Neal Schon

Neal Schon
Born	(1954-02-27) February 27, 1954 Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, USA
Genres	Hard rock, instrumental rock, pop rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, smooth jazz
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, keyboards
Years active	1969–present
Labels	Columbia, Higher Octave
Associated acts	Santana, Betty Davis, Azteca, Journey, Schon & Hammer, HSAS, Hear 'n Aid, Michael Bolton, Jimmy Barnes, Bad English, Hardline, Paul Rodgers, Just If I, Abraxas Pool, Planet Us, Soul SirkUS
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Neal Schon Signature Les Paul, Neal Schon PRS Archtop Trem Guitar, Fender Stratocaster

Neal George Joseph Schon (born February 27, 1954) is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the bands Journey and Bad English. He is Journey's only constant member, having participated in every album and tour to date. He was also a member of the rock band Santana before forming Journey.

Early life and career

Schon was born at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, the son of Barbara and Matthew Schon. His father was an accomplished musician, arranger, composer and played and taught all reed instruments with emphasis on jazz tenor saxophone; his mother was a big band singer. Schon first picked up the guitar at the age of 5. A quick learner, he joined Santana as a teenage prodigy at the age of 15. He went to Aragon High School in San Mateo, but dropped out (with his parents' blessing) before graduating. Schon had famously been asked by Eric Clapton to join Derek and the Dominos, but since Santana called him first, he decided to join Santana for the album Santana III. Schon also played in Azteca before moving on in 1973 to form Journey, a group he continues to lead today.

Schon's guitar style has been described as soulful, taking inspiration from 1960s-era soul singers such as Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, and blending it with blues runs similar to B. B. King. He was influenced by guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana and Wes Montgomery.

In addition to his five solo albums and 14 studio albums with Journey, his work also includes: a pair of albums with keyboardist Jan Hammer, short-term collaborations with Sammy Hagar (HSAS and Planet Us) and Paul Rodgers, stints with Bad English (a supergroup that featured Journey’s Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo and Jonathan Cain's former Babys bandmates John Waite and Ricky Phillips) and Hardline (which also featured Deen Castronovo). Even as Journey’s latest lineup plays to a still-faithful body of fans, Schon has immersed himself in side projects such as Piranha Blues (1999) and "Black Soup Cracker" a funk outfit that features former Prince associates Rosie Gaines and Michael Bland, and more recently Soul SirkUS with Jeff Scott Soto.

Schon can be heard on other albums including three tracks on Michael Bolton's The Hunger, with the Schon sound most recognizable on "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay". He also joined Larry Graham to play in an all-star band for cult funk artist and ex-wife of Miles Davis, Betty Davis. In addition, Schon (along with then Journey manager Herbie Herbert) also contributed to Lenny White's 1977 album "Big City", specifically the instrumental jam "And we meet again".

Guitars

Schon's first guitar was an acoustic Stella, followed two years later by a Gibson ES-335 which was subsequently stolen and replaced with a '56 Les Paul Goldtop reissue that he used for many years. Schon currently endorses Gibson guitars, and has a limited edition signature Les Paul model entitled the "Neal Schon Signature Model Custom Les Paul", of which only 35 were made according to the Gibson Custom website, (80 according to Neal Schon's website.) He has previously employed Godin guitars on his 1995 solo album Beyond the Thunder, and more recently uses Paul Reed Smith guitars. In the late 1980s, Schon manufactured (through Jackson Guitars and later Larrivee) and played his own line of guitars. Simply named Schon, about 200 of the Jackson-produced models were made. A white Schon guitar can be clearly seen in the music video for the Journey song "Girl Can't Help It", as well as a gold version in the Journey videos for "I'll Be Alright Without You" and "Be Good to Yourself". A Gibson Les Paul Super Custom can be seen in the video for the Journey song "Anyway You Want It." Recently he has been seen using a Seven String Ibanez Universe, which was a gift from Steve Vai as documented in the liner notes of the Hardline - Double Eclipse album. On the song "Lights", he uses a Fender Stratocaster equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo.

As of 2008, Schon currently prefers guitar pedals from Xotic, a Vox Satriani model and occasionally uses a Buddy Guy wah pedal.

In a 2007 interview, Neal confirmed that he has had tinnitus for years stemming from excessive loud playing. Schon's father, Matthew Schon, was a jazz musician and composer who provided the arrangements on the Journey song "Mother, Father."

Personal life

Schon has been married four times in reverse chronological order to: Amber Kozan (m. 2001–2008), Dina Gioeli (m. 1993), Beth Buckley (m. 1987), Tena Austin (m. 1976). He has five children by three of his wives; first born, Miles 25, Elizabeth 21, Sarah 16, Aja 11 and Sophia 7.

In September 2011, Schon publicly confirmed he was in a relationship with Michaele Salahi. The two said they had also dated years previously in the 90's and they were very happy together. The two became engaged in October 2012 during a Baltimore performance.

Discography

Solo

• Late Nite (1989)
• Beyond the Thunder (1995)
• Electric World (1997)
• Piranha Blues (1998)
• Voice (2001)
• I on U (2005)
• The Calling (2012)

with Santana

• Santana III (1971)
• Caravanserai (1972)

with Journey

Main article: Journey discography

with Jan Hammer

• Untold Passion (1981)
• Here to Stay (1982)

with HSAS

• Through the Fire (1984)

with Bad English

• Bad English (1989)
• Backlash (1991)

with Hardline

• Double Eclipse (1992)

with Paul Rodgers

• Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters (1993)
• The Hendrix Set (1993)
• Now (1997; co-writer of "Saving Grace")
• Paul Rodgers & Friends Live at Montreux 1994 (2011)

with Just If I

• All One People (1995)

with Abraxas Pool

• Abraxas Pool (1997)

with Soul SirkUS

• World Play (2005)

Guest appearances

• Betty Davis – Betty Davis (1973)
• Robert Fleischman - Perfect Stranger (1979)
• Sammy Hagar - Danger Zone (1980)
• Tané Cain - Tané Cain (1983)
• Silver Condor - Trouble at Home (1983)
• Hear 'n Aid - Stars (1985)
• Gregg Rolie - Gregg Rolie (1985)
• Eric Martin - Eric Martin (1985; co-writer of "Just One Night")
• Joe Cocker - Cocker (1986)
• Gregg Rolie - Gringo (1987)
• Michael Bolton - The Hunger (1987)
• Jimmy Barnes - Freight Train Heart (1987)
• The Allman Brothers Band - Where It All Begins (1994; co-writer of "Temptation Is a Gun")
• Frederiksen/Phillips - Frederiksen/Phillips (1995)
• Various artists - Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars for Christmas (1998)
• Trichromes - Trichromes (2002)
• Mickey Thomas - Over the Edge (2004)
• Sammy Hagar - Cosmic Universal Fashion (2008)
• Lee Ritenour - Lee Ritenour's 6 String Theory (2010)
• Eric Martin - Mr. Rock Vocalist (2012)

External links

• Neal Schon Official Site
• Neal Schon Official MySpace Site
• List of Authorized links from Neal's Official webpage
• Neal Schon Biography