America

America is a rustic-folk/pop combo, formed in 1968 in Watford, Hertfordshire, by American musicians.

Members: Gerry Beckley (guitar, bass, piano, vocals), Dewey Bunnell (guitar, vocals), Dan Peek (guitar, bass, piano, vocals, 1968-77)

During the mid-1960s, American teenagers Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek met at London Central High School at Bushey Hall. All three were the sons of US servicemen stationed at the RAF South Ruislip Air Force base near London. While at high school, the boys played in two separate bands.

In 1969, after Peek returned from an abortive stateside college stint, the three formed a band. Their spectrum harmonies and acoustic interplay was heavily influenced by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. They chose the name America to emphasize that, despite their headquarters, they were a genuine American band and not merely an English band trying to sound American. Some of their earliest gigs took place at London’s legendary Roundhouse club.

America soon caught the attention of producer Ian Samwell, a one-time musician and songwriter responsible for some of Cliff Richard‘s earliest hits. His business partner, DJ Jeff Dexter, became the band’s manager. Dexter secured their breakthrough show at the Roundhouse event Implosion, where they opened for The Who, Elton John, and Patto. Signed to Warner Bros., America spent March 1971 at Trident and Morgan Studios in London recording their first album with Samwell at the console.

Discography:

• America (1971)
• Homecoming (1972)
• Hat Trick (1973)
• Holiday (1974)
• Hearts (1975)
• Hideaway (1976)
• Harbor (1977)
• Silent Letter (1979)
• Alibi (1980)
• The Last Unicorn (OST, 1982)
• View From the Ground (1982)
• Your Move (1983)
• Perspective (1984)

Sources:

• Discogs: America