A.J. Pierzynski talks Steve Perry

[ADALBL]

I came across a special-order singing program while looking at the musician ads on Kijiji (didn't buy it) but it had a free introduction video and testimonials... the guy who started it seems pretty genuine. I wonder if Steve knows about it. I'm going to look up the link to share. It was very unusual, and it said that singing scales, posture, and breath control (the way most of us are taught all there), are in fact detrimental... It was quite interesting to say the least. I can't say if it helps or not, I just sing as I usually do.

I am a die-hard fan of the Steve and I too would love to hear him again. I also wouldn't be too hurt if he just came out and admitted that, hey, I can't sing anymore. Nothing will change the fact that he inspired me to become a singer. I'm nuts about him. Just like Sam Cooke inspired him, he did the same for me.

Anyway, here's that link.

http://www.thesingingzone.com/

I can add a few thoughts here as I have both been a member of The Singing Zone and have taken two lessons over the Internet (via web video chat). Per is a great guy and I think he's on to something here. I did find that my voice got more relaxed when I was regularly following his routine and meeting with him. I even worked on singing "Ask the Lonely" during one of my lessons which is a very challenging song vocally. In addition, I have a very good friend who owns a wellness clinic in California near where Per lives and teaches. He told me that Per is the only person they send their clients to with vocal issues (burnt voices, painful throat, etc) and he thinks Per gets consistently good results. And yes, he has lots of musicians and actors/actresses from the LA entertainment community as clients.

Now all this said, I have no idea what Steve's situation is vocally, but I did honestly think about Per as I read a bunch of these posts suggesting that he might be experiencing vocal issues. I'm just saying that if I were having serious vocal problems, I probably would be looking at Per.

[Aaron]

I've been using the Brett Manning program and it has helped me a ton. What I used to have brute force through the high notes have now become much easier with no strain. I'm not sure what is going on with Perry but I'd love to hear him sing again. Manning can teach, he can explain how and why things work, and he can sing himself. Manning would be a person to consult if he wants to sing again IMHO.

[Infinity Vocalist 2010]

I really do wonder if he's already been way ahead of us and has seen any of these people.

Shania Twain was mentioned earlier and even though she's alot younger than Steve, I think that if he truly can't sing, which might be bull, because I saw a video of him singing from a couple of years ago (granted it was him being interviewed after the Sox win doing the chorus of DSB, and a few steps lower, but it still sounded like Steve), if he feels he cannot sing or realy has become physically unable to... well, Shania was having the same problems. And she's gotten the help and released a new single. I think Steve would have a chance at least to do one single. Shania may be making a comeback... Steve may not want to do it live, but if he did even ONE single song, brand new... you never know.

[Greg]

There are a lot of factors, I believe, that tells the story as to why Steve Perry is not back in the music biz. I think for one, when you're away from something like that for as long as he has been away, it becomes nearly impossible to want to go back to that lifestyle. You're always on the road, always in the studio, you don't have time for yourself and your family. Another aspect is his age. Has to be difficult to get yourself back into shape, vocally or otherwise, when you're in your 60's and you've been away from the game for so long. Finally, the cost of recording this stuff. Does he really want to put that money into recording music that may or may not even get any promotion or play from the radio? It's obvious that Perry would not tour as heavily to support a new album as what Journey has to do, so he'd have to rely more on radio airplay, and musicians/artists in their 60's don't get played on top 40 radio.

[Pacfanweb]

I'm starting to think the dude probably can still sing a bit, but he's just simply a huge procrastinator. He doesn't HAVE to sing for a living. He doesn't HAVE to record.....no contract to require an album by a particular date. He'd LIKE to make one, but I think he just gets up in the morning and thinks "eh, maybe tomorrow, I'm going to the baseball game/Disneyland/U2 concert/etc."

I mean, can he sing Stone in Love in the original key anymore? Probably not. But I don't think in any way that he can't sing at all....come one, can he raise his voice? That's part of what singing is. Yelling in tune. You telling me he can't yell at someone now? I seriously doubt it.

I've mentioned this before, but Elton John was originally a tenor, and is now a baritone. People still love him and go to his shows. He sings his same old songs in his newer voice, and people still sing along and love it.

Perry could do the same thing, IMO. Just make it clear up front we won't be hearing the old stuff "like he used to do it". Do it in whatever key you can manage. You'll still sound like Steve Perry. And people will still love it. Just DO it. Don't keep teasing people with "I'm going to rent some studio time and record this stuff", etc, or hint at how you still might tour one day.

Normally, I'd say you don't owe us anything, but if you keep promising that you'll do something, then I think you at least owe us a "when" or a "no, I never will or and "I simply cannot".

Vocalists can and do lose their singing voices. Julie Andrews is an example of one who did. The more time that goes by, the more he talks about how he WANTS to come back, but then doesn't, is drawing me over to the side that he probably can't. But I really, really hope that I am wrong and someday you say "I told you so!"

Julie Andrews had surgery that took her voice, and she sued the doctors and got a settlement. She did not just "lose" her voice. She had surgery for nodules and was already like 62 when that happened.