Steve Perry is the only child of Raymond F. Perry (born Raymond Pereira) and Mary C. Quaresma and is of Portuguese heritage (Pico island, Azores). Steve grew up interested in music, as his father was a vocalist. He also counts Sam Cooke and Al Jolson among his early inspirations. The Perry family was close-knit until Ray left when Steve was 7. His mother later remarried, and Steve remained extremely close to her. On his twelfth birthday, Mary presented Steve with a gold eighth note necklace, which he still wears for good luck.
The family moved to Lemoore, California during Steve's teen years. While in Lemoore, the young long-haired singer continued to pursue his interest in music. He attended high school there, drumming in the marching band as well as in extracurricular bands. He attended Visalia, California's College of the Sequoias for a short time after graduation, where he took first tenor in the choir there. Steve's mother encouraged his musical growth during this time.
Steve Perry moved to Los Angeles and fronted the band Alien Project in his mid twenties. He nearly gave up music when the bassist of that band, Richard Michaels, was killed in a tragic car accident. Filled with grief, Steve returned to Lemoore and decided not to continue his singing career, instead following in his stepfather's trade of construction, once working on a turkey farm. But at the urging of his mother, Steve answered a call from Walter "Herbie" Herbert, manager of the struggling San Francisco band Journey.
Herbert had heard a demo of an Alien Project song, "If You Need Me, Call Me", and knew Journey had to have the young singer. Steve was brought on tour and performed a song with Journey during a sound check in Long Beach. Herbert informed the band of the lineup change that night.
Steve Perry with Journey, c. 1981 - Perry replaced then-frontman Robert Fleischman in Journey, and brought a completely new pop sound to its music, despite protests from his new bandmates and fans of Journey's former progressive rock sound. He made his public debut on October 28, 1977 in San Francisco, and was met with mixed emotions. Steve determinedly proved the critics wrong and won over new audiences on his first album with the group, Infinity, which included a song that he had written called "Lights". The band's style had changed dramatically, but as Journey began to garner radio airplay and media buzz over Infinity, Steve's arrival was accepted.
He provided lead vocals on nine of Journey's albums: Infinity (1978), Evolution (1979), Departure (1980), Dream After Dream (1980), a Japanese movie soundtrack), Captured (1980, a live album), Escape (1981, which went to #1 on the Billboard charts), Frontiers (1983), Raised on Radio (1986), and Trial By Fire (1996). The single "Open Arms", off of Escape, made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Steve Perry had become the unmistakable voice of Journey throughout his time with the band. His trademark tuxedo tails also made him stand out amongst other performers.
Perry had previously worked with other performers, such as singing backing vocals on several Sammy Hagar songs, including the 1980 "Run For Your Life", and dueting with Kenny Loggins on the 1982 #17 hit single "Don't Fight It". Perry also worked with other musicians such as Sheena Easton and Jon Bon Jovi during the height of his career.
Now Perry released his first solo album, Street Talk, in 1984, following the release and tour for Journey's Frontiers. The record was a platinum success and scored hit singles with "Oh, Sherrie", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford, and "Foolish Heart". "Oh, Sherrie" was also a heavily played music video on MTV. "She's Mine" and "Strung Out" were also released as singles from this project, which featured former Alien Project drummer Craig Krampf on a few tracks, guitarist Michael Landau, future American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and others.
In 1985, Perry had a featured vocal in the famed USA for Africa all-star benefit song "We Are the World", lending his high tenor to the lines "Oh, there's a choice we're making / We're saving our own lives". He also recorded a song, "If Only For a Moment, Girl" for the album.
Steve debated continuing a solo career or returning to Journey after the success of Street Talk. His mother said "Journey", and Steve obliged. He left his second solo album, Against The Wall, unfinished and instead sang on Journey's Raised on Radio album. Perry would eventually continue his solo project after the Raised On Radio tour but it was never completed.
Unfortunately, during this time Steve's mother had become ill. The production of Raised on Radio, which he produced, was stop-and-go as Steve frequently returned to the San Joaquin valley to visit his family. It took a major toll on Journey to have intermittent recording sessions and a vocalist who was not with the band much of the time. Eventually, as Steve later said, he "was toast". Journey disbanded in 1987 after the Raised on Radio tour. Steve disappeared from public view for years afterward, taking a break from the industry.
Seven years later, in 1994, he released For the Love Of Strange Medicine, his second solo effort. It was mildly successful, partly due to the Strange Medicine world tour (supported for a short time by Sass Jordan) being cut short.
Journey reunited in 1996 for Trial by Fire. The album was a success, but a short-lived one. Before the Trial By Fire tour, Perry suffered a hip injury mountain hiking in Hawaii and was unable to perform. He had a degenerative bone condition and would need a hip replacement. Steve was reluctant to jump into surgery and wanted to postpone the tour.
Given an ultimatum by his impatient bandmates, Perry opted to leave Journey permanently. Shocked and saddened fans grieved the absence of Perry saying, "the voice of Journey" was gone. The band brought in a new vocalist, Steve Augeri. Tensions remained high at the time between Journey and Steve Perry.
Since then, news has been rare of the elusive singer. He eventually underwent a successful hip surgery in 1998 to correct the problem he had been diagnosed with two years earlier. He released the Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased compilation later in 1998; the unreleased tracks included the original Alien Project demo as well as selections from the abandoned Against The Wall C.D. In, 1998, Perry also recorded two songs for the Warner Bros. film Quest for Camelot which can be found on the motion picture's soundtrack.
The band participated in an episode of VH1's Behind The Music in 2001, where Steve made the controversial statement that he "never really felt like part of the band."
Perry became more involved in motion pictures thanks to a close friendship with movie director Patty Jenkins. Accordingly, in 2003, Perry worked as a musical consultant on the critically acclaimed film Monster.
More recently, Perry surprised fans by appearing at Journey's star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2005, after previously stating it was unlikely that he would ever stand with the band again. Perry said on his website that it was a good experience, and that tensions between him and the other band members were reduced, but that his rejoining Journey is not going to happen.
In 2005, Steve Perry produced a track on a solo album for former Ambrosia lead vocalist David Pack, titled The Secret Of Moving On. Perry also provides background vocals for "A Brand New Start", among the many songs he and Pack co-wrote shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Pack's album, which also includes re-recordings of two Ambrosia songs, has been climbing the Billboard charts since its early-2006 release.
Also in 2005, the Chicago White Sox team adopted Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" as their unofficial team anthem. As a result, Perry (an avid baseball fan) joined the players on the field and in the locker room as they celebrated their World Series Championship.
In the 1998 film BASEketball, Steve Perry's name is used as a powerful psyche-out tactic by the main character, Coop, played by Trey Parker. This, however, seems to work only against Doug Remer and was never used in a BASEketball season game.
Traces - 2018
The Season - 2021
Perry continues to give annual greetings on his birthday at http://fanasylum.com and occasionally posts new messages to his fans there.
Captured By The Moment
Steve Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The man who said, I have a dream
Where have they gone
The four who sang, to let it be
Jackie´s alone
She lost him one November day
L.A. motel
One sad mistake took Sam away
Oh remember then, remember when
Captured by the moment
In the magic of a yesterday
Captured by the moment
And I hope it never fades away
Sweet Janis cried
Lord won´t you buy a Benz for me
Jimmy was right
Castles made of sand slip to the sea
Oh remember then, remember when
Captured by the moment
In the magic of a yesterday
Captured by the moment
And I hope it never fades away
Captured by the moment
Oh in the magic of a yesterday
Otis replied
A little tenderness we got to try
One open door
He tried to set the night on fire
Captured by the moment
In the magic of yesterday
Captured by the moment
And I hope it never fades away
Captured by the moment
Oh in the magic of a yesterday
The lyrics of Steve Perry's song Captured By The Moment are about reminiscing the past, particularly about the people who have left a mark in history through their contribution to the arts and culture. The first stanza mentions some historically significant figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and The Beatles, as well as the tragic deaths of Sam Cooke and Jackie Kennedy's husband. The second stanza mentions Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and how their fame and the things they owned could not ultimately save them from their untimely demise. The third stanza talks about Otis Redding's message of spreading love and Jimmy Hendrix's iconic song "Foxy Lady".
Despite the melancholic tone of the song, the lyrics carry a hopeful message of preserving the memories of these figures and their legacies. The phrase "captured by the moment" highlights the power of these influential people to make a lasting impact and inspire those who come after them. Perry's delivery of the lyrics is emotional and heartfelt, with a touch of nostalgia and admiration for the people he sings about.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did he go
The singer is questioning the absence of a man who previously had a strong vision and hope for the future.
The man who said, I have a dream
The man who previously had a strong vision and hope for the future was a reference to Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic speech titled 'I Have a Dream.'
Where have they gone
The singer is questioning the whereabouts of four individuals who sang 'let it be.'
The four who sang, to let it be
The four individuals who sang 'let it be' were a reference to the Beatles, who were known for their iconic song with the same title.
Jackie´s alone
Jackie Kennedy is alone and grieving after losing her husband, President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.
She lost him one November day
Jackie Kennedy lost her husband, President John F. Kennedy, on November 22, 1963, to an assassination.
L.A. motel
The L.A. motel mentioned in the next line is where musician Sam Cooke was shot and killed in December 1964.
One sad mistake took Sam away
Sam Cooke was shot and killed in a L.A. motel in December 1964. The 'sad mistake' refers to the fact that Cooke was wrongly perceived as a threat and shot by the motel's manager, Bertha Franklin.
Oh remember then, remember when
The artist is reminiscing about the past and wants the listener to remember it too.
Captured by the moment
The artist is depicting how certain past moments can hold an emotional resonance that is powerful enough to become 'captured' in one's memory.
In the magic of a yesterday
The singer is referring to a specific past moment that held an almost magical quality, one in which they were 'captured' by its emotional power.
And I hope it never fades away
The artist hopes that the emotional resonance of these past moments will remain vivid and powerful within their memory instead of fading away over time.
Sweet Janis cried
The singer is referencing musician Janis Joplin, who is crying for someone.
Lord won´t you buy a Benz for me
The singer is referencing Janis Joplin's song 'Mercedes Benz,' in which she asks the Lord to buy her a luxury car, but realizes that all she really needs is love, acceptance, and kindness.
Jimmy was right
The singer is referencing musician Jimi Hendrix, who has made a correct statement or prediction.
Castles made of sand slip to the sea
These lines are a reference to Jimi Hendrix's song 'Castles Made of Sand,' where he reflects on the transient nature of life and how things can crumble and disappear quickly.
Otis replied
The artist is referencing musician Otis Redding, who provides a response or commentary on a particular topic.
A little tenderness we got to try
These lines are a reference to Otis Redding's song 'Try a Little Tenderness,' in which he urges his listeners to show love and kindness towards one another.
One open door
Perhaps the singer is referring to the concept that there is always one door or opportunity open to those who remain determined and persistent in the face of adversity.
He tried to set the night on fire
These lines are a reference to musician Jimi Hendrix's song 'Fire,' in which he sings about the passion and intensity of love and how it can feel like one is 'setting the night on fire.'
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BILL CUOMO, RANDY GOODRUM, STEPHEN RAY PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wolfejimmyy
great sound!