What Is Jonathan Cain's Net Worth?
Jonathan Cain is an American musician, singer, and songwriter with a net worth of $40 million. Known for his time with Journey and Bad English, Jonathan has also thrived as a solo contemporary Christian artist. He wrote "Faithfully" and co-wrote hits like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," and "Who's Crying Now." Proficient with keyboards, rhythm guitar, and harmonica, he also contributes to lead and backing vocals for Journey.
Journey has released 15 studio albums, including the Diamond-certified "Escape" (1981) and 6× Platinum "Frontiers" (1983). "Don't Stop Believin'" was the 20th century's top-selling digital track and was preserved in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2022. Jonathan's solo albums include "Windy City Breakdown" (1977) and "More Like Jesus" (2019). His 2018 memoir "Don't Stop Believin': The Man, the Band, and the Song that Inspired Generations" was warmly received. In April 2017, Jonathan and Journey were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early Life
Jonathan Leonard Friga, known as Jonathan Cain, was born on February 26, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a deeply religious family with his mother Nancy, father Leonard, and younger brothers Harold and Thomas. Attending Our Lady of the Angels Catholic school, he survived the tragic 1958 fire that claimed the lives of three nuns and over 90 students, an event that shook his faith temporarily. Jonathan's father encouraged him to channel his emotions into music, and by age eight, he began taking accordion lessons. He later expanded his musical skills to include piano, bass, guitar, and harmonica, performing at clubs and events during his teenage years. He graduated from East Leyden High School in 1968 and continued his musical education at the Chicago Conservatory of Music.
Journey
Jonathan debuted with the 1976 album "Windy City Breakdown" under the Jonathan Cain Band, later joining the Babys in 1979. He transitioned to Journey in 1980, replacing Gregg Rolie on keyboards. His inaugural album with Journey, 1981's "Escape," went Diamond, featuring iconic tracks like "Don't Stop Believin'." Steve Perry fronted the band during its peak, and more recently, Arnel Pineda has taken the lead.
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Bad English
Jonathan co-wrote and produced the 1985 Jimmy Barnes hit "Working Class Man." In 1987, he formed Bad English with Babys members Ricky Phillips and John Waite, alongside Journey's Neal Schon and future Journey drummer Deen Castronovo. The band released their Platinum-certified self-titled album in 1989 and "Backlash" in 1991. Their 1989 single "When I See You Smile" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
More Journey
Journey took a break in 1987 but reunited in 1995. Since then, they've released albums like "Trial by Fire" (1996) and "Freedom" (2022). With over 80 million records sold, Journey remains a pivotal band, and Jonathan's piano solo has become a staple at their concerts.
Christian Music
Since 2016, Jonathan has been devoted to Christian music, collaborating with his Journey bandmate Neal Schon. He's performed at significant events like the National Day of Prayer and the NCAA Final Four. His solo works include the 2022 album "Arise." Jonathan hosts the "Anchored Podcast," discussing faith, family, and music. In 2020, he and Schon fired Journey members Ross Valory and Steve Smith, eventually reaching a legal settlement after a contentious legal battle.
Personal Life
Jonathan married Tané McClure, for whom he wrote "Faithfully," in 1980, but they divorced in 1984. He later married Elizabeth Yvette Fullerton in 1989, and they had three children, Madison, Weston, and Liza, before separating in 2014. In 2015, he married Paula White, a minister who served on the evangelical advisory board during the Trump administration. Jonathan leads worship at the City of Destiny church in Apopka, Florida, where Paula is the pastor. He has also supported charities like Make-A-Wish Foundation and Toys for Tots.
Awards and Nominations
In 1997, Jonathan co-wrote the Grammy-nominated Journey song "When You Love a Woman." He has received BMI songwriting awards for "Who's Crying Now" and "Open Arms," and in 2004, Journey earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
