Steve Perry’s Duet with His Late Father in New Song
In a remarkable emotional highlight of The Season‘s expanded edition, renowned former Journey frontman Steve Perry delivers a captivating duet with his late father. Recently, he unveiled a creative music video for the heartfelt track “Call Me Irresponsible,” which can be viewed below. This powerful and poignant song stems from Perry’s nostalgic discovery of a cherished gift from his past that rekindled memories of his father’s musical influence.
Reflecting on this experience, Perry shares, “My father, Ray Perry, was a singer who would serenade me to sleep during my childhood.” He further reveals the emotional weight of finding a karaoke cassette that his father had sent him back in 1993 for Christmas. “The song that moved me the most was ‘Call Me Irresponsible.’ His voice was simply enchanting,” Perry expresses, demonstrating the lasting impact of his father’s artistry.
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Now rebranded as The Season 3, Perry’s latest album includes five newly recorded tracks, featuring classics like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Let It Snow.” These fresh sessions were co-produced in collaboration with his long-time associate Thom Flowers. The majority of the recording took place in Perry’s personal studio, with contributions from returning drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and talented multi-instrumentalist Dallas Kruse.
This collaborative effort facilitated a profound reunion between Perry and his father that had been decades in the making. “Through the use of modern technology, we extracted my father’s voice from the cassette and created beautiful music around it. Once that was accomplished, I could finally fulfill my dream of singing alongside my father,” Perry recounts poignantly. “You see, my parents divorced when I was just 7 years old, and after that, my father and I had very limited contact.”
The final version of “Call Me Irresponsible” transformed into a deeply emotional experience for Perry. “His voice was just as I remembered it from my childhood,” he adds. “At the end of the cassette, my dad says, ‘Merry Christmas, God love ya.’ Hearing him speak again brought tears to my eyes,” showcasing the profound emotional connection that music can create across generations.
In 2019, Perry began his exploration of festive favorites with the Silver Bells EP. Following that, the original full-length album The Season was released in 2021, and a deluxe edition featuring ten additional tracks followed in 2022, which included Perry’s first original holiday song, “Maybe This Year.” This journey back to his musical roots was inspired by a desire to reignite the holiday spirit after a season lost to the pandemic.
“The songs I chose to record were those that resonated with me the most during my childhood, ones that held deep emotional significance and evoked the true spirit of Christmas — that was the guiding principle behind my selections,” Perry explains in a conversation with UCR. This reflects his genuine desire to connect with listeners through the timeless magic of holiday music.
The newly released music video was skillfully designed and animated by Tolga Tarhan, adding a visually stunning dimension to this heartfelt musical tribute.
Nick DeRiso, the author of the Amazon best-selling rock band biography ‘Journey: Worlds Apart,’ is available now at all major book retailer websites.
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