Neal Joseph Schon Guitarist of the rock band "Journey" Date of Birth: 27.02.1954 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
2. Early Musical Experiments
3. Meeting Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton
4. Formation of 'Journey'
5. Success with 'Journey'
6. Personal Life and Legacy

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Neal Joseph Schon, known as Neal Schon, was born in 1954 on the United States Air Force base in Tinker, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His parents, Barb and Matthew Schon, were musicians, so Neal grew up surrounded by music, particularly jazz and blues. At the age of five, his parents gave him his first guitar, sparking his love for music.

Early Musical Experiments

Even as a child, Neal experimented with various musical instruments, including keyboards, oboe, and drums. However, he eventually settled on the guitar as his instrument of choice. The family later moved to San Francisco, where Neal spent his nights playing in bands and rehearsing. During this time, he was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton's music.

Meeting Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton

At the age of 15, Neal had the fortunate opportunity to meet and befriend Carlos Santana. Santana soon invited him to join his band, 'Santana Band'. Around the same time, Eric Clapton, Neal's idol, also offered him a position in his band, 'Derek and the Dominoes'. Despite this difficult decision, Neal chose to join Santana's band. At just 15 years old, he participated in the recording of three studio albums with Santana and embarked on a world tour as a professional guitarist. Neal showcased his guitar skills, engaging in musical dialogues with Carlos Santana on renowned international stages.

Formation of 'Journey'

At the age of 19, Neal decided to pursue his own musical path. The band experienced a split, and Neal, already an accomplished guitarist by that time, had more musical aspirations than his peers could even dream of. In 1973, he teamed up with renowned rock manager Herbie Herbert to form a new band called 'The Golden Gate Rhythm Section.' After finalizing the lineup and accumulating material, the band's name was changed, and today they are known worldwide as 'Journey'.

Success with 'Journey'

From 1975 to 1979, 'Journey' released three albums under the 'Columbia' label. They went on to release over twenty albums, including compilations. 'Journey's' legendary discography is well-known to their fans worldwide and is deserving of a separate article. Their music has become a kind of prayer for an entire generation of fans.

Personal Life and Legacy

In the late 1980s, Neal created his own line of guitars called 'Schon'. These guitars, produced in a limited edition of approximately 200, were based on 'Jackson Guitars'. The exclusive white 'Schon' guitar appeared in his music video for the song 'Girl Can't Help It', while the gold version was featured in the videos for 'I'll Be Alright Without You' and 'Be Good to Yourself'.

Neal Schon is the father of five children, including four daughters. Naturally, his son, Miles, also plays the guitar, as musical traditions and generational continuity are deeply valued in families of rock musicians.