Jonathan Cain's Biography by America On-Line

AOL's Tribute to Rock 'n' Roll presents Jonathan Cain!

Jonathan Cain wrote million-selling hits, including FAITHFULLY, OPEN ARMS,
and WHO's CRYING NOW while playing keyboards as he toured the world's
stadiums in rock supergroup JOURNEY. Other hit songs came as a member of BAD
ENGLISH AND THE BABYS. When Journey retired from the road in 1987, Cain
produced Michael Bolton's breakthrough album, THE HUNGER. Next, he
co-produced Journey mate Neal Schon's Higher Octave instrumental guitar
album, BEYOND THE THUNDER.

Now, in PIANO WITH A VIEW, Cain has made his own statement of melodic
instrumental music. Using his bright red grand piano as his main voice, he
has carefully crafted a recording that doesn't show off his technical
ability, but goes instead for the heart with enchanting tunes that don't need
lyrics to sing.

"I've used my piano music as a kind of therapy from the rage of the rock
world," Cain admits. "Now with the acceptance of soft jazz on radio, it's
intriguing to me. Suddenly those melodic ideas that have been floating around
inside me all these years has a place to go."

While he was inspired by CRUSADERS keyboardist Joe Sample and jazz pianist
Ramsey Lewis (both of whom are also far more interested in substance and
simplicity rather than flash), Cain also cites the recent pioneering work of
fellow San Francisco area rock guitarist Craig Chaquico in the adult
instrumental genre. "When Craig first did it, I thought 'How scary it must
be,' but his work opened the door to a whole new era."

Since then, a growing number of rock stars, including Neal Schon, Ian
Anderson and Clarence Clemmons have issued instrumental albums that explore
adult alternative music.

Cain's approach is a reflective one. And in the case of PIANO WITH A VIEW,
he's reflecting on love and relationships inspired by his own experience.
Through the rock stardom, the bands, the long months away from home on the
road, what kept Cain so grounded was the closeness felt for his wife Liz.
When he came home from the road, those feelings culminated in the music of
PIANO WITH A VIEW, a thoughtful and romantic, while at times sacred and
sensual listening experience.

And it was a way to express musical ideas that he hadn't found a place for in
his rock 'n' roll days.

Growing up in Chicago, Jonathan Cain discovered at an early age that he had a
talent for musical expression. At the age of eight he began accordion lessons
and by the time he was in his teens, he was playing accordion and piano at
parties and in clubs. "In fact, I put myself through conservatory school
doing piano bars," Cain recalls, "and on weekends my brother and I had a
novelty act playing standards and show tunes."

Out of the music controversy at age 19, Jonathan commuted to Nashville,
cutting pop song demos for two years, before he and his brother Tommy moved
to Los Angeles' bohemian Laurel Canyon area to make it in the rock world.
Cain scored a mild Top 40 hit with his TILL IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE that
landed him a guest spot on American Bandstand.

A stint on Bearsville Records gave him the opportunity to cut demos with Toto
as his backing group, but again, it didn't lead to stardom. When he teamed
with Robbie Patton to write songs, he was informed that English rock band the
BABYS were looking for a keyboardist; Cain's musical life suddenly shifted
into high gear.

THE BABYS, with Cain on board, cranked out hit after hit. He and Babys
vocalist, John Waite, clicked writing power ballads together, including The
Babys Top 20 hits, EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU and ISN'T IT TIME.

Then San Francisco rock band Journey called on Cain to replace retiring
keyboardist Gregg Rolie, and without playing a note for an audition, he was
in. But it wasn't a total blind date. Cain had met guitarist Neal Schon
jamming in clubs years earlier.

Cain plunged into helping write the next Journey album, ESCAPE, which sold
over six million copies. 

It didn't hurt that he and vocalist Steve Perry hit it off as a songwriting
team. Cain composed FAITHFULLY -- the heart-tugging ballad about being true
to one's love while living on the road.

"We had all these different styles in that group, and because we forgot about
rock posturing and just had fun, we brought out the best in each other. When
the other guys came up with music that had holes in it, I saw how to fill
them. I went from being a boy without a clear style, to being in a band that
could play any style and make it a hit. It was a great medium for me to do
anything. It doesn't make for an exciting story, but it really was effortless
for us."

But it ended in January 1987 after the final Journey tour. With free time on
his hands, Cain found himself donning a new hat as record producer, first for
the Australian rock star Jimmy Barnes, and next for then-unknown singer
Michael Bolton. The result was Bolton's breakthrough album, THE HUNGER.

Cain stepped back into the spotlight in a hard-working group of former
bandmates called BAD ENGLISH, which included The Babys John Waite and
Journey's Neal Schon.

"Bad English didn't have the stylistic range of Journey, but it was more
defined and we nailed the essence of the mood. And I was proud of the
songwriting we did. 'PRICE OF LOVE' and 'GHOST IN YOUR HEART' are incredibly
romantic. But when the band broke up, I went home to build a recording studio
next to the house and have a baby with my wife, Liz."

It was an idyllic time, in the suburban home overlooking the rolling,
forested hills outside Novato, CA. "I was tired of LA, and besides, I had a
lot of luck in this house before. Steve (Perry) and I wrote all of the
Journey hits in what's now the baby's room."

It took 18 months to finish the studio, then Cain put the finishing touches
on his solo vocal project, BACK TO THE INNOCENCE, for Intersound Records.
Next, Neal Schon brought him in to co-produce Schon's guitar album, BEYOND
THE THUNDER. When it was done, it seemed natural for Cain to do his own piano
record, finally having an outlet for a lifetime of melodies, coupled with
feelings of romance and the love which had become the center of his life with
wife Liz and daughter, Madison.

"I love cinema and wanted to design this album like a film; the movie in my
head, with the piano as the lead character."

"It was a way to remember all the experiences of our relationship. Like a
Caribbean vacation or a perfect day in San Francisco. They were all postcards
in my head. I didn't realize I had so much to say. The memories poured out in
a stream and when they stopped, I knew the album was done.

With a small band of friends -- including former Tower of Power and JVC Music
recording artist, Mark Russo on saxophone, Michael Bolton, guitarist Chris
Camozzi and drummer Tommy Bradford -- Cain recorded PIANO WITH A VIEW. The
tunes are pure melody, with light rhythmic accompaniment. Ranging from
ethereal, idealized love in TELL IT TO MY HEART, to the sweaty passion of THE
WAY I WANT YOU.

"My wife Liz is the ultimate muse. To have the person you love as an
inspiration for an album of the finest moments of your relationship is an
incredible gift. It may be very personal, but it's also a universal feeling.
'You're with me and that's all that matters...'"

There is one other thing that matters and that's the way Cain found to
express those feelings -- his piano. Using the piano as his voice on PIANO
WITH A VIEW, Cain goes beyond anything he's ever done. This album celebrates
the romantic dance of life.

Join Jonathan Cain when he visits Center Stage, and bring your questions with
you.

Keyword: "CENTER STAGE"

Date: September 7

Time: 11pm ET

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