The countdown continues for the top 80’s solo artists who had been in successful 80’s bands:

2. Steve Perry – Journey

Journey was formed in the 70’s, and started as a jazz fusion band. They gradually added more vocals and made the songs shorter. But their record label, Columbia Records, wanted them to change musical directions and add a new lead singer. In 1977, they brought in Steve Perry, and their popularity began to grow.
In 1980, they had the hit album Departure, and had a hit with the single “Any Way You Want It“. The song was also featured in a scene in the movie Caddyshack. In 1981, Journey released the classic #1 album Escape, which has sold over 9 million copies so far.
There were three top-10 hits from that album, including “Don’t Stop Believin’“, “Who’s Cryin’ Now“, and “Open Arms“. “Still They Ride” was also a top-20 hit.
In the meantime, they had released a live album called Captured, which was recorded before Escape was released. After the concert portion of the album, there was a studio single called “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly In Love)“, which was also a hit song.
In 1983, Journey released another smash album called Frontiers. It featured the hits “Separate Ways,” which reached #8, “Faithfully,” which reached #12, “Send Her My Love“, and “After the Fall“, both of which reached #23. They also had the hit song “Only the Young” from the Vision Quest soundtrack, and “Ask the Lonely” from the soundtrack Two of a Kind.
After Steve Perry’s solo album, but before their long hiatus, Journey released another hit album, Raised On Radio. It also produced four top 20 singles, “Be Good to Yourself” (#9), “I’ll Be Alright Without You” (#14), “Girl Can’t Help It“, and “Suzanne,” both of which reached #17, and they had a minor hit with “Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever“. This is also the album that American Idol judge, Randy Jackson, performed on.

In 1984, Steve Perry released his first solo album called Street Talk, which was a huge success. The song, “Oh Sherry” was a #3 hit. “Foolish Heart” was a top 20 hit, and there was also minor success with the songs “She’s Mine” and “Strung Out“. In 1982, Steve Perry also had a successful duet with Kenny Loggins called “Don’t Fight It“. He also appeared in the original “We Are the World” video, and recorded a song, “If Only For the Moment, Girl” for the We Are the World album.