Jonathan Cain
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Cain is an American musician, best known for his work with The Babys
, Journey
and Bad English
.
lessons, and by the time he was in his teens he was playing accordion and piano at parties and in clubs. He also plays guitar, bass and harmonica
. Cain attended East Leyden High School
in Franklin Park, Illinois. He was a survivor of the Our Lady of the Angels School Fire
of 1958, in which 95 students and nuns died. He later attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music before moving to Nashville, Tennessee for a time and then eventually to Los Angeles, California
.
. In 1979, he joined The Babys
, appearing on their albums Union Jacks and On the Edge. In 1980 Cain left The Babys to join the rock band Journey
, taking Gregg Rolie
's place on keyboards. Cain aided Journey's rise to the top of the charts with his first collaborations on the album Escape
, composing and playing the piano on songs such as "Don't Stop Believin'
", described by Allmusic as "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock". Perhaps his most notable contribution was as sole author of the classic Journey ballad "Faithfully
", a song about life on the road while in a band. Cain would go on to appear on at least 13 other Journey albums and compilations. When singer Steve Perry
left Journey in 1987, all of the band's members went their separate ways. Cain would reunite with former Babys bandmates John Waite
and Ricky Phillips
, fellow Journey bandmate Neal Schon
, and future Journey drummer Deen Castronovo
to form the band Bad English
. The band released two albums before disbanding in the early 1990s.
In 1996, the Journey lineup from the album Escape was reunited. They reformed and recorded the album Trial by Fire
. Steve Perry
then left the band again in 1998, after suffering a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii that required surgery. Journey has continued on with three subsequent lead singers Steve Augeri
from 1998 to 2006, Jeff Scott Soto
from 2006 to 2007, and current frontman Arnel Pineda
from 2007 to present. Cain remains a primary contributor with the band and is still recording and touring through 2010.
In addition to his notable work with Journey, Cain has released eight solo albums and contributed to solo albums by fellow Journey member Neal Schon
.
songwriter awards, both for songs co-written with Steve Perry, "Open Arms
" and "Who's Crying Now
". The Journey song, "When You Love a Woman", which he co-wrote with Perry and Schon, was nominated for a Grammy Award
in 1997.
The Babys
The Babys were a British rock/pop group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time," and "Every Time I Think of You." Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the late 1970s...
, Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
and Bad English
Bad English
Bad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1988, reuniting keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in The Babys.- History :...
.
Early life
At the age of eight Cain began accordionAccordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
lessons, and by the time he was in his teens he was playing accordion and piano at parties and in clubs. He also plays guitar, bass and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. Cain attended East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School is a secondary school located in Franklin Park, Illinois which educates grades 9-12.Together with West Leyden High School in Northlake, Illinois, they serve the suburban communities in Franklin Park, Northlake, Rosemont, Schiller Park, River Grove, Melrose Park and...
in Franklin Park, Illinois. He was a survivor of the Our Lady of the Angels School Fire
Our Lady of the Angels School Fire
The Our Lady of the Angels School Fire broke out shortly before classes were to be dismissed on December 1, 1958, at the foot of a stairway in the Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, Illinois. The elementary school was operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
of 1958, in which 95 students and nuns died. He later attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music before moving to Nashville, Tennessee for a time and then eventually to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Career
In 1976, Cain released his first record as the Jonathan Cain Band, Windy City Breakdown, on Bearsville RecordsBearsville Records
Bearsville Records was founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman. Artists included Todd Rundgren, Elizabeth Barraclough, Foghat, Halfnelson/Sparks, Bobby Charles, Randy VanWarmer, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Lazarus, Jesse Winchester, and NRBQ. The label closed in 1984, two years before Grossman's...
. In 1979, he joined The Babys
The Babys
The Babys were a British rock/pop group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time," and "Every Time I Think of You." Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the late 1970s...
, appearing on their albums Union Jacks and On the Edge. In 1980 Cain left The Babys to join the rock band Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
, taking Gregg Rolie
Gregg Rolie
Gregg Alan Rolie is an American keyboardist, organist, and singer, who is one of the founding members of the bands Santana, The Storm, Abraxas Pool and Journey, for whom he was the original lead singer. He currently performs with his Gregg Rolie Band...
's place on keyboards. Cain aided Journey's rise to the top of the charts with his first collaborations on the album Escape
Escape (Journey album)
-Personnel:*Steve Perry - Lead Vocals*Neal Schon - Guitar, Vocals*Ross Valory - Bass, Vocals*Steve Smith - Drums, Percussion*Jonathan Cain - Keyboards, Piano, Guitar, Vocals-Additional personnel:*Wally Buck - Engineer, Assistant Engineer...
, composing and playing the piano on songs such as "Don't Stop Believin'
Don't Stop Believin'
"Don't Stop Believin is a popular song by the American rock band Journey, originally released as a single from their 1981 album Escape, which became a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 on its original release. It re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2009 as a result of increased prominence of digital...
", described by Allmusic as "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock". Perhaps his most notable contribution was as sole author of the classic Journey ballad "Faithfully
Faithfully (song)
"Faithfully" is a popular song and power ballad by the band Journey, and the second single from their album Frontiers. It was written by Neal Schon, Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the band their second consecutive top twenty hit from Frontiers...
", a song about life on the road while in a band. Cain would go on to appear on at least 13 other Journey albums and compilations. When singer Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
left Journey in 1987, all of the band's members went their separate ways. Cain would reunite with former Babys bandmates John Waite
John Waite
John Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
and Ricky Phillips
Ricky Phillips
Ricky Phillips is an American bass guitarist and the current bass player for the rock band Styx. He has also played in Nasty Habit, The Babys, Bad English, and Coverdale-Page....
, fellow Journey bandmate Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
, and future Journey drummer Deen Castronovo
Deen Castronovo
Deen Castronovo is an Italian American drummer who has played in various bands, including Kandles at Nine, Cacophony, Bad English, Journey, The Enemy, Wild Dogs, Dr. Mastermind, Hardline, Planet Us, Soul Sirkus, Social Distortion, and Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler's G/Z/R, as well as in...
to form the band Bad English
Bad English
Bad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1988, reuniting keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in The Babys.- History :...
. The band released two albums before disbanding in the early 1990s.
In 1996, the Journey lineup from the album Escape was reunited. They reformed and recorded the album Trial by Fire
Trial by Fire (Journey album)
-Personnel:*Neal Schon - lead guitar, vocals, producer*Steve Perry - lead vocals, head producer*Jonathan Cain - keyboards, rhythm guitar, vocals, producer*Steve Smith - drums and percussion, producer*Ross Valory - bass, vocals, producerwith...
. Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
then left the band again in 1998, after suffering a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii that required surgery. Journey has continued on with three subsequent lead singers Steve Augeri
Steve Augeri
Steve Augeri is an American rock singer best known for his work with Tall Stories, Tyketto, and Journey.-Career:...
from 1998 to 2006, Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican 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...
from 2006 to 2007, and current frontman Arnel Pineda
Arnel Pineda
Arnel Pineda is a Filipino singer-songwriter who has served as the lead singer of the American rock band Journey since 2007. Pineda has had a successful musical career in the Philippines for the last 25 years.- Biography :...
from 2007 to present. Cain remains a primary contributor with the band and is still recording and touring through 2010.
In addition to his notable work with Journey, Cain has released eight solo albums and contributed to solo albums by fellow Journey member Neal Schon
Neal Schon
Neal George Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the band Journey. He is the only member to have recorded on all of Journey's albums...
.
Personal
Cain has been married twice. His first wife was singer Tané Cain. In 1989 he married his current wife, Elizabeth Yvette Fullerton, with whom he has three children, Madison (1993), Liza and Weston (1996). Jonathan Cain currently resides in a suburb of Nashville, TN.Solo discography
- Windy City BreakdownWindy City Breakdown (Jonathan Cain album)Windy City Breakdown is the first solo album by keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain.After this album, Jonathan Cain joined The Babys.-Track listing:#"Windy City Breakdown" Windy City Breakdown is the first solo album by keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain.After this album, Jonathan Cain joined The...
(1977) Bearsville/Wounded Bird Records. - Back to the Innocence (1995) Intersound Records.
- Piano with a View (1995) Higher Octave Records.
- Body LanguageBody Language (Jonathan Cain album)Body Language is the fourth solo album by Journey keyboardist and composer Jonathan Cain. The album was recorded at Cain's home studio Wild Horse Studio, and released in 1997.The CD is among the small number of recordings issued with HDCD encoding....
(1997) Higher Octave Records. - For a LifetimeFor a LifetimeFor a Lifetime is a piano-based instrumental album by Jonathan Cain released in 1998. As explained in the liner notes, Cain's composition was inspired by the weddings of eight couples including the song "A Day to Remember" which is dedicated to his fellow Journey band mate Neal Schon...
(1998) Higher Octave Records. - Namaste (2001) Wildhorse Records.
- Anthology (2001) One Way Records.
- Animated Movie Love Songs (2002) One Way Records.
- Bare Bones (2004) AAO Records.
- Where I Live (2006) AAO Records.
Awards
He has received two BMIBroadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
songwriter awards, both for songs co-written with Steve Perry, "Open Arms
Open Arms (Journey song)
"Open Arms" is a popular song originally recorded by American rock band Journey, and released as a single from their 1981 album, Escape. Co-written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, the song is a power ballad whose lyrics are an empowering plea to a lover to forgive past wrongdoings...
" and "Who's Crying Now
Who's Crying Now
"Who's Crying Now" is a song recorded by the American rock band Journey. It was written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry. It was released in 1981 as the first single from Escape and reached #4 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts...
". The Journey song, "When You Love a Woman", which he co-wrote with Perry and Schon, was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1997.