Born on this day in 1949, Ross Lamont Valory, the American musician best known as the bass player for Journey from 1973 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2020, turns 75. Valory has played on all of Journey's albums to date. He co-wrote more than a dozen Journey songs, including "Anytime" and "Just the Same Way." Things have not gone well for Valory and the band in recent years. In March of 2020, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain filed a lawsuit against Valory and drummer Steven Smith, alleging the two attempted a "coup" in order to gain control of the “Journey” trademark and were seeking damages in excess of $10 million. They also expelled Smith and Valory from the band. Valory then countersued for breach of contract and emotional distress, seeking "past and future compensatory damages," while also asking a judge to decide who had the right to the band name. Journey then revealed in May of 2020: they had reunited with former bassist Randy Jackson and they made a more generous settlement offer to Valory. No word as to whether he's accepted. On a happier note, Valory was inducted into the Rock Hall with Journey in 2017.
In his honor, check out this sweet Ross Valory bass solo from 1980, above.