I was thinking back to those days(I was in high school then, and I recall that someone had did an article, it was Life Magazine and I recall that the article talked about Lionel Richie receiving a call from Steve Perry.
So after looking for it, I found a link here:
http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... eWATW.html
the whole article!
But I also fond a short synopsis so :
http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/Biography.html
If Only For The Moment
During Journey's extended hiatus in 1984-85, Steve was involved in the high profile USA For Africa project, organised by such industry heavyweights as Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson. Not only was Steve given the honour of being a soloist on the "We Are The World" single, but he also contributed a song to the project, "If Only For The Moment, Girl".
Manager Ken Kragen relates, ""Basically, I started at the top of the record chars and began making phone calls", he says. Steve Perry, lead singer and creative heart of Journey, came home to a message on his telephone answering machine. "Sign me up", he said."
On the evening of January 28th 1985, "Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey, hurries into the control room, peers through the window at Michael (Jackson). He asks, "Am I dreaming?""
The event affected Steve deeply. Life magazine reported, "Lionel Richie's house. Lionel has been sleeping since 10:00 a.m. The phone rings. It's Steve Perry, calling from his L.A. hotel room. Perry says he just had to call somebody. Lionel asks him what's wrong. Perry says that he slept well. He got up and ordered room service. They brought him breakfast. He sat down. He pulled the silver cover off the food. And then he started crying. *
The endeavour was rewarded not only by raising gratifyingly large amounts of money for the charity, but also with four nominations at the following year's Grammy Awards. Steve (and the others involved in the project) won all four categories in which they were nominated.
Then there is this statement right here from Lionel Richie:
http://www.spin.com/articles/inquisition-lionel-richieWhat band would people be surprised to learn that you liked?
Journey. I mean, if I could add Journey songs into my show, I would -- but I just can't sing that high. Steve Perry used to make me absolutely sick with that Z flat he used to hit out of orbit. I just loved his voice. I love the band. I love what they were about.
Wow. So for karaoke, you're doing "Faithfully"?
Absolutely. And believe it or not, Guns N' Roses. I just love [the lyric] "I used to love her, but I had to kill her." I could be that guy, you know? Well, in the shower.