The Sam Chapman Talbot State Bank 2006 Summer Concert Series will kick off with the Grammy-Award winning band America to the Fayetteville Villages Amphitheater on Saturday, May 13. The 70’s rock band is best known for their number one hits “Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair” as well as Top 10 hits like “Ventura Highway” and “Lonely People.”

“We invite everyone to help us celebrate our fourth season at the Villages,” said Nancy Price, Main Street director. “Again this year, we offer a variety of both paid and free concerts, as well as family-friendly events such as our Free Family Fun Film Nights.”

America is the first of six concerts that will be showcased this summer at the Villages. In addition, several free concerts will be offered including the Atlanta Pops Big Band 40’s Radio Concert on May 27, the Swingin’ Medallions July 8 and God & Country Night on Sept. 10.

The members of America, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, met on a US Air force base in England, where their parents were stationed, and formed the trio in 1971. Playing acoustic music they decided to name the band after their homeland, America. Their first LP was produced by Ian "Sammy" Samwell, who was known for the hits he had written for Cliff Richard, with the assistance of Jeff Dexter.
The album was initially released in Europe with only moderate success and without the breakout hit "A Horse With No Name." Samwell helped the group to record and persuaded the Warner Brothers label to release the new song on an EP which was highly popular in the United States as well as in Europe.

“America” the album was re-released with "Horse," and quickly went platinum with the other favorites "I Need You," "Sandman" and "Riverside." Their debut album, which topped the US charts for five weeks, fit perfectly into the soft-rock style of the period and paved the way for a series of further US Top 10 hits. America won a Grammy Award in 1972 for Best New Artist. Their second album, appropriately named “Homecoming,” saw the band moving back to the United States to record. The most notable song on that album was "Ventura Highway."

The group's fourth album, “Holiday,” had them with former Beatles producer George Martin, who worked with them through “Silent Letter” in 1979 with much success. The next album, “Hearts,” featured "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane." Dan Peek left the group after recording “Harbor” in 1977. The remaining duo produced many more albums and had one more significant radio hit, "You Can Do Magic," reaching #8 on the pop charts in 1982. Their last top-40 hit was "The Border," which went to #33 on the pop charts (and #4 on the adult contemporary charts) the next year. Despite the presence of other heavyweight acts like James Taylor and Rod Stewart on their roster, Warner Brothers Records’ biggest selling act of the 1970s was America. America continued with consistent live work and sporadic recordings following their departure from Capital Records in the mid-eighties. Beckley released a solo set "Van Go Gan" in 1999.
Later in his post-America career, Dan Peek became a born-again Christian and released some highly successful Contemporary Christian Albums. His autobiography "An American Band" chronicles America's most successful period and his own spiritual journey.

The sound of America is often compared to Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

Reserved and lawn seat tickets may be purchased online at www.villagesamphitheater.com or by calling Fayetteville Main Street at (770) 719-4173. Advanced tickets are $35 for reserved and $30 for lawn. Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard and American Express are acceptable forms of payment. Gates open at 7 p.m., the opening act starts at 8 p.m. and America goes on at 9 p.m.