Ross Valory
Encyclopedia
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 (and subsequent tour) in 1986, Ross has played on all of Journey's albums. For Raised on Radio, he was replaced on bass in the studio by Bob Glaub
on three songs, while the remaining songs were played by future American Idol
judge Randy Jackson
, who also played on the subsequent tour.
Valory grew up in Lafayette, CA and attended Acalanes High School
.
One of the innovations that Valory uses (it is not known if he is the inventor) 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. This adds the five string depth to the songs, while allowing the quick fingering of a four-string neck.
He also plays keyboards and guitar.
Ross Valory also played for The Vu, The Storm
, Frumious Bandersnatch
and the Steve Miller Band
.
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...
's noted bass player. He and 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...
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
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...
album sessions (and subsequent tour) in 1986, Ross has played on all of Journey's albums. For Raised on Radio, he was replaced on bass in the studio by Bob Glaub
Bob Glaub
Bob Glaub is an American bass player and session musician. He's played with such artists and bands as Journey, Jackson Browne, Bee Gees, Eric Carmen, Linda Ronstadt, Leo Sayer, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Bonnie Raitt and many others....
on three songs, while the remaining songs were played by future American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
judge Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
, who also played on the subsequent tour.
Valory grew up in Lafayette, CA and attended Acalanes High School
Acalanes High School
Acalanes High School was the first of several high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District in Lafayette, California. It was built in 1940 on what was then a tomato field. The school was built with federal money through the work of the Works Project Administration through the Roosevelt...
.
One of the innovations that Valory uses (it is not known if he is the inventor) 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. This adds the five string depth to the songs, while allowing the quick fingering of a four-string neck.
He also plays keyboards and guitar.
Ross Valory also played for The Vu, 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...
, Frumious Bandersnatch
Frumious Bandersnatch
Frumious Bandersnatch was a psychedelic rock band in the late 1960s. The band was named after a character from the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky". Based out of San Francisco, California, the band was active from 1967 to 1969. Their initial three-song EP produced a minor underground hit with...
and the Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
.