At just 17, Neal Schon joined Santana and played on their third album, Santana III, in 1971. On the band’s 1972 follow-up, Caravanserai, Schon also co-wrote “Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation” and “Song of the Wind” before joining former Santana percussionists, the Escovedo brothers (Pete and Coke), in the band Azteca.
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During the 1970s, Schon, born Feb. 27, 1954, also appeared on the late funk icon Betty Davis‘ eponymous debut in 1973, the same year he co-founded Journey.
Always fixed within Journey, and through the band’s 15 albums, Schon has also worked with a collection of other artists throughout his more than 50-year career. Along with Journey bandmate, keyboardist, and songwriter Jonathan Cain, Schon formed Bad English in the late ’80s and the two co-wrote several tracks on the band’s 1989 debut and several more on the follow-up, Backlash, in 1991.
[RELATED: Neal Schon Finds Artistic Freedom On New Journey Album]
By the late ’90, Schon switched tunes and worked with Paul Rodgers on Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix tribute albums, before co-penning “Saving Grace” for Rodgers’ third solo album, Now, in 1997. Throughout the decades, Schon has also collaborated and recorded with Joe Cocker, former Santana bandmate Gregg Rolie, Michael Bolton, Carmine Appice, and Beth Hart, among many others. In 2022, the guitarist also co-wrote the song “Desert Moon” for Journey frontman Steve Augeri’s album, Seven Ways ’til Sunday.
Here’s a look at three songs Schon co-wrote for other artists in the 1980s and ’90s
1. “Just One Night,” Eric Martin (1985)
Written by Neal Schon, Eric Martin, Tony Fanucchi
Years before Mr. Big released their eponymous debut in 1989, singer Eric Martin had already released an album with his Eric Martin Band, featuring Schon, along with two solo albums. On his 1985 self-titled debut, Schon helped co-write two tracks with Martin and Tony Fanucchi called “Eyes of the World” and the closing pop-rock ballad “Just One Night.”
In 2012, Schon worked with Martin again on his 10th album, Mr. Rock Vocalist, and co-wrote bonus tracks “Breakout” and “The Heart of the Champion.”.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like
Just you and me, baby, nothin’ else
We meet again, both of us by circumstance
Stay with me
We might never get this chance to
Hold on to love
Just one night
Don’t try to fight about it
Take me, I’m yours for just one night
2. “The Love,” Sammy Hagar (1999)
Written by Neal Schon, Sammy Hagar, Larry Dvoskin
Schon first appeared on Sammy Hagar‘s fifth solo album, Danger Zone, in 1980 and later reconnected with him for his 11th album, Red Voodoo, co-writing the rock ballad “The Love.”
Shortly before Hagar formed his side band, Chickenfoot with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and former Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony in the late 2000s, he released Cosmic Universal Fashion, which also features two more songs co-written by Schon—”Psycho Vertigo” and “Peephole.”
Every face I see reminds me of you
Nothing I can touch feels the way you do
Knowing you are mine is the best thing in my life
Baby, I’m alive completely
This is the love, this is the love
This is the love, the love you’ve always dreamed of
This is the love, the hand that fills your cup
The wings that lift you up, so high, so close
Two can be as one, this is the love
This is the love
3. “Temptation Is a Gun,” The Allman Brothers Band (1994)
Written by Neal Schon, Gregg Allman, Jonathan Cain
On the Allman Brothers Band‘s 11th album, Where It All Begins, Schon and Jonathan Cain co-wrote the closing track “Temptation Is a Gun.” Produced by Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Eagles), the album features the 1992 through 1997 lineup of the band with Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, Allen Woody, Butch Trucks, Marc Quiñones, and Jaimoe.
Though he promised to be faithful
He was good at telling lies
He had an eye for young girls
He would steal some on the side
Oh no, he just could not be satisfied
It’s a game of all or nothing
There is nowhere safe to run
Someone might just pull the trigger
Cause temptation is a gun
Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for Journey
