"One of the best groups of all-time was also amazing in concert."
"Timeless music from a great band."
"Beautiful harmonies."
"Clean, honest music beyond all pretense."
"One of the greatest rock bands in history."
"I have always loved America for their purity, clarity, feeling and harmony."
"One of my all-time favorites groups. Amazing."
"America's music is so relaxing. I love them."
"Music that touches the soul."
"There's something magical about their music."
When their fathers were stationed at the United States Air Force base near London in the mid-1960's, Gerry Beckley (born September 12, 1952 in Fort Worth, Texas), Dewey Bunnell (b. January 19, 1951 in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England) and Dan Peek (b. November 1, 1950 in Panama City, Florida) went to Central High School in Watford, England (north of London) and met while they played in two different bands.
By the time they met, Gerry had already taught piano and guitar and Dan had been playing piano since age seven and the guitar by age 12. While living in Texas, Peek and his brother formed a band and received an offer from a small label in the state. The Peeks moved again before the recording date. Dan thought he had missed his chance.
While at Central High, Dan's group won a battle of the bands contest, but when it broke up, Gerry asked Dan to join his group, Daze.
In 1969, Peek graduated and returned to the United States to enroll at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia as an English and Business major. Dewey took Peek's place in Daze, but the arrangement did not work out, and the three lost touch with one another.
Peek dropped out of school and returned to England and located Bunnell. Both found work at a snack bar and became friends again. One day, Dewey took out his guitar and played songs he had been writing. Peek was impressed with Dewey's songwriting ability and guitar playing.
Buckley at this time was playing in a group called Swallow The Buffalo. Peek contacted him and played with Gerry in a few demo sessions. But Dan was frustrated at the lack of success and got down on his knees to make a bargain with God. "I told Him," Dan later said, "that if He would make me successful and famous in music that I would use that as a platform to tell people about God."
The three musicians gathered around a kitchen table and began working on the songs that they had written. They often practiced those songs in the back of Dewey's car. Soon, they met Ian Samwell, the former lead guitarist for Cliff Richard who was now working as a talent scout for Warner Brothers Records. Samwell was making inroads in his new job, having signed Rod Stewart and the Faces.
When someone told Samwell about a group called Swallow The Buffalo, Samwell went to hear the group's music. He wasn't interested in the group, but Ian asked about the guitar solo in one of their songs. The group told Samwell that the guitarist was Gerry Beckley, who was already in a group with a couple of friends.
Samwell invited Beckley, Bunnell and Peek to a house he shared with Jeff Dexter and Linda Lewis. The trio played their songs and, while Samwell liked what he heard, he knew the group needed live experience. Dexter agreed to become their manager and arrange some gigs in local clubs.
America recorded their debut album at Trident Studios in London with Samwell and Dexter producing the project. Samwell wanted to capture the rich acoustic sound that he first heard from them. But Samwell later said that the group came into their first session with different ideas:
Their idea at the time was to do something more like 'Sgt. Pepper' (the Beatles famous 1967 album). They were very creative. They had tons of ideas. I said, 'It's not a good thing for you to be doing this. You won't be able to support it on stage. I love what you're doing just the way it is. We'll enhance it a little bit with the odd thing here and there, and of course the sound quality will be good. But if you start bringing in piccolo trumpets and anything else that George Martin might have done for 'Sgt. Pepper', then you're just not going to be able to live up to it on stage. And in any case, you're magic the way it is.' Eventually they all agreed to that. I think they were a bit disappointed at the time.
Dexter brought them to the Netherlands to hone their sound. America released their self-titled album in 1971, and it did well in the Netherlands but little everywhere else. The clubs in the London area loved the music but the album did not sell.
Dexter and Samwell brought the group to Morgan Studios to record more songs to replace weaker ones on the album. One of these was Bunnell's "Desert Song", his reminesces of his life in California, a feeling the other members shared which ultimately influenced their decision to move there. The group debuted the song at the Harrogate Festival four days later and, when the audience loved it, America opted to include it on the refurbished album. However, they were told that they couldn't use it as a title because it was the title of an old musical. So, they renamed it "A Horse With No Name".
The song was added to the album and released as a single. Not expecting anything, the group already set upon recording a second album and hoping to achieve a sound closer to their original intentions instead of another acoustical album. They started performing some of the songs live. While Samwell prepared to produce the album, "A Horse With No Name" exploded into a huge hit and the project was put on the back burner.
"Timeless music from a great band."
"Beautiful harmonies."
"Clean, honest music beyond all pretense."
"One of the greatest rock bands in history."
"I have always loved America for their purity, clarity, feeling and harmony."
"One of my all-time favorites groups. Amazing."
"America's music is so relaxing. I love them."
"Music that touches the soul."
"There's something magical about their music."
By the time they met, Gerry had already taught piano and guitar and Dan had been playing piano since age seven and the guitar by age 12. While living in Texas, Peek and his brother formed a band and received an offer from a small label in the state. The Peeks moved again before the recording date. Dan thought he had missed his chance.
While at Central High, Dan's group won a battle of the bands contest, but when it broke up, Gerry asked Dan to join his group, Daze.
In 1969, Peek graduated and returned to the United States to enroll at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia as an English and Business major. Dewey took Peek's place in Daze, but the arrangement did not work out, and the three lost touch with one another.
Peek dropped out of school and returned to England and located Bunnell. Both found work at a snack bar and became friends again. One day, Dewey took out his guitar and played songs he had been writing. Peek was impressed with Dewey's songwriting ability and guitar playing.
Buckley at this time was playing in a group called Swallow The Buffalo. Peek contacted him and played with Gerry in a few demo sessions. But Dan was frustrated at the lack of success and got down on his knees to make a bargain with God. "I told Him," Dan later said, "that if He would make me successful and famous in music that I would use that as a platform to tell people about God."
The three musicians gathered around a kitchen table and began working on the songs that they had written. They often practiced those songs in the back of Dewey's car. Soon, they met Ian Samwell, the former lead guitarist for Cliff Richard who was now working as a talent scout for Warner Brothers Records. Samwell was making inroads in his new job, having signed Rod Stewart and the Faces.
When someone told Samwell about a group called Swallow The Buffalo, Samwell went to hear the group's music. He wasn't interested in the group, but Ian asked about the guitar solo in one of their songs. The group told Samwell that the guitarist was Gerry Beckley, who was already in a group with a couple of friends.
Samwell invited Beckley, Bunnell and Peek to a house he shared with Jeff Dexter and Linda Lewis. The trio played their songs and, while Samwell liked what he heard, he knew the group needed live experience. Dexter agreed to become their manager and arrange some gigs in local clubs.
The trio named themselves America because they did not want anyone to think that they were British musicians trying to sound like an American group. They played at the Roundhouse and other London locations, while Samwell arranged for America to record some demos at Warner Brothers. The brass at Warner Brothers initially was reticent, but after Samwell offered to produce them, they agreed to sign the trio to a recording contract. Dexter secured them a show opening for Elton John and the Who at the Roundhouse on December 20, 1970 for a charity event.
Their idea at the time was to do something more like 'Sgt. Pepper' (the Beatles famous 1967 album). They were very creative. They had tons of ideas. I said, 'It's not a good thing for you to be doing this. You won't be able to support it on stage. I love what you're doing just the way it is. We'll enhance it a little bit with the odd thing here and there, and of course the sound quality will be good. But if you start bringing in piccolo trumpets and anything else that George Martin might have done for 'Sgt. Pepper', then you're just not going to be able to live up to it on stage. And in any case, you're magic the way it is.' Eventually they all agreed to that. I think they were a bit disappointed at the time.
Dexter brought them to the Netherlands to hone their sound. America released their self-titled album in 1971, and it did well in the Netherlands but little everywhere else. The clubs in the London area loved the music but the album did not sell.
Dexter and Samwell brought the group to Morgan Studios to record more songs to replace weaker ones on the album. One of these was Bunnell's "Desert Song", his reminesces of his life in California, a feeling the other members shared which ultimately influenced their decision to move there. The group debuted the song at the Harrogate Festival four days later and, when the audience loved it, America opted to include it on the refurbished album. However, they were told that they couldn't use it as a title because it was the title of an old musical. So, they renamed it "A Horse With No Name".
The song was added to the album and released as a single. Not expecting anything, the group already set upon recording a second album and hoping to achieve a sound closer to their original intentions instead of another acoustical album. They started performing some of the songs live. While Samwell prepared to produce the album, "A Horse With No Name" exploded into a huge hit and the project was put on the back burner.
The single became one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*. A million seller, "A Horse With No Name" rode to #1 for three weeks in the U.S. and also reached #1 in Canada, #2 in Australia and #3 in the United Kingdom.
The debut album was re-released on the back of the single's success. Dexter booked the group in smaller clubs such as the Bitter End in Manhattan, New York and the Troubador in Los Angeles, so fans could see them up close and hear the music, "rather than have it blasted at them over a million watt PA," as Mark Plummer of the magazine Melody Maker explained at the time.
An early review noted,
[These] dudes really play some pretty fine acoustic music with lotsa twelve-string and some real lush 'n tasty steel, and the amazing thing is that it doesn't sound phony or over-produced. And then there's their harmonies -- Jesus, they're downright gorgeous.
If you own an original copy of the 11-track album released in 1971 prior to the changes, it fetches a pretty hefty price. "A Horse With No Name" helped carry the album to #1 on the Album chart for five weeks and to Platinum status. America's sound fit perfectly with the soft sound popular during the early '70s. "I Need You" also landed in the Top 10.
The debut album was re-released on the back of the single's success. Dexter booked the group in smaller clubs such as the Bitter End in Manhattan, New York and the Troubador in Los Angeles, so fans could see them up close and hear the music, "rather than have it blasted at them over a million watt PA," as Mark Plummer of the magazine Melody Maker explained at the time.
An early review noted,
[These] dudes really play some pretty fine acoustic music with lotsa twelve-string and some real lush 'n tasty steel, and the amazing thing is that it doesn't sound phony or over-produced. And then there's their harmonies -- Jesus, they're downright gorgeous.
Although never released as a single "Sandman" became one of the trio's most popular songs. America won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Music executives soon joined the public in appreciating the America sound. Elliott Roberts and David Geffen approached the group. By this time, Geffen had artists such as the Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Joni Mitchell in his stable, and the band was taken with the fact that a person of Geffen's caliber wanted them.
America did not have a formal management contract with Dexter, and they later said that in hindsight, it was an unprofessional thing for them to do. But the band bolted to Los Angeles, where they produced their second album themselves. An angry Dexter and Samwell flew to L.A. and hashed out the financial details of the change with Geffen.
America did not have a formal management contract with Dexter, and they later said that in hindsight, it was an unprofessional thing for them to do. But the band bolted to Los Angeles, where they produced their second album themselves. An angry Dexter and Samwell flew to L.A. and hashed out the financial details of the change with Geffen.
America moved to more of a Rock sound and brought in legendary session drummer Hal Blaine and bassist Joe Osborn. For live performances, the trio added Dave Atwood (who played on their debut album) on drums and bassist Dave Dickey. In 1972, America released the album Homecoming, a word which reflected the feelings of returning to the United States after being away for so long. "Ventura Highway", written in England before the group became successful, raced to #3 on the Adult chart and #8 overall in the United States and #5 in Canada.
Homecoming also went Platinum. Bunnell to this point had written most of America's songs, but one of Peek's songs, "Don't Cross The River", was released next. It features the banjo playing of America's photographer, Henry Diltz, who had also played for the Doors, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Buffalo Springfield. Although it stalled at #35, "Don't Cross The River" is another solid song.
In 1973, Willie Leacox replaced Atwood and America released the album Hat Trick. The album didn't sell as well, with "Only In Your Heart" stopping at #62.
The album also contained "Muskrat Love", which the Captain & Tennille later took to the Top 10 in 1976.
Looking for answers, the group turned to famous producer George Martin (second from right, above, with the group), who had earlier worked magic with the Beatles. The trio also recruited engineer Geoff Emerick, who also played a key role in the success of that group. Armed with this team, America recorded their next album in London and Montserrat in the Caribbean.
Martin brought in strings and bass to compliment what he saw as the best thing the group had going for them, great harmonies and an acoustic sound. The 1974 album Holiday returned America to the forefront. "Tin Man", loosely based on the character from the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, leaped to #4 on the Popular chart and #1 Adult.
"Lonely People" also landed in the Top 10.
The group toured Europe and North America before releasing the album Hearts, also produced by Martin, in 1975. "Sister Golden Hair" became another #1 smash and both Holiday and Hearts went Gold.
"Daisy Jane", although it peaked at #20 on the Popular chart, rose to #4 among Adults.
The group released the album History: America's Greatest Hits later in the year. The compilation has gone over four million in sales.
In 1976, America recorded the album Hideaway. Although it was a quality album, the band's popularity began to wane. As Martin had added for complexity in the studio for their albums, the group added Jim Calire on keyboards and sax and Tom Walsh on percussion. "Today's The Day" climbed to #1 on the Adult chart.
America traveled to Hawai'i i to begin work on their next album Harbor, which was released in 1977. It was the first album by the group that was not certified Gold.
Peek left in 1977 and briefly began a solo career in Christian music. Beckley and Bunnell opted to continue America as a duo. They covered the Mamas & the Papas classic "California Dreamin'" for the 1979 movie of the same name.
The duo brought in Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles and Steve Lukather from Toto for their next studio album Alibi, released in 1980. America then scored a comeback with their album View from the Ground. Beckley and Bunnell recruited Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Jeff Porcaro from Toto and Christopher Cross. Guitarist Russ Ballard played all of the instruments, sang backing vocals and produced the song "You Can Do Magic", a #5 Adult Contemporary and #8 Popular hit.
America stuck with Ballard for the album Your Move, and once again, he sang and performed most of the instruments as well as produced the album.
Hit singles were now escaping them, so America turned to live performances, appearing over 100 times a year throughout the world. In 1994, America signed with Gramaphone Records and released their first studio album in a decade, Hourglass. It too was not successful.
The 2007 album Here & Now was recorded with a new generation of artists who credit the band as an influence.
In 2006, the tremendous harmonies of America were recognized when the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Peek died in 2011, just before America received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
America enjoyed 17 career hits, with seven Top 10 songs and two #1's. The group has sold an estimated 15 million albums. They have scored 21 hits on the Adult chart, with nine reaching the Top 10 and two #1 songs.
America traveled to Hawai'i i to begin work on their next album Harbor, which was released in 1977. It was the first album by the group that was not certified Gold.
America signed with Capitol Records and released the album Silent Letter in 1979. Calire and Walsh were dropped from the live lineup, while bassist Bryan Garafalo replaced Dickey in 1980 and Bradley Palmer took over from him the next year.
America stuck with Ballard for the album Your Move, and once again, he sang and performed most of the instruments as well as produced the album.
The 2007 album Here & Now was recorded with a new generation of artists who credit the band as an influence.
In 2006, the tremendous harmonies of America were recognized when the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Peek died in 2011, just before America received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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