Kevin Chalfant
Encyclopedia
Kevin Chalfant is an American singer-songwriter
and a native of Streator, Illinois
. He obtained a BMI
award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, "I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love"', by The Storm
. In 1994, he temporarily replaced Steve Perry
in Journey
, and in 2003, he toured as lead vocalist for the Alan Parsons
Live Project.
group 707
in 1982. With Chalfant on lead vocals, the band enjoyed its biggest hit, "Mega Force", which peaked at #12 on Billboard
's Mainstream Rock
chart. That success, however, was not enough to assuage internal conflicts and the group disbanded before a follow-up could be recorded.
. He recorded one album with the band, Heart on the Line, before leaving in 1985. Around that time he sang "Hold On to the Vision", the theme to the film No Retreat, No Surrender
, featuring Joe Satriani
on guitar.
(bass), Gregg Rolie
(keys), and Steve Smith
(drums). Journey, a multi-platinum band that was also no stranger to internal conflict, had undergone several personnel changes over the years. Original member and early vocalist/keyboardist Rolie had left Journey to pursue a solo career in 1980, and Valory and Smith had been "replaced" in the studio and on tour in 1986. Chalfant and Valory had dabbled in the studio with a side band called The Vu as the mega-band's (Journey's) turmoil simmered and its next step was considered. By 1989, Journey had splintered completely into a series of solo projects and side bands, and The Storm started brewing.
Released by Interscope Records
in late 1991, The Storm hit the album charts and the band's first single, "I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love" surged well into the Top 40 of the Hot 100. Faring even better at Mainstream Rock radio, the single peaked at #6 on the national Billboard charts, and its follow-up, "Show Me The Way" went to #22. That spring, the band went on a major US tour in support of Bryan Adams
, then at his commercial peak, and playing arenas, moving on to open for Peter Frampton
, as well as several headlining dates.
When it came time to release the second Storm album in 1993, however, the band found their label, Interscope, entrenched in the burgeoning rap scene. The band's second album, The Eye Of The Storm, did not find label release until 1996, and by then the winds powering The Storm had died out.
, and Jonathan Cain
in anticipation of a full album and tour. By 1995, however Steve Perry had returned for a brief, Grammy-nominated reunion of their early-80s lineup instead, leaving Chalfant suddenly on his own again.
.
In 2004, Chalfant released an album of traditional gospel songs and hymns, Back To Square One, with proceeds going to benefit former Chicago Bear
, Jerry Stillman. A Christmas CD featuring fans caroling along with Chalfant and his band was released in December 2005.
Chalfant featured in the studio project Shadows Fade, releasing a self-titled album in 2004. Chalfant then signed as the lead singer for Kansas City AOR favorite Shooting Star
. He released one album, 2006's Circles, before leaving the band.
In 2007, Chalfant released Fly2Freedom, a 13-track solo album covering his favorite Journey hits. The "fly" of the album's title and its cover art are a humorously self-deprecating homage to the scarab that appeared in the cover art on many of Journey's albums of the 1970s and 1980s. Freedom was the 1985 working title for Journey's followup to their Frontiers album prior to the departure of Valory and Smith; it was ultimately released as Raised On Radio
. Chalfant is quoted on the label's website as saying, "The Journey love-laden sound has won the hearts of millions of fans world wide. I am proud to consider them personal friends and label them America's Finest Rock Band."
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and a native of Streator, Illinois
Streator, Illinois
Streator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
. He obtained a BMI
BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by executives of Broadcast Music Incorporated for the purpose of "encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and commissions." Additionally, the Foundation makes...
award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, "I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love"', by The Storm
The Storm (band)
The Storm is an American rock group, formed in the Bay Area of San Francisco during the early 1990s. The band is best known for their first single, the power ballad "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", which peaked at #6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.The...
. In 1994, he temporarily replaced 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...
in 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 in 2003, he toured as lead vocalist for the Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor...
Live Project.
707
Chalfant's first national success came when he joined AORAlbum-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
group 707
707 (band)
707 was a rock band of the early 1980s, best known for the rock radio hits "I Could Be Good For You" and "Mega Force".-I Could Be Good for You:...
in 1982. With Chalfant on lead vocals, the band enjoyed its biggest hit, "Mega Force", which peaked at #12 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Mainstream Rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
chart. That success, however, was not enough to assuage internal conflicts and the group disbanded before a follow-up could be recorded.
Steel Breeze
In 1984, Chalfant joined the band Steel BreezeSteel Breeze
Steel Breeze is an American album-oriented rock group that had a popular video on MTV with "You Don't Want Me Anymore" in 1982, followed by "Temperance Dreams" the following year.-Career:...
. He recorded one album with the band, Heart on the Line, before leaving in 1985. Around that time he sang "Hold On to the Vision", the theme to the film No Retreat, No Surrender
No Retreat, No Surrender
No Retreat, No Surrender is a 1986 American martial arts sports film written and directed by Corey Yuen his American directorial debut, and starring Kurt McKinney, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Tai Chung Kim.-Plot:...
, featuring Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
on guitar.
The Storm
Chalfant later formed The Storm in 1990 with guitarist Josh Ramos and (former) Journey members Ross ValoryRoss Valory
Ross Lamont Valory is Journey's noted bass player. He and Neal Schon are the only original members of the band still performing with the group. Aside from his termination from the group during the Raised on Radio album sessions in 1986, Ross has played on all of Journey's albums...
(bass), 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...
(keys), and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
(drums). Journey, a multi-platinum band that was also no stranger to internal conflict, had undergone several personnel changes over the years. Original member and early vocalist/keyboardist Rolie had left Journey to pursue a solo career in 1980, and Valory and Smith had been "replaced" in the studio and on tour in 1986. Chalfant and Valory had dabbled in the studio with a side band called The Vu as the mega-band's (Journey's) turmoil simmered and its next step was considered. By 1989, Journey had splintered completely into a series of solo projects and side bands, and The Storm started brewing.
Released by Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
in late 1991, The Storm hit the album charts and the band's first single, "I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love" surged well into the Top 40 of the Hot 100. Faring even better at Mainstream Rock radio, the single peaked at #6 on the national Billboard charts, and its follow-up, "Show Me The Way" went to #22. That spring, the band went on a major US tour in support of Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, then at his commercial peak, and playing arenas, moving on to open for Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, as well as several headlining dates.
When it came time to release the second Storm album in 1993, however, the band found their label, Interscope, entrenched in the burgeoning rap scene. The band's second album, The Eye Of The Storm, did not find label release until 1996, and by then the winds powering The Storm had died out.
Journey
By 1994, Journey had been on a nearly eight-year hiatus, and the late-70s lineup was poised to regroup, minus singer Steve Perry, who was in the midst of releasing a second solo album. Chalfant stepped in to tackle Perry's parts for a live performance in San Francisco, and the result proved to be a good fit. He was invited to formally join the band, and Chalfant began writing material with Rolie, Neal SchonNeal 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 Jonathan Cain
Jonathan Cain
Jonathan Cain is an American musician, best known for his work with The Babys, Journey and Bad English.-Early life:...
in anticipation of a full album and tour. By 1995, however Steve Perry had returned for a brief, Grammy-nominated reunion of their early-80s lineup instead, leaving Chalfant suddenly on his own again.
Following the star, coming full circle
Chalfant relocated back to his native Illinois and took a couple of years off. Upon his return to music, he brought his spirituality into the fore. He released a solo album in 1997 entitled Running with the Wind, and released two albums with the band Two Fires, a self-titled release in 2000, and Ignition in 2002. In 2003, he toured as the lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live ProjectThe Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
.
In 2004, Chalfant released an album of traditional gospel songs and hymns, Back To Square One, with proceeds going to benefit former Chicago Bear
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Jerry Stillman. A Christmas CD featuring fans caroling along with Chalfant and his band was released in December 2005.
Chalfant featured in the studio project Shadows Fade, releasing a self-titled album in 2004. Chalfant then signed as the lead singer for Kansas City AOR favorite Shooting Star
Shooting Star (band)
Shooting Star is a rock band from Kansas City, Missouri.The band formed in the late 1970s. After quickly gaining enormous popularity in the Kansas City area, Shooting Star became the first American group to sign with Virgin Records. They recorded their 1979 debut album in England with legendary...
. He released one album, 2006's Circles, before leaving the band.
In 2007, Chalfant released Fly2Freedom, a 13-track solo album covering his favorite Journey hits. The "fly" of the album's title and its cover art are a humorously self-deprecating homage to the scarab that appeared in the cover art on many of Journey's albums of the 1970s and 1980s. Freedom was the 1985 working title for Journey's followup to their Frontiers album prior to the departure of Valory and Smith; it was ultimately released as Raised On Radio
Raised on Radio
Journey's ninth studio album , Raised on Radio, was released in May 1986 on the Columbia Records label.Following their two most successful albums, lead singer Steve Perry began to take more control over the band's direction. First, Ross Valory and Steve Smith were fired from the band, against the...
. Chalfant is quoted on the label's website as saying, "The Journey love-laden sound has won the hearts of millions of fans world wide. I am proud to consider them personal friends and label them America's Finest Rock Band."