And the Hi everyone Simon and Brian here. Welcome to episode 126 of Soda Jerker on songwriting.

Joining us today is an American singer and songwriter and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

with one of the most powerful and distinctive singing voices in rock music history.

Though best known as lead singer of the massively successful journey,

he's also flourished as a solo artist and in early October 2018 released his first solo album in almost a quarter of a century

we're thrilled to welcome the insanely talented Steve Perry to the show.

We met with Steve at a plush London hotel down by the North Bank of the Thames

and had a great time with him discussing his fine new album Traces and much

else besides. He was a very sweet, enthusiastic and engaging fellow as you'll hear in

a few minutes. Steve Perry was born in Hanford, California in 1949 and grew up in the San Joaquin Valley.

His father was a singer and owned a radio station and Steve was interested in music from an early age.

He cites hearing Sam Cook's Cupid on his mother's car radio at the moment he was inspired

to become a singer.

He also drummed in a few high school bands and sang in his college choir.

In his early 20s he was a member of several bands such as Ice, Pieces, an Alien Project.

Steve actually first came to the attention of Journey's manager

when he heard a demo of an Alien Project song

and called Steve with a view to replacing their then frontman Robert Fleischman.

Our guest made his public debut with Journey in late 1977,

immediately bringing a more pop-influenced sensibility to their music, which to that point had been in more of a prog rock vein.

Consequently, the band's commercial fortunes took an upsurge.

Our guest went on to provide lead vocals on no less than nine journey albums,

...