The Journey of the Band Called Journey

Cadence Rosas

MUS 125 1014 - 2022 Fall

Tanner Farish

November 25, 2022

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The following people listed have changed the music industry for the better since 1973:

Gregg Rolie on vocals and keyboard, Neal Schon on vocals and guitar, George Tickner on guitar,

Ross Valory on vocals and bass, and Prairie Prince on drums. These men made up the original

members of the band called Journey. Journey was born in San Francisco, California, USA. This

jazz-influenced progressive rock-style band has been through it all. This band originated from

Neil Schon and Gregg Rolie. Gregg Rolie led the band from 1973 to 1978 when Steve Perry

became the face of the band. Gregg and Neal played together previously in Santana before putting

together Journey. Gregg and his father were running a failing restaurant when he got a phone call from

Neal and Herbie saying they wanted him to come to play for the Golden Gate Rhythm Section which

turned into Journey. Gregg ended up staying and being a part of the birth of Journey. One of his highest

moments was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; once for Santana and another for

Journey.

Neal Schon was born in Oklahoma City. Started on the oboe and moved on to the guitar, but

his musical journey took off at 15 years old. His music style is heavily influenced by the 1960s soul and

fast blues. With their first album released in 1975, they have continued to stay on the rise since.

Their most famous period was from the late 1970s to the 1980s mainly due to Steve Perry being the lead

vocalist. With everything that each unique member brought to the table, they were able to produce music

like no other with huge success. Their standing impact on the music industry and influence is still seen

today by how often their music is played and how well they have preserved the band's name since it was

born. Their first 3 charting singles were in 1978 with “Wheel In The Sky”, “Anytime”, and “Lights.” As

well as having their own Hollywood Walk of Fame star. A little-known fact about the band is that Neal

Schon is the one and only band member to have played in all 14 studio albums from 1975 to 2011. I chose

Journey because I have grown up listening to them and it always brings back fond memories of driving to
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BMX or MX practice and drinking a monster with the windows down and singing at the top of our lungs

till we got to the track. They have made a huge splash in the rock and roll music industry. They were an

easy choice for me.

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Works Cited

○ White, Dave. “Journey: Band Members and History.” LiveAbout, LiveAbout, 2 Feb.

2019, https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-journey-747829 .

○ Pruitt, Marcus. “Classic Rock Band Journey: A Trip down Memory Lane With.”

AUDIBLWAV, 15 Apr. 2020, https://audiblwav.com/classic-rock-band-journey/ .

○ Greene, Andy. “Gregg Rolie Looks Back on His Days with Santana, Journey, and Ringo

Starr.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2019,

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/gregg-rolie-interview-journey-santan

a-ringo-starr-914277/ .

○ “Neal Schon Age, Hometown, Biography.” Last.fm,

https://www.last.fm/music/Neal+Schon/+wiki .

○ Staff, Swinomish. “Six Journey Facts You May Not Know.” Swinomish Casino and

Lodge, 30 Apr. 2020,

https://www.swinomishcasinoandlodge.com/blog/six-journey-facts-you-may-not-know/ .

○ Szel, C. A. (2010, April 13). The journey of journey. Goldmine Magazine: Record

Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from

https://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/the-journey-of-journey