Ross Valory

Last updated
Ross Valory
RossValory.JPG
Valory performing in 2008
Background information
Born
Ross Lamont Valory

(1949-02-02) February 2, 1949 (age 76)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres Rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, vocals
Years active1966–present
LabelsColumbia, Sony, Frontiers, Oid Music
Formerly of Frumious Bandersnatch, Steve Miller Band, Journey, The VU, The Storm, Todd Rundgren, Sy Klopps Blues Band

Ross Lamont Valory (born 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 as a member of Journey in 2017. [3]

Contents

Early life

Ross Valory was born on February 2, 1949, in San Francisco, California. [4] He attended Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California. [5] Growing up, he played piano, clarinet and guitar, and taught himself how to play bass during his sophomore year of high school. [6] His mother introduced him to jazz, particularly Dave Brubeck. [7]

Career

Valory began his career playing with the band Frumious Bandersnatch before joining the Steve Miller Band in the early 1970’s. [8] Valory released one album with the group. [9] In 1973, Valory and fellow Frumious Bandersnatch member George Tickner joined with Neal Schon and 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] Though he returned to the band when they reformed in 1995, [12] Valory was dismissed from Journey again in 2020, with Jackson replacing him once again on the album. [13]

One of Valory's techniques is to string a four-string bass with the bottom four strings of a 5-string set. Thus, instead of the usual E-A-D-G arrangement, his bass is strung as B-E-A-D, which he calls Nashville Tuning. [14] This adds the five string depth to the songs, while allowing the quick fingering of a four-string neck. Valory recorded Escape with an Ovation Magnum II, used a Peavey and a Steinberger for Frontiers, and a Fender Jazz up until the Departure album. [15]

Valory also played for The V.U., The Storm, [16] and the Steve Miller Band. [17]

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. [18]

Discography

Solo

Steve Miller Band

Journey

Todd Rundgren

The Storm

The V.U.

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. 1 2 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. ↑ Daniels 2011, p. 100.
  13. ↑ Matthew Neale (May 26, 2020). "Journey announce line-up changes as former bassist Randy Jackson rejoins". Nme.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Ross Valory...Journey". Talkbass.com. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  16. ↑ Daniels 2011, pp. 93–94.
  17. ↑ "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
  18. ↑ "Former JOURNEY Bassist ROSS VALORY Announces Debut Solo Album 'All Of The Above'". blabbermouth.net. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
Preceded by
none
 Journey bass-guitarist
1973–1985		Succeeded by
Preceded by Journey bass-guitarist
1995 – 2020		Succeeded by
Randy Jackson
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