It's Neal Schon's birthday!
Neal is one of the privileged few that got to live one of the coolest rock and roll lives ever. A young guitar prodigy that bounced around the California music scene, at the age of 17, Schon was asked by Eric Clapton to join Derek and the Dominos, but passed on the project to join Santana instead. Schon would appear on Santana III and Caravanserai, and would quickly form a relationship with singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie.
In 1973, he and Rolie, would leave Santana to form the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, which eventually evolve into the band Journey. The band's rise would be a slow ascension until Steve Perry joined the group and propell them into rock superstardom. Journey would be one of the highest selling rock groups in the world throughout the 70's and into the mid 80's when during an extended hiatus Schon would form another rock supergroup in the form of Bad English.
Bad English would capitalize on the time's hair metal climate to release 2 hit albums, and the top selling power-ballad "When I See You Smile". Bad English would continue into the 90's when eventually Schon reunited with Journey for a one-off with Perry.
Neal, has also released several solo albums and worked with Jan Hammer, Sammy Hagar, Paul Rodgers, and even another supergroup in Hardline, which featured Steve Perry's replacement in Journey, Deen Castronovo.
Neal is a two time Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer and considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. From a teen to a legend Neal Schon has lived the ultimate rock lifetime.
Happy Birthday Neal!