Kevin Chalfant is an American singer-songwriter and a native of Streator, Illinois. He obtained a BMI award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, “I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love”‘, by The Storm.
Chalfant formed The Storm in 1990 with guitarist Josh Ramos and (former) Journey members Ross Valory (bass), Gregg Rolie (keys), and Steve Smith (drums). Journey, a multi-platinum band that was also no stranger to internal conflict, had undergone several personnel changes over the years. Original member and early vocalist/keyboardist Rolie had left Journey to pursue a solo career in 1980, and Valory and Smith had been “replaced” in the studio and on tour in 1986. Chalfant and Valory had dabbled in the studio with a side band called The Vu (pronounced “The View”) as the mega-band’s (Journey’s) turmoil simmered and its next step was considered. By 1989, Journey had splintered completely into a series of solo projects and side bands, and The Storm started brewing.
Released by Interscope Records in late 1991, The Storm hit the album charts and the band’s first single, “I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love” surged well into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Faring even better at Mainstream Rock radio, the single peaked at #6 on the national Billboard charts, and its follow-up, “Show Me The Way” went to #22. That spring, the band went on a major US tour in support of Bryan Adams, then at his commercial peak, and playing arenas, moving on to open for Peter Frampton, as well as several headlining dates.
When it came time to release the second Storm album in 1993, however, the band found their label, Interscope, entrenched in the burgeoning rap scene. The band’s second album, The Eye Of The Storm, did not find label release until 1996, and by then the winds powering The Storm had died out.
By 1993, Journey had been on a nearly seven-year hiatus, and the late-70s lineup was poised to regroup, minus singer Steve Perry, who was in the midst of working on a second solo album. Chalfant stepped in to tackle Perry’s parts for a live performance in October 1993 for a Herbie Herbert roast at Bimbo’s in San Francisco, with Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain. Chalfant proved to be a good fit and was invited to formally join the band. Chalfant then began writing material in 1994 with Rolie, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain in anticipation of a full album and tour. By 1995, however Steve Perry had returned for a brief, Grammy-nominated reunion of their early-80s lineup instead, leaving Chalfant suddenly on his own again.
In 2007, Chalfant released Fly2Freedom, a 13-track solo album covering his favorite Journey hits. The “fly” of the album’s title and its cover art are a humorously self-deprecating homage to the scarab that appeared in the cover art on many of Journey’s albums of the 1970s and 1980s. Freedom was the 1985 working title for Journey’s followup to their Frontiers album prior to the departure of Valory and Smith; it was ultimately released as Raised On Radio. Chalfant is quoted on the label’s website as saying, “The Journey love-laden sound has won the hearts of millions of fans world wide. I am proud to consider them personal friends and label them America’s Finest Rock Band.”
