The “Don’t Stop Believin” singer and former golden-voiced frontman of Journey, stunned fans and critics alike when he walked away from music at the peak of his power.Decades later, Steve Perry was named one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone. Now, his long road through heartbreak, loss, and healing has finally come into focus.Though he stayed out of the spotlight for years, his influence never faded. Placing him at No. 70 and born on January 22, 1949, Perry became a rock legend with his soaring vocals on timeless anthems like “Oh Sherrie,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and “Open Arms.” His soulful voice influenced generations of rock musicians, including Chris Daughtry, Chad Kroeger, and Rob Thomas.

Randy Jackson, Perry’s former bandmate and “American Idol” judge, praised him as one of rock’s most distinctive voices. Jackson said, “Other than Robert Plant, there’s no singer in rock that even came close to Steve Perry. The power, the range, the tone — he created his own style. He mixed a little Motown, a little Everly Brothers, a little Zeppelin.”Perry’s passion for singing began at age 10 when he heard Sam Cooke’s “Cupid” on his mother’s car radio. After college, he joined Journey at the age of 28 and quickly helped reshape the group’s sound with his operatic alto and emotionally charged delivery.