Jeff Scott Soto Explained

Jeff Scott Soto
Birth Date:4 November 1965
Birth Place:Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Years Active:1983–present

Jeff Scott Soto (born November 4, 1965) is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent.[1] He is best known for being the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and the lead vocalist for Journey in 2006–07.

He sang lead vocals in the band Eyes as well as Sons of Apollo. He also had a long tenure as the front man of hard rock band Talisman. Currently he works as a solo artist, with his self-named band SOTO and as the vocalist of supergroups W.E.T. and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In 2020, Jeff joined forces with the band Art of Anarchy and their debut together drops in 2024. His style ranges from hard rock to power metal, being influenced by classic soul singers as Sam Cooke as well as Journey's Steve Perry, and Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Career

In 1982, after performing in several local cover bands, Soto recorded several songs as lead singer for the band Kanan. In 1984, Soto provided vocals for virtuoso guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's debut album Rising Force and his next album Marching Out a year later.

Soto has performed with a wide variety of bands, including Panther, Axel Rudi Pell, Eyes, Talisman, Takara, Humanimal, Human Clay, Kryst The Conqueror, Redlist, Dewa 19, The Boogie Knights, Soul SirkUS and Octavision. As a session musician, Soto also performed backing vocals for artists such as Lita Ford, Steelheart, Glass Tiger, House of Lords, Stryper, and Saigon Kick.

He 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.

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 then, Soto has joined Queen sideman Spike Edney's band, the Spike All Stars. Soto then appeared with Brian May and Roger Taylor at the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' bash for the Official International Queen Fan Club.[2]

In 2012, Taylor hired Soto as one of the four singers chosen for the official tribute band Queen Extravaganza. The band was formed via internet auditions and features Freddie Mercury soundalike Marc Martel. Soto and singer Yvan Pedneault were added to the lineup to augment the selected singers, in an effort to better emulate Queen songs live. However, Soto only did one tour with the group; they continued with a smaller production and line up.

Soto's solo album Damage Control was released on Frontiers Records in March 2012. His next venture was a band eponymously named SOTO, a new band where he could flex his muscles with a modern, Power Metal vibe. "Inside The Vertigo" was released on January 30, 2015, with earMUSIC. The album was co-written alongside Gus G, Mike Orlando and other members of his solo band at that time who were invited to the newly merged SOTO. In 2016, they released DIVAK on earMUSIC and embarked on a World Tour which included supporting Winery Dogs in May 2016 in South America. This support slot would serve as the chance for Winery Dogs drummer Mike Portnoy to 'scout' Soto for the venture that would become Sons of Apollo. SOTO recorded and released their third studio album 'Origami' in 2019 with new bassist Tony Dickinson, who replaced the recently deceased David Z, who died in 2017, as a touring member of Adrenaline Mob.

In 2015, Soto recorded vocals for Joel Hoekstra's 13, contributing to the album Dying to Live. Soto split vocal duties with Russell Allen on the album.[3] In 2018, SOTO recorded their third album Origami, released in May 2019.[4]

Soto released another solo album, Retribution in November 2017. In early 2020 he completed work on his 7th solo album as well as scheduled a live album for release in July. 2020 saw the release of 2 solo albums on Frontiers Records, "Jeff Scott Soto - Loud & Live In Milan 2019", recorded live at the annual Frontiers Rock Festival and "Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)" co-written and produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio. In 2021, he released an album titled "The Duets Collection - Volume 1" in which he re-recorded songs throughout his vast career as vocal duets with the likes of Eric Martin, Dino Jelusick, Russell Allen, Johnny Gioeli, Nathan James, Erik Martensson, and others on the Frontiers label. 2022 saw Soto release his seventh studio solo album "Complicated".

Talisman

Soto was one of the founding members of Talisman in 1989.[5] He was in the group up until their disbandment in 2007. Talisman regrouped in December 2019 to record a tribute track for bassist Marcel Jacob on the 10th anniversary of his death.[6]

Journey

In 2006, Soto replaced Steve Augeri in Journey after Augeri left the tour due to an acute throat infection. After months of being a tour replacement, Soto was officially hired as the band's singer in December 2006.[7] However, the stint was short-lived, as he was fired from the band on June 12, 2007.[8] Soto stated on his website "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."[9]

He later mentioned the gig did not work out because former vocalist Steve Perry was still alive and could hypothetically rejoin the band, hurting fan expectations of any replacement singers.[7] Although he was officially introduced as the lead singer of Journey, the band has not mentioned Soto in recent lookbacks and biographies, skipping over him entirely for his replacement Arnel Pineda.[7]

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Soto joined Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a touring singer in 2008.[10] Soto has continually toured with the group, stating "I will be a part of Trans-Siberian Orchestra as long as they'll have me."[4]

W.E.T.

Alongside members of Work Of Art and Eclipse, Soto founded W.E.T., named after the initials of well known works by the band's members, Soto's being Talisman. W.E.T. released a self-titled debut album in November 2009. Since then they have released three more studio albums Rise Up (2013), Earthrage (2018)[11] and Retransmission (2021).[12] W.E.T. also released a live album Live One – In Stockholm (2014),[13] however in interviews Soto has since said that W.E.T. never itends to tour and is primarily a studio project.[14]

Sons of Apollo

In May 2017, he joined a progressive metal supergroup named Sons of Apollo with Derek Sherinian, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.[15] Their debut album, Psychotic Symphony, was released October 20, 2017, with Inside Out/Sony.

After releasing a live DVD/album in 2019, 'Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony', Sons of Apollo released their second album MMXX in January 2020. They started the World Tour early 2020 but was interrupted 4 shows into their European tour by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Octavision

In 2020, alongside his Sons Of Apollo co-bandmate Billy Sheehan, Soto was invited by a Glendale, California based Armenian guitarist Hovak Alaverdyan to participate in his progressive metal project Octavision. There, Soto performed vocal duties on two tracks - "Coexist" and "Apocalyptus". The album titled Coexist was released on December 29, 2020.

Personal life

Soto was born in Brooklyn, New York, his family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child. He spent his youth singing, learning trumpet and keyboards.

In 2012, he married his long-term girlfriend, Elena. He has a son from a previous marriage, and two step-children.

Discography

Solo career

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

DVDs

with Rising Force

Singles

DVDs

with Kryst the Conqueror

with Eyes

Singles

with Talisman

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

DVDs

with Axel Rudi Pell

Singles

DVD / Blu-ray:

with Takara

with Human Clay

with Steel Dragon

with Humanimal

with Soul SirkUS

with Redlist

with W.E.T.

Singles

with Trans-Siberian Orchestra

with SOTO

with 13

with Sons of Apollo

with Art of Anarchy

with Ellefson-Soto

Guest appearances – lead vocals

Various Artists tributes albums

Guest appearances – backing vocals

Guest songwriting

As producer

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The unexpected Journey of Jeff Scott Soto . https://web.archive.org/web/20080918085941/http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s/2008/09/jeff-scott-soto.html . dead . September 18, 2008 . Blogs.tampabay.com . September 16, 2008 . August 24, 2011.
  2. Web site: The Genesis of Jeff Scott Soto . Jeffscottsoto.com . September 16, 2008 . August 24, 2011.
  3. Web site: Blabbermouth . WHITESNAKE/Ex-NIGHT RANGER Guitarist JOEL HOEKSTRA To Release JOEL HOEKSTRA'S 13 Debut 'Dying To Live'. July 29, 2015.
  4. Web site: JEFF SCOTT SOTO Says He Wanted Solo Band SOTO To Be 'Heavier' Than His Other Projects. June 9, 2019. BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  5. Web site: Talisman | Biography & History. AllMusic.com.
  6. Web site: TALISMAN Reunites For New Song In Memory Of MARCEL JACOB. December 20, 2019. BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  7. Web site: Jeff Scott Soto: Steve Perry's 'Ghost' Made Fronting Journey Hard. Martin. Kielty. Ultimate Classic Rock. June 26, 2019 .
  8. News: Journey's Song Gets a Bump From TV Once Again. Andrew Adam. Newman. The New York Times . June 18, 2007.
  9. Web site: JSS: The 'Journey' Forward . Jeffscottsoto.com . June 25, 2007 . August 24, 2011.
  10. Web site: JEFF SCOTT SOTO To Tour With TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. August 12, 2008. BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  11. News: W.E.T. Feat. Jeff Scot Soto: Audio Visualizer For 'Urgent' Song. February 5, 2018. Blabbermouth.
  12. News: W.E.T. Retransmission (Album Review). Sonic Perspectives. John Kokel. January 19, 2021.
  13. News: W.E.T: One Live – In Stockholm (2014). Olav Martin Bjørnsen. July 30, 2015 . House of Prog.
  14. News: Interview: Jeff Scott Soto – W.E.T.. January 20, 2021. Mark Diggins. The Rockpit.
  15. Web site: Munro. Scott. Supergroup Sons Of Apollo announce debut album. TeamRock.com. Future Publishing. August 1, 2017. August 1, 2017.
  16. Web site: Gus G. Official website . Gusgofficial.com . July 19, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170613000033/http://www.gusgofficial.com/home.html . June 13, 2017 .
  17. Web site: HighWay Official Website. www.highwayrocks.com.
  18. News: SleazeRoxx.com. Sleaze Roxx Website.
  19. Web site: ARJEN LUCASSEN Reveals Final Tracklisting And Musicians For New STAR ONE Album . . February 19, 2022 . January 17, 2022.

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