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Journey

An anthemic arena rock outfit that achieved massive success in the 1970s and '80s, Journey's agreeable blend of melodic hard rock and epic balladry has resulted in 25 gold- and platinum-certified albums. The San Francisco-based act's early efforts combined jazz fusion and progressive rock elements. The arrival of vocalist Steve Perry, who made his studio debut on the group's fourth LP, Infinity, heralded the beginning of Journey's ascension to mainstream rock royalty. Between 1978 and 1987, the band notched a string of singles ("Wheel in the Sky," "Any Way You Want It," "Lights," "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," "Don't Stop Believing," "Open Arms," "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)") that have become permanent fixtures in the classic rock radio lexicon. A long hiatus preceded the release of 1996's Trial by Fire, which would serve as Perry's last outing with the group. Since then, Journey has remained a constant endeavor for founding guitarist Neil Schon, who has led the band through two lead singers -– Steve Augeri from 1998 to 2006, and Arnel Pineda since 2007 -– and five more studio albums including Arrival (2001), Revelation (2008), and Freedom (2022).Journey was formed in 1973 by Neal Schon (a music prodigy who had been a member of Santana), bassist Ross Valory, drummer Prairie Prince (replaced by Aynsley Dunbar), and guitarist George Tickner (who left after the first album). Another former Santana member, keyboard player and singer Gregg Rolie, joined shortly afterward. This lineup recorded Journey (1975), the first of three moderate-selling jazz-rock albums (Journey, Look Into the Future, and Next) essentially given over to instrumentals. By 1977, the band was looking to emulate the rock radio dominance of contemporaries like Foreigner and Boston. They conscripted Bay Area singer Steve Perry, whose soulful, Sam Cooke-inspired tenor would become the key to unlocking mainstream success. The results were immediately felt upon the release of 1978's Infinity, which sold a million copies within a year and included the hits "Wheel in the Sky" and "Lights" -– by this time, Dunbar had been replaced by Steve Smith. Evolution (1979) was similarly successful, yielding the band's first Top 40 hit with "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," as was Departure (1980), which became one of the group's highest-charting efforts. The LP would serve as the last studio appearance by Rolie, who assisted in choosing his replacement, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain, formerly of the Babys.