Dan Peek, founding member of band America...Dead

[Deberg_1990]

http://news.yahoo.com/dan-peek-found...194533388.html


..ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dan Peek, a founding member of the popular 1970s band America and singer of high harmonies on hits that included "A Horse With No Name" and "Ventura Highway," has died, his father said Tuesday. He was 60.

Peek's wife, Catherine, found him dead Sunday in bed in his home in Farmington, Mo., about 60 miles southwest of St. Louis, Milton Peek said. The cause of death was not known, and an autopsy was planned. Dan Peek suffered from arthritis, but it wasn't known if that was a contributing factor.

Peek, whose father was in the U.S. Air Force, had met the two other members of America — Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley — while attending high school in London. After signing a record contract, America was an almost instant sensation with songs featuring tight harmonies over catchy tunes. All told, America had three platinum and three gold albums, along with eight Top 40 hits, from 1971 through 1975.

"It was a joyous time for the three of us, full of excitement and laughter," Bunnell wrote on the band's website after learning of Peek's death. "We created lasting music together and experienced a life that we could never have imagined."

The group's first album in 1971 included the No. 1 hit "Horse With No Name." Other hits followed: "Tin Man," ''Sister Golden Hair," and "Daisy Jane," among them. Peek played lead guitar on many of the songs, and wrote some of them, including the 1974 hit "Lonely People."

"Dan & his music will live on in the great songs he shared with us all," Beckley wrote on the group's website.

Peek had lived in Farmington since 1978, soon after he left the band. He also had a home in the Cayman Islands.

Peek was born Nov. 1, 1950, in Panama City, Fla. His father was in the Air Force and the family frequently moved. He met Bunnell and Beckley in the late 1960s.

"The three of them were Air Force brats," Milton Peek said.

In the late 1970s, Peek became disenchanted with the travel and lifestyle. "He was a Christian and he just got tired of the rat race," his father said.

He left America in 1977 and turned to Contemporary Christian music. His first solo album in 1979, "All Things Are Possible," reached No. 1 on the Contemporary Christian Music chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Beckley and Bunnell sang harmonies on the song, "Love Was Just Another Word." It marked the last time the three recorded together, according to Billboard, though they occasionally reunited on stage.

A fire in 1978 burned Peek's home and belongings in California. He moved to Farmington, an area where his father was once stationed, that same year.

Milton Peek said his son continued to write songs and record in the studio in his Farmington home until his death. He also operated a website and wrote a memoir, "An American Band: The America Story." Just last month he signed copies of the book at a Christian bookstore in Farmington.

Peek and his wife had no children. His funeral will be Monday at the Presbyterian Church in Farmington.

[Nzoner]

Will always love the lyrics to Sandman...R.I.P. Dan

[cdcox]

America was my wife's favorite band growing up. Some good music came out of that band, RIP.

[BigChiefFan]

They sure don't make music like this today. RIP.

[LiveSteam]

Now Im bummed out for the day

[vailpass]

In the desert you can remember your name
cause there aint no one for to give you no pain

[tooge]

Man, bummer. RIP. My Americas Greatest Hits CD is played at every campfire, canoe trip, etc. I'm heading to the White river this weekend. I'm sure we'll toast one or ten to him for all the great tunes.

[RockChalk]

RIP Dan.

Grew up listening to America mainly because my parents did.

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Will always love the lyrics to Sandman...R.I.P. Dan

One of those strange, haunting songs that stay with you...

RIP Dan...America was certainly a part of the soundtrack of my youth...

[cardken]

"Sister Golden Hair" still one of my all time favorite songs. Good music , RIP.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Will always love the lyrics to Sandman...R.I.P. Dan

Memories from years ago in what feels like another life. Before marriage, children and responsibility there was a time when summers seemed to ignored the calendar and last forever. In my minds eye I see my friends and I under the stars, drinking ice cold beer and smoking quality weed with a 8-track blasting in the background. Way out in the sticks sitting around a bonfire with not a care in the world except the music and the pretty girl I was holding on to. This band was part of that sound track~

[Red Beans]

Originally Posted by RedNeckRaider

Memories from years ago in what feels like another life. Before marriage, children and responsibility there was a time when summers seemed to ignored the calendar and last forever. In my minds eye I see my friends and I under the stars, drinking ice cold beer and smoking quality weed with a 8-track blasting in the background. Way out in the sticks sitting around a bond fire with not a care in the world except the music and the pretty girl I was holding on to. This band was part of that sound track~

A Bond Fire?

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Red Beans

A Bond Fire?

hey, he said it was quality weed.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Red Beans

A Bond Fire?

I looked it up I guess it is a bonfire..****ing blow me~

[bogey]

In the summers, mid 70's, workin' in the hay fields. We had a cassett player in the trucks glove compartment. We mounted speakers under the headache and bed of the truck. Sunrise to sunset (and beyond) bucking and stacking listening to America, Eagles, Simon and Garfunkle, Neal Diamond, Elton John and much much more great music. Miller Ponies and Kool Cigarettes. RIP Dan Peek, thanks for the memories.