by journey361 » Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:40 pm
When i was growing up with Steve Perry's run to stardom from 1977 through 1987, there may have only been a handfull of singers known commercially who sounded something close to him in as many areas vocally possible. And now, there are millions worldwide, on every street corner and even out of the USA that sound like him or for a better term, try and sound like him.
AP, Adam Lambert, Rob Thomas and countless others that have followed this man have their own talent level singing as they do and sounding as good as they can, but they don't sound like Perry except in their mind, which builds confidence and character to a individual breaking into the business.
AP tries the best he can, but he can't pull it off for ever, it's just too hard to sing like another individual and this individual who had a tone and songbook that had a damaging effect on vocal cords along with the stress it brings. Just too hard and impossible.
Perry as we know sang to pitch his words early on in his career and then learned to use his talent or tools recording when he joined Journey for good. There are now millions who try to phrase, sound and even look like Steve Perry and I wonder if Perry has ever really sat down one day and thought about what he's accomplished in his life concerning those who have seemed to follow his career and started their own as AP and others have.
I see it this way, growing up with Steve Perry singing his songs with little or no effort (it was always better that way for him vocally) is alot like growing up with Michael Jordan or lets say Babe Ruth. At that time in life and in the world, you know how great they are then, but in the frame of their history or legacy, you can never be 100 percent sure how the world will perceive them in 30 years.
I was as somber as anyone could be when i found out Perry and Journey were calling it quits and he would live a life as he wanted but not what i wanted from him. Now 30 years later, every other singer sounds or tries to sound like Steve Perry, which isn't a bad thing, but rather a remarkable concept i would have never seen some 30 years ago. A role model for so many and a remarkable career that even seems to this day is bringing on new life to many abroad. Good for Steve Perry and good for music. I saw firsthand how great he was way back in 1976 in a small market venue and i was right on the money. He is truly one of the most talented singers ever and i'm glad he made it as i knew he would.