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.
You Belong To Me
Steve Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was it I
Did I run
Or say goodbye
We were strong
Even I can't deny
Or was it you?
Was it I
Is it wrong
To wonder why
We had it all
They say true love never dies
Is it true
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
You belong to me
Our love was alive
And it will last forever
We fought to survive
We've always been the same, my love
Now, I'm wishin' and hopin'
For what we had before
On our horizon
A greater love, and more
I never knew
I never tried
To feel the pain
You've held inside
And now you're gone
And is it too late
To reach for you?
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
You belong to me
Our love was alive
And it would last forever
We fought to survive
We've always been the same, my love
Now, I'm wishin' and hopin'
For what we had before
On our horizon
A greater love, and more
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
'Til the rivers all run dry
You belong to me
In "You Belong To Me," Steve Perry explores the complexities of a past relationship that has come to an end. The song reflects on the uncertainty and questioning that often arises after a breakup. The first verse raises the questions of who is responsible for the separation and whether the decision was mutual or one-sided. Perry wonders if he ran away from the relationship or if his partner initiated the goodbye. The lyrics acknowledge that they had a strong connection that cannot be denied, leaving Perry to question why it ended.
Perry continues to contemplate the breakup in the second verse, pondering whether it is wrong to question the reasons behind the end of their relationship. He believes that they had it all and that true love is supposed to be eternal, leading him to wonder about the validity of that belief. These lines highlight the confusion and longing that often accompanies the aftermath of a breakup.
The chorus expresses the persistent feeling of belonging that Perry still has towards his former partner. Despite the physical distance between them, he asserts that they still belong to each other. Even though his heart still cries from the pain of their separation, he continues to hold on to the belief that they are meant to be together. This sense of longing and desire to reclaim what they once had is evident throughout the song.
The final verse delves deeper into Perry's personal reflection on the relationship. He admits that he never fully understood the pain and emotions his partner held within, suggesting a lack of communication or awareness on his part. With his partner now gone, he questions whether it is too late to try and reconnect. Despite the uncertainty, he still feels a strong connection to his former partner, expressing his ongoing desire to reach out and be with them again.
The last lines of the song suggest a deep longing and commitment from Perry's perspective. He proclaims that his partner will always belong to him, as indicated by the imagery of the rivers running dry. This imagery suggests that their bond will endure until the impossible happens, highlighting his unwavering belief in their connection.
Overall, "You Belong To Me" is a heartfelt exploration of the lingering emotions and longing that remain after a relationship ends. It captures the confusion, introspection, and yearning one can experience when trying to understand the reasons behind a breakup while holding on to the hope of reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Was it you
I question if it was you who caused our separation
Was it I
I question if it was my actions that led to our parting
Did I run
Did I flee from our love without looking back
Or say goodbye
Or did I utter farewell, severing our connection
We were strong
Our bond was formidable and unbreakable
Even I can't deny
Even I cannot deny the strength of our love
Or was it you?
Or was it you who initiated our departure
Is it wrong
Is it misguided to ponder the reasons behind our separation
To wonder why
To question the factors that led to our parting
We had it all
We possessed everything in our relationship
They say true love never dies
It is said that genuine love remains eternal
Is it true
Is this proclamation about eternal love accurate in our case
And though we're miles apart
Despite our physical distance from each other
You belong to me
You are still emotionally bound to me
And though my heart still cries
Even though my heart continues to grieve
You belong
You remain tied to me
Our love was alive
Our love was vibrant and full of life
And it will last forever
And it will endure eternally
We fought to survive
We struggled to overcome challenges and persevere
We've always been the same, my love
We have always shared the same essence, my beloved
Now, I'm wishin' and hopin'
Currently, I yearn and hold onto hope
For what we had before
For the love we previously shared
On our horizon
In our future
A greater love, and more
The possibility of a more profound and encompassing love
I never knew
I was unaware
I never tried
I never made an effort
To feel the pain
To truly comprehend the sorrow
You've held inside
That you have concealed within you
And now you're gone
And now you have departed from my life
And is it too late
And is it beyond the point of redemption
To reach for you?
To attempt to regain your love and companionship
'Til the rivers all run dry
Until the rivers cease to flow
You belong to me
You are forever mine
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Steve Perry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seth Faggard
Lyrics:
Was it you
Was it I
Did I run
Or say goodbye
We were strong
Even I can't deny
Or was it you?
Was it you
Was it I
Is it wrong
To wonder why
We had it all
They say true love never dies
Is it true
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
You belong to me
Our love was alive
And it would last forever
We fought to survive
We've always been the same, my love
Now, I'm wishin' and hopin'
For what we had before
On our horizon
A greater love, and more
I never knew
I never tried
To feel the pain
You've held inside
And now you're gone
And is it too late
To reach for you?
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
You belong to me
Our love was alive
And it would last forever
We fought to survive
We've always been the same, my love
Now, I'm wishin' and hopin'
For what we had before
On our horizon
A greater love, and more
And though we're miles apart
You belong to me
And though my heart still cries
You belong
Till the rivers all run dry
You belong to me
loricat
I think all Steve Perry fans owe a beautiful Muse a huge thank you (an angel in heaven, Kellie Nash) Thank you Kelly for inspiring Mr. Perry to come and share his voice with the world again.
I think Mr. Perry's voice stands out way more than other singers because everything I have ever heard Mr. Perry sing, he has always put his complete heart and soul into and people can hear that clearly. It resonates back into people's hearts and there souls.At least it does mine.
Marion Geisendorf
@Jane Beatty find ich auch, man kann es auch übertreiben. Es kann doch jeder seine eigene Meinung dazu haben, sollte aber auch die Meinung anderer akzeptieren. Mehr gibt es dazu nicht zu sagen. Ausser, daß ich diesen Mann von ganzem Herzen mag und seine Stimme egal im Jahr 1978, 1981, 1994 oder 2018 💖💯noch eine kleine Anmerkung, ihr wollt Christen sein, verhaltet euch aber leider nicht so 🤔tut mir leid. 🤷♀️
Cecilia
Yet another beauty born of sorrow. I bought the cd then bought the stripped down cd version because that's the instrument that reaches the heart, Steve's voice. It's a lonely road, the road of grief and sorrow, unique to each of us. Steve has shared his walk with us all, born of a promise made. I am grateful. He'd be the first person to say he's not a rock god, he's just a man with a broken heart... something that's so human and so relatable. Bless you, Steve. 💙
Marion Thomas
@Acctest lasttest then don't judge by telling me to get off the cross.
Jessie M
@Marion Thomas Yes, but you don't need to be here judging someone. God will do the judging, not you.
Pixie Styx
Finally....the return of rocks most phenomenal singer. 💙🦋💙
Deborah Akola
Amen!!!😍
The High Priestess Oracle ~ Spirit Within Us
Completely agree!
Sharilynne Crocker
Arent, we blessed. 💗💖
UNbowed62
Beth Berzas , Rooted in Soul & R&B❤️