Steve Perry

Steve Perry is an American singer and songwriter from Hanford, California, best known as the former lead singer of Journey. He is born in 1949 and is of Portuguese heritage, with family roots on Pico in the Azores. His full name is Stephen Ray Perry.

Early life and background

Perry is the only child of Raymond F. Perry, who is later known as Raymond Pereira, and Mary C. Quaresma. He grows up interested in music, influenced in part by his father, who is a vocalist. He names Sam Cooke and Al Jolson among his early inspirations. After his father leaves when Perry is seven, he remains close to his mother, who later remarries. On his twelfth birthday, she gives him a gold eighth-note necklace that he continues to wear for good luck.

The family moves to Lemoore, California during his teenage years. Perry attends high school there, where he drums in the marching band and in other school groups. He later spends a short time at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, where he sings first tenor in the choir.

Before Journey

Perry moves to Los Angeles and fronts the band Alien Project in his mid-twenties. After the death of the band’s bassist, Richard Michaels, in a car accident, he considers leaving music and returns to Lemoore. He works in construction, following his stepfather’s trade, and also works on a turkey farm.

Journey

Perry joins Journey after manager Walter “Herbie” Herbert hears a demo of an Alien Project song, “If You Need Me, Call Me”. He is brought in to replace Robert Fleischman. He makes his public debut with Journey on 28 October 1977 in San Francisco. His arrival brings a more pop-oriented sound to the band, compared with its earlier progressive rock direction.

He sings lead on nine Journey releases: Infinity (1978), Evolution (1979), Departure (1980), Dream After Dream (1980), Captured (1980), Escape (1981), Frontiers (1983), Raised on Radio (1986) and Trial by Fire (1996). Escape reaches number one on the Billboard chart, and “Open Arms” from that album reaches number two on the Billboard Hot 100. His own composition “Lights” appears on Infinity.

Perry becomes closely associated with Journey’s sound and is also known for his tuxedo-tail stage outfit. Journey disbands in 1987 after the Raised on Radio tour, and Perry leaves the band permanently after the Trial by Fire period, following a hip injury and a degenerative bone condition that prevent him from touring.

Solo work and collaborations

During Journey’s peak years, Perry records backing vocals for Sammy Hagar, including “Run For Your Life”, and duets with Kenny Loggins on the 1982 hit “Don’t Fight It”, which reaches number 17. He also works with Sheena Easton and Jon Bon Jovi.

His first solo album, Street Talk, appears in 1984. It becomes a platinum record and includes the singles “Oh, Sherrie”, “Foolish Heart”, “She’s Mine” and “Strung Out”. “Oh, Sherrie” is written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford and receives heavy MTV rotation. The album features Craig Krampf, Michael Landau, Randy Jackson and other musicians.

In 1985, Perry sings on the USA for Africa single “We Are the World” and also records “If Only For a Moment, Girl” for the project. He later leaves his second solo album, Against The Wall, unfinished.

Later career

Perry releases For the Love of Strange Medicine in 1994. The album has moderate success, supported by the Strange Medicine tour, which is cut short. After Journey reunites for Trial by Fire, Perry has to miss the tour because of his health problems.

He undergoes hip surgery in 1998 and then releases Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased, which includes unreleased material from Alien Project and songs from the abandoned Against The Wall sessions. That year he also records two songs for the soundtrack to Quest for Camelot.

In 2003, Perry works as a musical consultant on the film Monster, through his friendship with filmmaker Patty Jenkins. He later appears at Journey’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2005. He also produces a track on David Pack’s album The Secret Of Moving On and contributes background vocals to “A Brand New Start”.

Labels and associated acts

Perry’s releases are associated with Lacey Boulevard Music, Love Box Music and Street Talk Tunes. His named acts include Journey and The Steves.