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WWII vet, big band legend Young dies at 90

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Ralph Young, half of the Sandler and Young singing duo and a legend of the big band era, has died. He was 90.

Young died Friday at his home in Palm Springs after a brief illness, said his wife, Arlene Young.

Young was born in the Bronx in 1918, sang with Les Brown’s Band of Reknown and formed his own band when he served stateside in the Army during World War II.

The European charm of the Belgian-born Tony Sandler complemented Young’s down-to-earth Bronx humor. Their baritone voices blended well, with Sandler singing songs in their original language while Young sang along with an English translation. Their first album sold more than a million copies.

The pair recorded 22 albums, appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Tonight Show,” and headlined concerts at legendary nightclubs in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City and Europe.

“We did every possible TV show; we did it all,” Sandler told the Los Angeles Times. “Ralph was very humorous; he was a very funny cat.”

Young moved to the California desert in 1983 and continued to sing with the “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.” He also guest-starred and participated in charity concerts in California.

He is survived by his wife, six children and eight granddaughters.