Jeff Scott Soto

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Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto.jpg
Soto performing with Journey in 2007.
Background information
Born (1965-11-04) November 4, 1965 (age 47)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres Hard rock, AOR, heavy metal, power metal, neo-classical metal
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, drums, trumpet
Years active 1983–present
Labels Frontiers Records
Associated acts Yngwie Malmsteen, Soul Sirkus, Talisman, Journey, Axel Rudi Pell, Brian May, W.E.T., Trans Siberian Orchestra
Website jeffscottsoto.com

Jeff Scott Soto (born November 4, 1965) is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican[1] descent. He is best known for being the lead singer for the group Talisman from 1990 till the end of Talisman in 2007, the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on their 2006-2007 tours after Steve Augeri had to leave the band because of an acute throat infection. His style is typical of heavy metal vocalists of the 1980s, but he is also influenced by classic soul music singers such as Sam Cooke as well as Journey vocalist Steve Perry, and Freddie Mercury from Queen.

Contents

Career [edit]

Soto came to prominence in the early 1980s via his involvement with several Yngwie Malmsteen records. The bands Soto has been involved in included Panther, Axel Rudi Pell, Eyes, Talisman, Takara, Humanimal, Human Clay, Kryst The Conqueror, Redlist, The Boogie Knights and Soul Sirkus.

Soto has sung background vocals on several albums by artists such as Lita Ford, Steelheart, Fergie Frederiksen, Glass Tiger, House Of Lords, Stryper, Saigon Kick, and many others.

He has released several solo albums as well. Soto also sang for the fictional band Steel Dragon, which featured Zakk Wylde, Jeff Pilson and Jason Bonham for the soundtrack of the movie Rock Star along with Michael Matijevic of the band Steelheart, whose second album featured Soto on background vocals.

He has also sung lead vocals on an album inspired by the TV series Biker Mice From Mars.

Soto performed at the 2000 annual [OIQFC 'Freddie Mercury Birthday Party' at Reading in the UK, where he performed “Dragon Attack” with Brian May. Since that first meeting, Soto and May have become friends, and Soto has appeared with the SAS Band (Spike’s All Stars), Queen sideman Spike Edney’s band. Jeff also appeared with Brian May and Roger Taylor at the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' bash for the Official International Queen Fan Club.[2]

In 2006, Soto replaced Steve Augeri in Journey after Augeri left the tour due to an acute throat infection. On December 19, Soto was confirmed as the official lead singer for Journey and a press release was posted on the band's official site. On June 12, 2007 it was announced on the same website that Journey had dismissed Soto as their lead singer. Soto addressed the issue by saying "I was looking forward to a long, prosperous future with these guys but it seems they wanted something different than I brought to the table. No love lost though, they know what's best for the preservation of their legacy. I wish them all the best but now it's time to continue working on my own path again".[3]

Since his departure from Journey, Soto has continued to tour on his own account and has undertaken tours with Talisman, Tempestt and, most recently, with a new band to promote the Beautiful Mess album released on download in 2008 and on Frontiers in February 2009.

He toured with Trans Siberian Orchestra on their Winter Tours of 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 and their Beethoven's Last Night spring concerts of 2010.

Soto has also come together with musicians of Work Of Art and Eclipse to co-create the new band W.E.T., Soto being of Talisman, hence the first initials of each band spells: W.E.T. The new band has released a self-titled debut album, out November 2009. Videos have been made for the tracks "One Love", "Comes Down Like Rain" and "Brothers In Arms".

On March 11, 2011 was released the single "Last Time (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)" from the Italian band Evolution, duetting with Jeff Scott Soto. This duet is getting a great success in Italy and abroad: in just a few hours after the release, the single placed 93 on Top 100 Best-Selling Pop Singles and stayed there for almost a week. The day after the release, the single also ranked 172 on the Italian Best-Selling Singles on iTunes. This track will also feature on the band debut album Evolution, released on November 11, 2011, where in addition to Jeff Scott Soto also played Derek Sherinian, Otep Shamaya and Italian drummer Mario Riso.

Soto has recently announced the release date for his next solo release Damage Control which will be released on Frontiers Records in March 2012. Soto will also be re-joining W.E.T. for a brand new album which will be the follow up to the successful 2009 debut self titled. The new album Rise Up was released Feb 2013 worldwide on Frontiers Records, the band performed a live show in Stockholm in January 2013 that will be released as a live DVD sometime in '13.

Personal life [edit]

Soto currently resides with his family in Los Angeles, California when he is not on tour. In early 2012 he married his long term girlfriend Elena, who features in Jeff's video "Look Inside Your Heart" from his latest album Damage Control. Soto has a son from his first marriage named Jason and who made the cover of his solo album Love Parade (1994), and two step children Joseph and Grace (Grace and his real son Jason are featured in the video "NeverEnding War", Damage Control 2012). Soto is on tour with QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA, The Queen Official Tribute band, produced by Roger Taylor.

Discography [edit]

Solo albums [edit]

  • Love Parade - 1994
  • Holding On (EP) - 2002
  • Prism - 2002
  • JSS Live at the Gods 2002 (live) - 2003
  • Live at the Queen Convention 2003 (live) - 2004
  • Believe in Me (EP) - 2004
  • Lost in the Translation - 2004
  • Essential Ballads - 2006
  • Beautiful Mess - 2009
  • One Night in Madrid (live) - 2009
  • Live at Firefest 2008 - 2010
  • Damage Control - 2012

Talisman [edit]

Albums:

Singles:

  • "Just Between Us" (1990)
  • "I'll be Waiting" (Sweden, 1990)
  • "Mysterious (This Time is Serious)" (1993)
  • "Time after Time" (1993)
  • "Doing Time With My Baby" (1994)
  • "Colour My XTC" (1994)
  • "All + All" (1994)
  • "Frozen" (1995)
  • "Crazy" (1998)

W.E.T. [edit]

Albums:

  • W.E.T. - 2009
  • Rise Up - 2013

Singles:

  • One Love (2009)
  • Comes Down Like Rain (2009)
  • Brothers In Arms (2009)
  • Learn to Live Again (2012)
  • Love Heals (2013)

Trans-Siberian Orchestra [edit]

Takara [edit]

Human Clay [edit]

  • HumAn cLay 1996
  • u4ia 1997
  • Closing the Book on Human Clay - 2003

Axel Rudi Pell [edit]

Albums:

Singles:

  • "Forever Young" (1994)
  • "Cry Of The Gypsy" (1994)

Humanimal [edit]

  • Humanimal - 2002
  • Find My Way Home E.P. - 2002

Yngwie Malmsteen [edit]

Albums:

Singles:

  • "Studio/Live '85" (1985)
  • "I am a Viking" (Japan, 1985)
  • "Carry On Wayward Son" (Japan, 1996)

Eyes [edit]

Albums:

  • Eyes - 1990
  • Windows Of The Soul - 1993

Singles:

  • "Calling All Girls" - 1990
  • "Nobody Said It Was Easy" - 1990

Others lead vocals [edit]

Various Artists tributes albums [edit]

  • Smoke On The Water: A Tribute to Deep Purple (1994): "Hush"
  • Dragon Attack: A Tribute To Queen (1996): "Save Me "
  • Hot For Remixes: Tribute to Van Halen (1999): "So This Is Love (Sheep On Drugs Remix)"
  • Head Soup: A Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne (2000): "Shot In The Dark"
  • Little Guitars - A Tribute To Van Halen (2000): "So This Is Love" (Re-released)
  • Let The Tribute Do The Talkin': A Tribute to Aerosmith (2001): "Cryin'"
  • An All Star Lineup Performing The Songs Of Pink Floyd (2002): "Us & Them"
  • We Salute You A Tribute to ACDC (2004): "Problem Child"
  • Numbers From The Beast – An All Star Salute To Iron Maiden (2004): "Aces High"
  • The Sweet According to Sweden: A Tribute to The Sweet (2004): "Love Is Like Oxygen" (Audiovision fect. JSS )
  • Frankie Banali & Friends 24/7/365 - Tribute To Led Zeppelin (2004): "Royal Orleans"
  • The Crown Jewels - A tribute To Queen (2005): "We Will Rock You"
  • 80s Metal Tribute To Van Halen (2006): "So This Is Love" (Re-released)
  • Butchering The Beatles (2006): "Magical Mystery Tour"

Others background vocals [edit]

Others as songwriter [edit]

  • Khymera - A New Promise - 2005: "You Can't Take Me (Away from You)"

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "The unexpected Journey of Jeff Scott Soto". Blogs.tampabay.com. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
  2. ^ "The Genesis of Jeff Scott Soto". Jeffscottsoto.com. 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
  3. ^ "JSS: The 'Journey' Forward". Jeffscottsoto.com. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 

External links [edit]

Jeff Scott Soto
Studio albums
Takara
Kryst the Conqueror
Related
Talisman
Studio albums
CD Singles and Promos
  • "I'll Be Waiting"
  • "Just Between Us"
  • "Time After Time"
  • "Mysterious (This Time Is Serious)"
  • "All + All"
  • "Todo y Todo"
  • "Colour My XTC"
  • "Doing Time with My Baby"
  • "Frozen"
  • "Crazy"
Live albums
Compilations
  • BESTerious
  • Best Of...
Videos
  • The World's Best Kept Secret
Related articles
Official Website
Yngwie Malmsteen
Studio albums
EPs
Cover albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
  • "Black Star"
  • "Far Beyond the Sun"
  • "Rising Force Studio/Live '85"
  • "You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget"
  • "I Am a Viking"
  • "Fire"
  • "Heaven Tonight"
  • "Making Love"
  • "Bedroom Eyes"
  • "Dragonfly"
  • "Teaser"
  • "Carry on Wayward Son"
Videos
  • Rising Force Live '85
  • Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad
  • Leo Fender Benefit Live
  • Live at Italy 92
  • Live at Budokan 94
  • Yngwie Malmsteen LIVE 98!!
  • Far Beyond the Sun
  • Live in Korea 2001
Former band members
Vocalists
Bassists
Drummers
Keyboardists
Related articles
Axel Rudi Pell
Studio albums
Cover albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Videography
Related articles
Journey
Studio albums
EPs
Live albums
Soundtrack albums
Compilation albums
Videos
Documentaries
Tours
Games
Related
Articles
Bands
People
Preceded by
Steve Augeri		 Journey lead vocalist
2006 – 2007		 Succeeded by
Arnel Pineda
Authority control
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