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.
Don't Fight It
Steve Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moonshine'll make a man go blind
Never can tell what the brew will do
But there's times you'll wind up feelin so fine
Some women seem to have a knack
They'll turn you on and leave you flat
Never can tell who's playin for keeps
I know your heart can take it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
It'll do your heart so good
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
It'll only do you good
Don't fight it'll do your heart so good
do what mama do
Do what daddy do
When you gonna make up your mind
You can run but love will find you
Ready or not here it comes
Some people when they hear a groove
Shake their heads cause they just can't approve
Well I turn up the music till it's shakin the sky
Is everybody ready to move
There's times you want to shake yourself
There's nights you want to yell for help
You can fly when you're standing still
N there's nothing wrong with raising some hell
Tonight we're gonna raise it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it'll do your heart so good
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
Don't fight it
The song "Don't Fight It" by Steve Perry talks about the various unpredictable things in life, such as moonshine that can make a man go blind or women who can turn you on and leave you flat. The lyrics encourage the listener to let loose and not be afraid to take risks and try new things. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "don't fight it," serves as a reminder to not resist these experiences, as they can ultimately do your heart good. The song seems to be about the power of music in particular to bring people together and lift their spirits, as evidenced by lines like "I turn up the music till it's shakin the sky" and "there's nothing wrong with raising some hell."
Line by Line Meaning
Live long enough you're bound to find
Through experience hard-learned lessons and situations can give way and occur.
Moonshine'll make a man go blind
Drinking homemade alcohol could be dangerous, lead to loss of sight or other physical impairments making life harder.
Never can tell what the brew will do
It is impossible to predict the effects of certain substances or experiences.
But there's times you'll wind up feelin so fine
Occasionally great feelings of joy and elation occur.
Some women seem to have a knack
Some women have a talent or skill at attracting others.
They'll turn you on and leave you flat
They can create a strong attraction, then reject and disappoint you when the relationship does not materialize.
Never can tell who's playin for keeps
It's hard to determine when someone is committed to a relationship.
So tell me now what's holding you back
What reasons or concerns prevent you from fully committing to a relationship?
I know your heart can take it
I have faith that you are strong enough to endure any challenges or heartbreaks that may come your way.
Don't fight it
Embrace the moment and let things happen naturally.
It'll do your heart so good
Surrendering to the feelings and being vulnerable will benefit your emotional health.
Don't fight it'll do your heart so good
This advice is still relevant and important to remember.
do what mama do
Follow your mother's example of how to navigate relationships.
Do what daddy do
Follow your father's example of how to navigate relationships.
When you gonna make up your mind
When will you decide what you truly want and commit to it?
You can run but love will find you
Trying to avoid or escape love is futile, it will come to you when the time is right.
Ready or not here it comes
Whether you are truly prepared or not, love is coming.
Some people when they hear a groove
Some individuals do not appreciate or enjoy certain types of music or rhythm.
Shake their heads cause they just can't approve
They may disapprove of or be critical of the music due to their personal preferences and tastes.
Well I turn up the music till it's shakin the sky
I enjoy the music so much, I increase the volume until it is loudly heard everywhere.
Is everybody ready to move
Is everyone prepared and willing to dance or participate in the fun?
There's times you want to shake yourself
There are moments where you want to let loose and forget your worries.
There's nights you want to yell for help
There are moments where you feel overwhelmed and wish someone could assist or support you.
You can fly when you're standing still
You can achieve great things and feel empowered even when you are not actively moving or doing anything visible.
N there's nothing wrong with raising some hell
Having a little trouble or chaos is not inherently harmful or destructive.
Tonight we're gonna raise it
We are going to create some excitement or chaos tonight and enjoy ourselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEAN PITCHFORD, KENNY LOGGINS, STEPHEN RAY PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevewright6290
Very few vocalists could hang with Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins is one of them...
@Nightrain76
Extremely underrated 80’s song.
@davidshulimson9491
I never understood why this wasn't a huge hit.
@cityfarmer7084
Agree 100% !!!!
@wpochert
@@davidshulimson9491 Because back then the charts were so full of absolute classics.. you had to have something very unique and high quality to even break the top 40. .. this one barely broke the top 20 which does qualify it as a hit though. Its a simple straight ahead rock tune.. not enough to top the charts and be remembered immediately. GREAT song and performance though <3
@richardmyers137
You got that right 100%!!!!
@professorsc213
I agree 100%.
@TheCrazybaldguy
I wish these two would have done an entire album. Fuck man, imagine the possibilities.
@kroakie4
It would have been absolutely incredible if they had.
@mo8239
Holy shit Steve's voice is GODLY. It's perfect.💖 They sound great together