Regarded as one of the best vocalists in the rock and pop worlds, Perry was nicknamed "The Voice" by Jon Bon Jovi in the '80s. American Idol judge Randy Jackson was a member of Journey on their 1986 Raised on Radio album and he described Perry as "the golden voice".
Before striking gold with Journey, Perry fronted the groups Ice and Alien Project in the '70s.
Perry wrote the lyrics to his first Journey hit, 1978's "Lights," as a tribute to Los Angeles, before he joined the group. He later changed the words and meaning of the song as a tribute to San Francisco since Journey was based there.
Perry's first solo album, 1984's Street Talk, was a big commercial success, yielding two hit singles, including "Oh Sherrie." He began work on a follow up album, Against the Wall, but it was ultimately shelved. Perry wouldn't release a sophomore solo album till 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine.
A track off of For the Love of Strange Medicine, "Young Hearts Forever," was written by Perry as a tribute to Thin Lizzy singer/bassist Phil Lynott. The Irish hard rock legend died in 1986 after years of drug and alcohol abuse.
No comments:
Post a Comment