, Zeke Young

Born Country: Canada

Rock Singers Lyricists & Songwriters

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Ancestry: American Canadian

Notable Alumni: Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute

Diseases & Disabilities: Polio

City: Toronto, Canada

More Facts

education: Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute

Recommended For You

1

What are some of Neil Young's most popular songs?

Some of Neil Young's most popular songs include "Heart of Gold," "Old Man," "Rockin' in the Free World," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)."
2

What is Neil Young's connection to the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young?

Neil Young was a member of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which was formed in 1969 and consisted of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young.
3

What is the significance of Neil Young's album "Harvest?"

Neil Young's album "Harvest" is significant as it is one of his most successful albums, featuring the hit song "Heart of Gold" and showcasing his unique blend of folk, country, and rock music.
4

Has Neil Young been involved in any activism or charitable work?

Yes, Neil Young is known for his involvement in various activism and charitable causes, such as environmental issues, supporting small farmers, and advocating for better treatment of war veterans.
5

What is Neil Young's distinctive guitar style known for?

Neil Young's distinctive guitar style is known for its raw and emotive sound, often characterized by heavy use of distortion and feedback, contributing to his signature sound and musical expression.

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Childhood & Early Life

Neil Percival Young was born on November 12, 1945, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Scott Alexander Young, a sports journalist, and Edna Blow Ragland “Rassy” Young, member of the ‘Daughters of the American Revolution.’ He has an elder brother named Robert ‘Bob’ Young.

In his early childhood, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In 1951, he suffered from a bout of polio. Fortunately, he recovered and the family settled in North Toronto after residing at various places.

At the age of 10, he was attracted to music genres, such as rock and roll, country, and western pop. He was influenced by a number of musical bands and began playing ukulele; this was his first step towards becoming a musician.

When he was 12, his mother filed for divorce due to his father’s extra marital affairs and they got divorced in 1960. After the divorce, he went to live with his mother at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, while his brother stayed with his father in Toronto.

In Winnipeg, he was enrolled at ‘Earl Grey Junior High School’ where he formed his first band ‘The Jades’ with Ken Koblun, John Daniel, David Gregg, and Jim Atkin.

In 1963, while studying at ‘Kelvin High School,’ he formed his first stable band ‘The Squires’ with Ken Koblun, Jeff Wuckert, and Bill Edmondson. He left his school and started performing at Fort William with his band. While performing at Fort William, he met Stephen Stills, a member of a folk-rock band, with whom he would later collaborate.

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Career

In the mid-1960s, he left his band ‘The Squires’ and continued to work in folk clubs where he met Joni Mitchell, a musician and songwriter. At the same time, he recorded his first hit song ‘Flying on the Ground is Wrong’ along with a Winnipeg band named ‘The Guess Who.’

In 1966, he joined a band named ‘The Mynah Birds’ which was led by singer Rick James. Subsequently, the band sealed a deal with ‘Motown’ label. When Rick was arrested, ‘The Mynah Birds’ disbanded. Subsequently, he went to Los Angeles to find work along with the band’s bass player Bruce Palmer.

In Los Angeles, they met Stephen Stills and formed a band called ‘Buffalo Springfield.’ The band included guitarist Richie Furay and drummer Dewey Martin. They released their first album ‘Buffalo Springfield’ in 1966, which was a commercial success. The band released two more albums before splitting up in 1968.

In early 1969, he collaborated with a band named ‘Crazy Horse’ and released his famous album ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.’ He left the band after some time, but recorded some of his hits with the band in later years.

In late 1969, he reunited with Stephen Stills and became part of a band called ‘CSN&Y.’ The band won the ‘Best New Artist Grammy Award’ in 1969. Even though Young left the band in the early-1970s, the band continued to perform with the remaining three members and reunited several times with him for recording albums.

Over the years, he has released many successful albums, such as ‘On the Beach’ (1974), ‘Long May You Run’ (1976), ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ (1979), ‘Trans’ (1982), ‘American Dreams’ (1988), ‘Freedom’ (1989), and ‘Greendale’ (2003).

Under the pseudonym Bernard Shakey, he directed and co-directed several films, such as ‘Journey Through the Past’ (1979), ‘Human Highway’ (1982), and ‘CSNY/Déjà Vu’ (2008). He also acted in various documentaries and concert films.

He released the song ‘Children of Destiny’ on July 4, 2017.

He also released a soundtrack album for the Daryl Hannah film ‘Paradox.’

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His band began recording "at least 11 new songs, all written recently" for a new album titled ‘Colorado’ in 2019.

He has over 40 studio albums till date. He has performed in various live albums, tours, and concerts around the globe. He has collaborated with many bands in his career. He has also delivered various hits that achieved critical and commercial success.

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Major Works

In 1966, he was introduced to the music industry through his first successful album ‘Buffalo Springfield’ which became a huge hit. His band was praised for its innovative writing and incredible music sense.

In the 1972 album ‘Harvest,’ he delivered his only No.1 song ‘Heart of Gold’ while working with the band ‘The Crazy Horse.’

In 1985, he co-founded the benefit concert ‘Farm Aid’ for the welfare of farmers. The benefit concert is still held every year to raise money for the family of farmers in the U.S.A.

In 1986, along with his ex-wife Pegi, he founded an educational organization called ‘The Bridge School’ in order to help children with severe physical and speech impairments.

Awards & Achievements

In 1982, he was inducted into the ‘Canadian Music Hall of Fame’ for his outstanding contribution to the field of music.

In 1995, he was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ for his solo work. He was inducted again as a member of ‘Buffalo Springfield’ in 1997.

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In 2006, he received Manitoba’s highest civilian honor ‘Order of Manitoba.’ In 2009, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada’s second highest civilian honor.

In 2010, he won the ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Best Art Direction on A Boxed/Special Limited Edition Package’ for ‘Neil Young Archives Vol. 1’ (1963–1972).

In 2011, he won another ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Best Rock Song’ for ‘Angry World.’

Personal Life & Legacy

He was married to Pegi Young for 36 years. He filed for divorce in July 2014.

He has a son from his relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. Their son Zeke is diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

He has two children with his ex-wife Pegi; a son named Ben, who is also diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and a daughter named Amber Jean, who is diagnosed with epilepsy.

In 2014, he started dating actress Daryl Hannah. Hannah and Young were reported to have married on August 25, 2018. On October 31, 2018, Young confirmed his marriage to Hannah.

Facts About Neil Young

Neil Young is known for his eclectic taste in cars, with a collection that includes a hearse, a Pontiac hearse, and a hybrid car called LincVolt, which he converted himself.

Neil Young once wrote and recorded an entire album, "Trans," using a vocoder to alter his voice, creating a unique electronic sound that was ahead of its time.

Neil Young is a passionate model train enthusiast, with an extensive collection that he has been building since the 1990s.

Neil Young holds a patent for a new type of digital music technology called Pono, which aims to deliver high-quality audio playback for music lovers.

Neil Young is a committed environmental activist and co-founded the organization Farm Aid to support family farmers and promote sustainable agriculture.

2011	Best Rock Song	Winner
2010	Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package	Winner

Neil Young Biography

You wanted to know

What are some of Neil Young's most popular songs?

What is Neil Young's connection to the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young?

What is the significance of Neil Young's album "Harvest?"

Has Neil Young been involved in any activism or charitable work?

What is Neil Young's distinctive guitar style known for?