bergenPAC to Present America, 6/2
The year 2015 marked the 45th 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. Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound.
Their best-known tunes, which also 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.
America's albums--six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, History, hitting four plus million in sales--displayed a fuller range of the trio's talents than did their singles. The trio won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1972.
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Disney's Newsies Vanguard Theater (6/11-6/28) |
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Almost Floyd Williams Center (7/11-7/11) |
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Oliver Algonquin Arts Theatre (10/25-10/25) |
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Golden Girls The Laughs Continue Count Basie Center for the Arts (10/11-10/11) |
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Married, Single, and a Baby Robert Shackleton Playhouse (9/27-9/27) |
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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert Count Basie Center for the Arts (2/26-2/26) |
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42nd Street Algonquin Arts Theatre (5/08-5/16) |
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America 250: Jersey City Style! Jazz and Salsa at Berry Lane Sat July 4th Winard Harper/Grupo K'ndela Berry Lane Park (7/04-7/04) |
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Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights State Theatre New Jersey (7/30-7/30) |
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High School Musical Sing Along! Dream Live at American Dream (8/23-8/23) |