Ross Valory

Ross Valory
Valory performing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 2008
Background information
Born
Ross Lamont Valory

(1949-02-02) February 2, 1949
San Francisco, California, U.S.
GenresRock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentsBass guitar, vocals
Years active1966–present
LabelsColumbia Records, Sony Records, Frontiers, Oid Music
Formerly ofFrumious Bandersnatch, Steve Miller Band, Journey, The VU, The Storm, Todd Rundgren, Sy Klopps Blues Band

Ross Lamont Valory (born February 2, 1949)[1] is an American musician who is best known as a founding member of the rock band Journey.[2] He was the bassist for the band from 1973 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2020.[2] Valory was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio as a member of Journey in 2017.[3]

Early life

Ross Valory was born on February 2, 1949, in San Francisco.[4] He attended Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California.[5] In high school, he played clarinet, bass clarinet, and guitar.[6] His mother introduced him to jazz, particularly Dave Brubeck's music.[7]

Career

Valory began his career playing with the band Frumious Bandersnatch before joining the Steve Miller Band in the early 1970’s.[8] He released an album with the group.[9] In 1973, Valory and fellow Frumious Bandersnatch member George Tickner joined with Neal Schon, Santana’s Prairie Prince, and Gregg Rolie to form Journey.[10]

Through 2011, Valory played on all of Journey's albums, except 1986's Raised on Radio.[11] In 1985, Valory and drummer Steve Smith were dismissed from Journey.[12] After Journey went on hiatus in 1987,[13] Valory, Rolie, and Smith started The Storm, a band.[14] They released the album Storm in September 1991, and in March 1992 went on a national tour with Bryan Adams.[15]

Valory rejoined Journey in 1996 when the band reunited for the album Trial by Fire.[16] He was nominated for a 1997 Grammy award as a member of Journey for the song When You Love a Woman.[17] In 2017, Valory was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.[18] In 2020, Valory and Smith were fired from Journey for a second time, amid a lawsuit alleging they attempted to take control of the band’s name.[19] Valory filed a countersuit against the band and the case was settled amicably in 2021.[19]

Valory uses what is commonly referred to as Nashville tuning by stringing his bass B-E-A-D, rather than the more traditional arrangement of E-A-D-G.[20] He has also been a member of the band The VU, which released the 2000 album Phoenix Rising,[21] and has performed with The Sy Klopps Blues Band.[22] On January 17, 2024, Valory announced his forthcoming debut solo album All Of The Above and released a video for its first single "Tomland", featuring Prairie Prince on drums and Miles Schon (son of Journey's Neal Schon) on guitar.[23]

Discography

Solo

  • All of the Above (2024)

Steve Miller Band

Journey

Todd Rundgren

The Storm

  • The Storm (1991)
  • Eye of the Storm (1996)

The V.U.

  • Phoenix Rising (2000)

References

  1. ^ "Journey has followed interesting path". Reading, Pennsylvania: Reading Eagle. December 9, 1984. p. B-6. Retrieved February 26, 2022. The group was formed by Walter Herbert, who recruited Neal Schon and Gregg Rollie, from the group "Santana," and Ross Valory from the Steve Miller Band
  2. ^ a b Harrington, Jim (4 March 2020). "Rock band Journey fires two members after failed 'coup'". Mercury News. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ^ Ivie, Devon (8 April 2017). "Journey's Rock Hall Induction Was Short, and It Could've Been a Little Sweeter". Vulture. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ Daniels, Neil (2011). The Untold Story of Journey. London: Omnibus. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-84938-657-9.
  5. ^ Crooks, Peter (20 March 2020). "City Series: Insider's Guide to Lamorinda". Diablo magazine. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ Madora, Ryan (21 February 2019). "Bass Players To Know: Ross Valory". No Treble. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ Bass Musician Magazine Interviews Ross Valory. Bass Musician Magazine. August 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Madora, Ryan (21 February 2019). "Bass Players To Know: Ross Valory". No Treble. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ Bashian, Lori (22 April 2023). "Journey celebrates 50th anniversary: Rock band members then and now". FOX News. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ^ Lee Simpson, Michael (6 July 2023). "Founding Journey Guitarist George Tickner — Who Left Band to Become a Doctor — Dead at 76". People. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ Daniels 2011, p. 79–81.
  12. ^ Greene, Andy (5 March 2020). "Flashback: Journey Fire Bassist Ross Valory, Drummer Steve Smith in 1985". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ^ Pappademas, Alex (5 September 2018). "Steve Perry Walked Away From Journey. A Promise Finally Ended His Silence". New York Times. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ Triplett III, Ward (1 May 1992). "Storm has long-range forecast". Kansas City Star.
  15. ^ Trabing, Wally (16 August 1992). "Riding the Storm out in the rock music business". Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  16. ^ Greene, Andy (5 March 2020). "Flashback: Journey Fire Bassist Ross Valory, Drummer Steve Smith in 1985". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Journey". Billboard. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  18. ^ Ivie, Devon (8 April 2017). "Journey's Rock Hall Induction Was Short, and It Could've Been a Little Sweeter". Vulture. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (1 April 2021). "Journey Members Reach 'Amicable Settlement' in Battle Over Band Name". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  20. ^ Madora, Ryan (21 February 2019). "Bass Players To Know: Ross Valory". No Treble. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. ^ Burgess, Mick (17 May 2006). "ROSS VALORY – The VU, The Sy Klopps Blues Band etc". Metal Express Radio. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  22. ^ Trakin, Roy (26 October 2021). "Herbie Herbert, Longtime Manager of Journey, Dies at 73". Variety. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Former Journey Bassist Ross Valory Announces Debut Solo Album 'All Of The Above'". blabbermouth.net. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
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