<Tr> <Th> Associated acts </Th> <Td> Col Joye, JAM </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> rocknrolligaveyou.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Kevin Stephen Johnson (born 3 July 1942) is an Australian singer - songwriter . Popular in the 1970s, his biggest hit is "Rock and Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life", which peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in 1973 (as well as reaching the UK Top 40). He also had a top 20 hit with "Bonnie Please Don't Go" (aka "She's Leavin"') in 1971 . "Rock and Roll" is one of the most covered songs written by an Australian with 27 different artists recording it in 1975 alone . Covers include fellow Australians, Col Joye and Digby Richards, and international artists, Mac Davis, Terry Jacks, Gary Glitter, Joe Dassin (in French), The Cats and Tom Jones . Davis' rendition became the highest charting version on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 15 in 1975 . </P> <P> Kevin Stephen Johnson was born on 3 July 1942, and grew up in Tungamull, which is between the Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton, Queensland . He is the only son of Richard Johnson (timber contractor) and Elinor Johnson (post office, telephone exchange operator). Elinor was also a violinist and gave Johnson lessons but he showed little interest . He bought a guitar in his late teens and began his music career by singing in local beer gardens, then joining the Candymen on lead vocals and rhythm guitar . From the early 1960s he worked for the Queensland Department of Roads as a clerk; playing and singing at night and writing songs in his spare time . Some of his songs came to the notice of rock and roll artist, Col Joye, who signed Johnson to his publishing company . In September 1966 Col Joye and the Joy Boys had a hit with "Mary Anne", which had been written by Johnson . </P>

Who wrote rock and roll i gave you the best years of my life