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.
Foolish Heart
Steve Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want it unless I know
With each passin' hour
Someone, somehow
Will be there, ready to share
I need a love that's strong
I'm so tired of being alone
Play the part
Of the fool again, before I begin
Foolish heart, hear me calling
Stop before you start falling
Foolish heart, heed my warning
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong anymore
Feelin' that feelin' again
Playin' a game I can't win
Love's knockin' on the door
Of my heart once more
Think I'll let her in
Before I begin
Foolish heart, hear me calling
Stop before, you start falling
Foolish heart, heed my warning
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong anymore
Foolish heart
Foolish, foolish heart
You've been wrong before
Foolish heart, hear me calling
Stop before you start falling
Foolish heart, heed my warning
You've been wrong before
Don't be wrong anymore
Foolish heart
Oh foolish foolish heart
You've been wrong before
Foolish foolish heart
Foolish heart
The lyrics to Steve Perry’s song “Foolish Heart” convey a sense of longing and desperation for a love that is not just fleeting, but lasting. The singer emphasizes that they need a love that grows and is willing to stand the test of time. The fear of being a fool for love is also present in the singer’s heart as they ask their “foolish heart” to heed their warning and not be wrong anymore. The line “Love’s knockin’ on the door of my heart once more / Think I’ll let her in before I begin” suggests that the singer has been hurt before in love, but still wants to give it another try.
The chorus, specifically the lines “Foolish heart, hear me calling / Stop before you start falling / Foolish heart, heed my warning / You’ve been wrong before / Don’t be wrong anymore,” is an anthem for anyone who has been hurt in love and is afraid to take the risk again. The singer is trying to protect their heart from being hurt again by warning themselves to not fall too easily, and to be cautious before giving their heart away.
Line by Line Meaning
I need a love that grows
I crave a love that can evolve and become stronger over time
I don't want it unless I know
I'm cautious about entering into a new relationship without being sure of its potential
With each passin' hour
As time goes by, my desire for genuine love only grows stronger
Someone, somehow
I believe that fate will bring the right person into my life
Will be there, ready to share
That person will be willing to share their love with me in a mutually supportive relationship
I need a love that's strong
I'm seeking an enduring and resilient love that can withstand life's challenges
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm exhausted by the loneliness that is a constant companion without the love I seek
But will my lonely heart
I'm uncertain if my own heart is capable of finding and sustaining a love that can last
Play the part
Will I unwittingly sabotage my chances due to past heartbreak and disappointment?
Of the fool again, before I begin
Can I trust myself to not repeat past mistakes and open myself to a real possibility of love?
Foolish heart, hear me calling
I'm cautioning my own heart not to be reckless, to think it through first before allowing myself to fall in love
Stop before you start falling
Don't rush headlong into a potential romance without considering the ramifications
Foolish heart, heed my warning
Take heed to my words of advice, as the heart can be too easily swayed by its own desires
You've been wrong before
I'm reminding myself that my own heart has led me astray in the past, and to avoid such mistakes
Don't be wrong anymore
This time, I need to trust that I have learned from the past and make better choices, to avoid heartbreak
Feelin' that feelin' again
This familiar, yet tumultuous feeling of falling in love has returned
Playin' a game I can't win
Despite my hope, I may be pursuing this potential relationship without a realistic chance of success
Love's knockin' on the door
The opportunity to love again is right in front of me
Of my heart once more
I am opening myself up again to the possibility of love, to try and heal from past wounds
Think I'll let her in
I'm ready to take a risk and give love a chance again
Oh foolish foolish heart
I am acknowledging that my heart can be irrational and impulsive
Foolish foolish heart
I am concerned that my heart will once again lead me down the wrong path
Foolish heart
I'm still trying to be cautious, to avoid the mistakes of the past and protect myself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephen Perry, Randy Goodrum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@melpogi9
If you still like Steve Perry and this song in 2023, give a thumbs up !
@wandabrewer
2024❤
@earleneburr1132
I'm 62 years old.....our generation had the very best music!
@stephenrayperrymusic
Thank you for being an amazing fan earlene
would like to talk more better, the first
digitss 208 then follow by 810 and
the last 421 and 3.
@johntower2005
🤢🤮🤧🥵🥶🥴😵😵💫🤡💩
@guido65
im 60 and yes we did!
@DavidHill-nn4jn
I'm 61 hello🎉
@johntower2005
WOW 1962
@suzyfarnham3165
No auto tune, No BS.......Just pure talent.
Steve's voice goes straight to the heart. It is just breathtaking.
@stephenrayperrymusic
Thanks for your love and support❤
Where are you streaming from suzy?
You are amazing.