America

America is a US folk and soft rock group formed in London in 1970 by Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley. The band begins as a trio of sons of US Air Force personnel who meet in London and perform together while based there. It remains active and its membership history includes David Dickey, Jimmy Calire, Brad Palmer, Willie Leacox and Bryan Garofalo, alongside the core names associated with the group.

Sound and early success

America develops a style built around close vocal harmonies and light acoustic folk rock, and becomes widely played on pop and soft rock radio in the 1970s. The group signs with Warner Bros. and releases its self-titled debut album in 1971. That record includes the transatlantic hits “A Horse with No Name” and “I Need You.”

Albums and singles

The band’s second album, Homecoming, follows in 1972 and includes “Ventura Highway.” Later albums include Hat Trick with “Muskrat Love,” Holiday with “Tin Man” and “Lonely People,” and Hearts with “Sister Golden Hair” and “Daisy Jane.” Their compilation History: America’s Greatest Hits is released in 1975 and achieves multi-platinum certification in the United States and Australia.

After Dan Peek leaves in 1977, the band’s commercial profile declines, though it returns to the US Top 10 in 1982 with “You Can Do Magic.” Its final Top 40 hit is “The Border” in 1983. America continues to record and tour, and the later album Here & Now appears in 2007 in collaboration with contemporary artists influenced by the group. Other studio albums listed include Hideaway, Harbor, Silent Letter, Alibi, View from the Ground, Your Move, Perspective, Hourglass, Human Nature, Holiday Harmony, Back Pages and Lost & Found.

Awards and recognition

America wins the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and receives a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Group at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards in 1973. The group is inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006 and receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

Recording labels and style

The band is associated with America Holdings, America Music and America Records, and its listed styles include AOR, folk pop, folk rock, pop rock, rock and soft rock.