Jeff Scott Soto (born November 4, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican[1] descent. He is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on their 2006-2007 tours after Steve Augeri had to leave the band because of an acute throat infection. His style is typical of heavy metal vocalists of the 1980s, but he is also influenced by classic soul music singers such as Sam Cooke as well as Journey's original vocalist Steve Perry, and Freddie Mercury from Queen.Contents [hide] 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Discography 3.1 Solo albums 3.2 Talisman 3.3 W.E.T. 3.4 Trans-Siberian Orchestra 3.5 Takara 3.6 Human Clay 3.7 Axel Rudi Pell 3.8 Humanimal 3.9 Yngwie Malmsteen 3.10 Eyes 3.11 Others lead vocals 3.12 Others background vocals 4 Notes 5 External links
[edit] Career
The bands Soto has been involved in included Panther, Axel Rudi Pell, Eyes, Talisman, Takara, Humanimal, Human Clay, Kryst The Conqueror, Redlist, The Boogie Knights and Soul Sirkus.
Soto has sung background vocals on several albums by artists such as Lita Ford, Steelheart, Fergie Frederiksen, Glass Tiger, House Of Lords, Stryper, Saigon Kick, and many others.
He has released several solo albums as well. Soto also sang for the fictional band Steel Dragon, which featured Zakk Wylde, Jeff Pilson and Jason Bonham for the soundtrack of the movie Rock Star along with Michael Matijevic of the band Steelheart, whose second album featured Soto on background vocals.
He has also sung lead vocals on an album inspired by the TV series Biker Mice From Mars.
Soto performed at the 2000 annual [OIQFC 'Freddie Mercury Birthday Party' at Reading in the UK, where he performed “Dragon Attack” with Brian May. Since that first meeting, Soto and May have become friends, and Soto has appeared with the SAS Band (Spike’s All Stars), Queen sideman Spike Edney’s band. Jeff also appeared with Brian May and Roger Taylor at the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' bash for the Official International Queen Fan Club. [2]
In 2006, Soto replaced Steve Augeri in Journey after Augeri left the tour due to an acute throat infection. On December 19, Soto was confirmed as the official lead singer for Journey and a press release was posted on the band's official site. On June 12, 2007 it was announced on the same website that Journey had dismissed Soto as their lead singer. Soto addressed the issue by saying "I was looking forward to a long, prosperous future with these guys but it seems they wanted something different than I brought to the table. No love lost though, they know what's best for the preservation of their legacy. I wish them all the best but now it's time to continue working on my own path again". [3]
Since his departure from 'Journey' Jeff has continued to tour on his own account and has undertaken tours with 'Talisman', 'Tempestt' and, most recently, with a new band to promote the 'Beautiful Mess' album released on download in 2008 and on Frontiers in February 2009.
He toured with Trans Siberian Orchestra on their Winter Tour 2008, and again on their Winter Tour 2009.
Soto has also come together with musicians of Work Of Art and Eclipse to co-create the new band W.E.T., Jeff being of Talisman, hence the first initials of each band spells: W.E.T. The new band has released a self-titled debut album, out November 2009. Videos have been made for the tracks "One Love", "Comes Down Like Rain" and "Brothers In Arms". [edit] Personal life
Soto currently resides in Los Angeles, California when he is not on tour. [edit] Discography [edit] Solo albums Love Parade - 1994 Holding On (EP) - 2002 Prism - 2002 JSS Live at the Gods 2002 (live) - 2003 Live At The Queen Convention 2003 (live) - 2004 Believe in Me (EP) - 2004 Lost In The Translation - 2004 Essential Ballads - 2006 Beautiful Mess - 2009 One Night in Madrid (live) - 2009 [edit] Talisman
Albums: Talisman - 1990 Genesis - 1993 Humanimal Part II - 1994 Humanimal - 1994 Five out of Five (Live in Japan) - 1994 Life - 1995 Best of... (Compilation, different from above) - 1996 BESTerious (Compilation) - 1996 Truth - 1998 Live at the SRF 2001 - 2001 Cats and Dogs - 2003 Five Men Live - 2005 7 - 2006
Singles: "Just Between Us" (1990) "I'll be Waiting" (Sweden, 1990) "Mysterious (This Time is Serious)" (1993) "Time after Time" (1993) "Doing Time With My Baby" (1994) "Colour My XTC" (1994) "All + All" (1994) "Frozen" (1995) "Crazy" (1998) [edit] W.E.T.
Albums: W.E.T. - 2009
Singles: One Love (2009) Comes Down Like Rain (2009) Brothers In Arms (2009) [edit] Trans-Siberian Orchestra Night Castle - 2009 [edit] Takara Eternal Faith - 1993 Takara - Taste of Heaven - 1995 Eternity: Best of 93 - 98 (Compilation) - 1998 Blind in Paradise - 1998 [edit] Human Clay Human Clay - 1996 u4ia- 1997 Closing the Book on Human Clay - 2003 [edit] Axel Rudi Pell
Albums: Eternal Prisoner - 1992 The Ballads - 1993 Between The Walls - 1994 Made In Germany (Live) - 1995 Black Moon Pyramid - 1996 Magic - 1997
Singles: "Forever Young" (1994) "Cry Of The Gypsy" (1994) [edit] Humanimal Humanimal - 2002 Find My Way Home E.P. - 2002 [edit] Yngwie Malmsteen
Albums: Rising Force - 1984 Marching Out - 1985 Inspiration - 1996
Singles: "Studio/Live '85" (1985) "I am a Viking" (Japan, 1985) "Carry On Wayward Son" (Japan, 1996) [edit] Eyes
Albums: Eyes - 1990 Windows Of The Soul - 1993
Singles: "Calling All Girls" - 1990 "Nobody Said It Was Easy" - 1990 [edit] Others lead vocals Threashold - Threashold - 1983 Panther - Panther - 1986 Dragonne - On Dragons Wings - 1988 Kuni - Lookin' For Action - 1988 Kryst the Conqueror - Deliver Us From Evil (Credited as Kryst the Conqueror) - 1989 Alex Masi - Attack Of The Neon Shark - 1989 Skrapp Mettle - Sensitive - 1991 Biker Mice From Mars - Original Soundtrack - 1993 Da Black Side Brown - Da Black Side Brown - 1994 Gary Schutt - Sentimetal - 1994 Hollywood Underground - Hollywood Underground - 1996 The Boogie Knights - Welcome To The Jungle Boogie - 1997 Steel Dragon - Rock Star soundtrack - 2001 Ken Tamplin And Friends - Wake The Nations - 2003 Chris Catena - Freak Out! - 2003 Christian Rivel's Audiovision - The Calling - 2003 Laudamus - Lost In Vain - 2003 Edge of Forever - Feeding The Fire - 2004 Soul Sirkus - World Play - 2005 Redlist - Ignorance - 2007 Jorge Salán - Chronicles of an Evolution - 2007 Tempestt - Bring'em on - 2007 Danger Angel - Danger Angel - 2010 [edit] Others background vocals House Of Lords - House Of Lords - 1988 Glass Tiger - Simple Mission - 1990 Stryper - Against the Law - 1990 Stryper - Can't Stop the Rock - 1991 Saigon Kick - Saigon Kick - 1991 Lita Ford - Dangerous Curves - 1991 McQueen Street - McQueen Street - 1991 Randy Jackson's China Red - Bed of Nails - 1992 Steelheart - Tangled in Reins - 1992 Babylon AD - Nothing Sacred - 1992 Lita Ford - Black - 1992 Mitch Malloy - Mitch Malloy - 1992 Slaughter - The Wild Life - 1992 Pariah - To Mock A Killingbird - 1993 Thomas Vikstrom - If I Could Fly - 1993 Monster - Through The Eyes Of The World - 1995 Amalgan - Delicate Stretch of The Seems - 1997 Paul Gilbert - Alligator Farm - 1997 Fergie Frederiksen - Equilibrium - 1999 Neil Turbin - Threatcon Delta - 2003 Takara - Invitation to Forever - 2008 Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again - 2008 Mad Max - Here We Are - 2008 [edit] Notes
