James Young (American musician)

For other people of the same name, see James Young (disambiguation).

James "J.Y." Young
James "J.Y." Young performing with Styx on July 2, 2010 at Memorial Park in Omaha, Nebraska
Background information
Birth name	James Young
Born	November 14, 1949 (1949-11-14) Chicago, Illinois
Genres	Hard rock, Progressive rock
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, keyboards
Years active	1968–present
Associated acts	Styx

James "J.Y." Young (born November 14, 1949) is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who is best known for his membership of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.

J.Y. joined the band TW4 while a student at Illinois Institute of Technology, from which he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1970. That band later became the first incarnation of Styx.

After the band's initial breakup in 1983, Young released the solo albums City Slicker, Out On A Day Pass, and Raised By Wolves. He is the only original member left in the current lineup, and has appeared on all Styx albums. He and longtime member Tommy Shaw, from the band's hitmaking heyday, lead the band; with original bassist Chuck Panozzo still appearing on recent albums, and at certain concerts as a guest musician.

Young tends to write the more hard rock pieces for Styx. He is best known for "Miss America" and "Snowblind". A glance at the album, Best of Styx shows that his songs were more popular in the band's early days than during its years of more mainstream popularity. Young managed the Chicago, Ill.-based rock band 7th Heaven in 1998 along with Alec John Such of the band Bon Jovi.