As Journey soared to superstardom and his voice became the sound of a generation, Steve Perry, now 76, vanished from the spotlight \u2013 a sudden, silent exit that left fans and the music industry stunned for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
Steered the band into a new era
\nAt only 10 years old, Steve Perry\u2019s lifelong passion for music was sparked the moment he heard Sam Cooke\u2019s \u201cCupid\u201d playing on his mother\u2019s car radio. That soulful voice ignited something deep in him \u2013 and it never let go.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were really an amazing performing band. But they didn\u2019t have any quote \u2018hit records,\u2019 and weren\u2019t on the radio much,\u201d Perry told GQ in 2008 of his early days with the now iconic band.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 blending hard rock with heartfelt ballads \u2013 and launched Journey into stadium-rock superstardom.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh Sherrie\u2019
\nJust as the band was reaching its peak, Perry was in a relationship with a woman named Sherrie Swafford, who inspired his 1984 solo hit \u201cOh Sherrie\u201d \u2013 the first solo track he released while still a member of Journey.<\/p>\n