Neal Schon

Neal Schon (b. February 27 1954 in San Mateo, California), is an American guitarist.

Related Topics:
February 27 - 1954 - San Mateo, California - American - Guitarist

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The son of a woodwinds player, Neal himself played the oboe for many years beginning in high school. Schon first picked up the guitar at the age of 10. He joined Santana as a teenager at the age of 17. He also played in the band Azteca around that time, before moving on to form Journey, a group he continues to lead.

Related Topics:
Woodwind - Oboe - Santana - Azteca - Journey

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But his vitae also includes a pair of albums with keyboard whiz Jan Hammer, short-term collaborations with Sammy Hagar and Paul Rodgers, stints with Bad English (which also featured Journey?s Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo and Jonathan Cain's former Babys bandmates John Waite and Ricky Phillips) and Hardline (which also featured Deen Castronovo), and some instrumental acoustic albums for the Higher Octave label that show an entirely different side of his artistic personality. And even as Journey?s latest lineup cranks out the hits to a still-faithful body of fans, Schon is immersed in side projects such as Piranha Blues (1999) and "Black Soup Cracker" a funk outfit that features former Prince associates Rosie Gaines and Michael Bland. He?s sometimes overlooked in lists of rock guitar virtuosos, but during the past three decades Schon has certainly made his mark.

Related Topics:
Jan Hammer - Sammy Hagar - Paul Rodgers - Bad English - Jonathan Cain - Deen Castronovo - Babys - John Waite - Ricky Phillips - Hardline - Piranha Blues - Rosie Gaines - Michael Bland

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Neal Schon can also be heard on Michael Bolton's The Hunger on three tracks; the Schon sound is most recognizable on "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay".

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Schon is endorsed by Gibson guitars, and has a signature Les Paul model, but also uses Paul Reed Smith guitars.

Related Topics:
Gibson - Les Paul - Paul Reed Smith

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Lately, Neal Schon has been playing with the band Soul Sirkus.

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