2021 marks the 51st Anniversary of perennial classic-rock favorite, AMERICA. Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” AMERICA became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first #1 single. Fifty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound.
AMERICA’s journey has found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, which include “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair” were cornerstones of 1970’s Top 40 and FM rock radio. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners would discover there was always much more to AMERICA than surface perceptions. The combination of Gerry Beckley’s melodic pop rock and Dewey Bunnell’s use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Dan Peek’s more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.
Enjoying massive success early in their career, AMERICA earned their stripes as musical soldiers on the battlefield amidst the excess, craziness and chaos of the 70’s. The trio won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1972 and began working with George Martin and Geoff Emerick in 1974. This successful team went on to record seven albums and several Top Ten hits, including “Tin Man,” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Lonely People.”
AMERICA’s albums include six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, History, hitting four plus million in sales. 2020 marked the 50th Anniversary of AMERICA which was celebrated with the release of the ultimate 8-disc Anniversary Box Set.
More information on AMERICA can be found at https://venturahighway.com/.
