As Journey soared to superstardom and his voice became the sound of a generation, Steve Perry, now 76, vanished from the spotlight – a sudden, silent exit that left fans and the music industry stunned for nearly two decades.
Steered the band into a new era
At only 10 years old, Steve Perry’s lifelong passion for music was sparked the moment he heard Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” playing on his mother’s car radio. That soulful voice ignited something deep in him – and it never let go.
Years later, after college and early stints in local bands, Perry, 28 at the time, joined Journey in 1977, bringing with him a soaring, operatic tenor and raw emotional depth that would redefine the band’s sound.
“They were really an amazing performing band. But they didn’t have any quote ‘hit records,’ and weren’t on the radio much,” Perry told GQ in 2008 of his early days with the now iconic band.
At the time, Journey was known more for its jazz-rock fusion than chart-topping hits. But everything changed when he teamed up with guitarist Neal Schon. Together, they steered the band into a new era – blending hard rock with heartfelt ballads – and launched Journey into stadium-rock superstardom.
