Dan Peek, 1950 - 2011

Dan Peek, a cofounder of soft-rock hitmakers America, passed away on Sunday at his home in Missouri. He was 60. A singer and lead guitarist for America, he penned such hits as “Lonely People” before leaving the band to go solo in 1977.

Peek got his musical talent from his mother’s side of the family, but it was his father’s military career that brought him to America. While his dad was stationed in England, Dan attended London Central High School for children of U.S. servicemen. It was there that he met fellow students Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. The three hit it off and decided to form a musical group together.

Powered by the lilting No. 1 single “A Horse With No Name,” America’s debut album was a smash, and the success continued for years with such songs as “Tin Man,” “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair.” But if things looked golden from the outside, the pressure of feeding the hit machine took its toll on Peek, and in 1977 he left the group for a solo career.

With 1979’s All Things Are Possible, Dan took up contemporary Christian music, scoring a crossover hit with the title track to that album. He’d remained friendly with his old America partners, who contributed background vocals to the LP. Over the next couple of decades, Peek released several additional Christian albums, as well as an autobiography about his years in America and his spiritual transformation.

“I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Dan's passing,” said Gerry Beckley. “He was a dear friend for many years. Dan & his music will live on in the great songs he shared with us all.” Dewey Bunnell noted, “We created lasting music together and experienced a life that we could never have imagined. Dan was an equal and integral part of that early history, and I have never forgotten the good times we spent making that music and learning about life together.”