Wednesday, September 5, 2001
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Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
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America brings classic sounds to the Fred
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
If you were in a rock 'n' roll band, you would expect to have hundreds of different experiences throughout your career. For the members of America, which will perform at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater this Friday and Saturday, they have had a long, strange trip that continues to provide them with new and interesting experiences. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell began performing together as teenagers in 1968. In 1970 while living in England with their fathers who were both U.S. military officers, they recorded the song "A Horse With No Name" with Dan Peek. The song began to climb the charts and within two years the band was proclaimed Best New Artists at the Grammy Awards. The hits kept coming for the band. Songs like "Ventura Highway," "I Need You," "Sister Golden Hair" and "Tin Man" became staples on the radio and landed on the pop charts. Peek left the band in 1977, later establishing himself as a successful gospel artist, and five years later America had another big hit with "You Can Do Magic." America never altered its musical style, though many bands experimented with disco and country sounds in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "We stay very true to form," said Beckley. "America's music has always been acoustic, lyrical, harmonious and accessible. Nothing way to the left or way to the right." The band recently recorded its 18th album, "Hourglass." It was the first time that Bunnell and Beckley wrote songs together. Many of their older songs were written by one or the other. Another collaborator on the new album is Bill Mumy, the former child star on the television series "Lost In Space," who co-wrote the track "Sleeper Train" with Bunnell. Beckley has also done voice work with Timothy Schmidt, formerly of the Eagles, and recording artist Andrew Gold, who sang the theme song to the television series "The Golden Girls." That trio provided the singing voices for a doo-wop band in the film "Cry Baby" and provided the voices of The Chipmunks on several albums. Beckley played "Theodore." Both Beckley and Bunnell are involved in several political and health causes and both enjoy recording and touring. Recently, America toured with The Beach Boys and Beckley brought his 14-year-old son, Matthew, on tour with him. At the end of the show, Matthew would grab his guitar and join both bands on stage for the big finale. America will perform at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8. There are standing-room-only tickets available for both nights. The tickets cost $35 and go on sale at 6:30 p.m. Call 770-631-0630.
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