Today's Blimp Time-Hop: Steve Perry Turns 70

He was born Stephen Ray Perry in Hanford, California on January 22, 1949. Happy 70th Birthday to the guy best known as the lead vocalist of Journey, Steve Perry!

The incredibly powerful singer who has been nicknamed “The Voice” by Jon Bon Jovi, fronted the band from 1977 to 1987. Steve also had a very successful solo career that he returned to after decades out of the spotlight last year.

He was very kind to share this letter with us explaining his long absence from music.

Years ago, I disappeared.
There were many reasons, but mainly…
My Love for Music had suddenly left me.
I knew that simply stopping, was what I had to do.
If music was ever to return to my heart,
then and only then I would figure out what to do.
If not… so be it,
for I had already lived the dream of dreams.
Many years passed.
One day, I began sketching some musical ideas
with the creative freedom that I was the
only one who would ever hear them.
One song led to many.
My Love for Music had returned.
Then another beautiful thing happened.
I found Love.
My precious Kellie gave me a life
I never knew I had.
I lost her December of 2014.
I now deeply understand the meaning of:
“’It's better to have Loved and Lost,
Than to have never Loved at All.”
May of 2015,
I began recording.
These songs are special to me.
I respectfully ask that you please listen to them,
And whatever they make you feel,
I thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Steve Perry

Then on August 15, 2018, we were so honored to have Steve Perry live with the Captain and Celeste on the WBLM Morning Show for his first radio interview announcing that he was finally back with a new album called Traces.

Here's one of our favorites from the new album.

We count 3 Journey shows with Steve Perry at the Civic Center in Portland.