Jeff Scott Soto is a prolific heavy metal/hard rock vocalist who has fronted a wide array of genre greats including Journey, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Talisman, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Born in Brooklyn, New York and residing in Los Angeles, California, Soto, who cites Sam Cooke, Steve Perry, and Freddie Mercury as influences, made his debut in the early '80s as the vocalist on Swedish guitar virtuoso Malmsteen's first two Rising Force LPs. In addition to his work with artists like Kryst the Conqueror, Steel Dragon (the fictional band from the 2001 musical comedy-drama film Rock Star), Joel Hoekstra, W.E.T., Brian May, Axel Rudi Pell, Takara, and others, Soto has released numerous solo albums, beginning with 1994's Love Parade. In early 2017 he joined up with keyboardist Derek Sherinian, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mike Portnoy, and guitarist Ron Bumblefoot Thal to form the progressive metal supergroup Sons of Apollo, who released their debut album, Psychotic Symphony, via Sony imprint Inside Out later that October. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi