How a teenage prodigy turned down Eric Clapton to define the sound of Journey
In short: Born to big band musicians, Neal Schon was a guitar prodigy who joined Santana at seventeen. Though he famously declined an invitation from Eric Clapton to join Derek and the Dominos, Schon went on to co-found Journey, becoming the rock band's only constant member throughout its entire multi-decade history.
Neal Joseph Schon, born in 1954 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, was raised in a musical household; his father was a big band arranger and saxophonist, while his mother was a singer. By age ten, Schon had picked up the guitar, eventually dropping out of Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, to pursue his craft. His early professional trajectory was meteoric, landing him a spot in Santana by 1971. His style, shaped by legends like B.B. King, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana, quickly established him as a versatile force in the rock world.
In 1973, Schon co-founded the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, which would eventually be renamed Journey. While Journey became his primary legacy, Schon’s career is marked by a restless desire for collaboration. He has participated in numerous supergroups and side projects, including Bad English, Hardline, and Soul SirkUS. His session work is equally eclectic, ranging from contributions to Michael Bolton’s The Hunger to playing with funk artist Betty Davis. This extensive touring and recording history has come at a cost, as Schon has confirmed he suffers from tinnitus, a common condition among long-term professional musicians.
Schon’s relationship with his instrument is as storied as his career. He has cycled through various brands, including Gibson, Fender, and Paul Reed Smith, and even manufactured his own line of guitars in the late 1980s. His commitment to the stage remains undiminished; in 2022, he performed the national anthem at the NBA Finals, and he continues to lead Journey through tours like his 2019 'Journey Through Time' project. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, Schon remains a singular figure in American rock, balancing his role as a legacy act with a lifelong habit of musical exploration.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Neal Schon
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