Christian Singer-Songwriter Dan Peek, Founding Member of Band 'America,' Dies Aged 60

Writer of 'Horse with No Name' dies at home in Missouri 

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

FARMINGTON, MO (ANS) -- Few details are known at this point about the death on Sunday (July 24) of Dan Peek, co-founder of the band America, who left the group in 1977 and then continued as a Christian pop artist.

According to a news article by Gary Graff, writing from Detroit for

Dan Peek (Photo from Getty Images)

www.Billboard.com  , the home page of Peek's official web site includes a simple note saying that "Dan went to Heaven on July 24," along with a video of Peek performing the 1974 America hit "Lonely People." No other information was offered.

Peek was 60 years old and, by all accounts, living with his wife Catherine in the Cayman Islands and was "semi-retired," according to America bandmate Dewey Bunnell.

Billboad.com says Bunnell and Gerry Beckley have both paid tribute to him with notes on the duo's own web site. Bunnell writes that, "I am so sorry to learn of Dan's passing. Dan, along with Gerry (Beckley) & myself, formed the band America as teenagers after being great friends in high school during the late 60's. It was a joyous time for the three of us, full of excitement and laughter. 

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."

Bunnell goes on to say that, "Although we eventually went our separate ways, his contributions to the music of America have always been present and will last forever. This news brings great sadness. My sincere condolences go out to his wife, Catherine, and the entire Peek family. May Dan rest in peace, and his memory be cherished forever."

Beckley's note reads, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Dan's passing. He was a dear friend for many years. Dan & his music will live on in the great songs he shared with us all. My sincere condolences go out to Catherine and the entire Peek family. May he rest in peace ..."

Shortly before Peek's death, Bunnell told Billboard.com that Peek's departure from the band was "an organic split" and that he and Beckley felt no acrimony towards their former band mate.

"Dan wrote some songs, Dan played lead guitar and Dan sang the high harmonies -- so at the end of the day his contributions have never been questions," Bunnell explains. "We still do 'Lonely People' and 'Don't Cross the River' every night on stage. We'll always acknowledge Dan's contribution, and those years that we were together as America were really special times."

From left: Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley of America(Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

Bunnell added that there was some thought about asking Peek to join him and Beckley when America receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year to mark the group's career achievements as well as the 40th anniversary of the band winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Billboard.com says Peek was born in Panama City, Florida, to a U.S. Air Force officer father. He moved to England in 1963 when his father was assigned to a base there, meeting Bunnell and Beckley at London Central High School. Peek and Beckley played in a band called The Days, and after Peek left to attend Old Dominion University in Virginia, Bunnell took his place. Returning to England after just a year away, the three musicians regrouped and formed America, hitting big with their first single, "A Horse With No Name."

America scored three platinum and three gold albums as well as eight Top 40 hits between 1971-75. But Peek, who became a born-gain Christian after becoming disenchanted with travel and recreational drug use and sex, decided to leave the band. "I...was trying to walk the walk and was just unable to do it" in the band, Peek said in an interview after the publication of his memoir, "An American Band: The America Story."

Peek launched his solo career wtih "All Things Are Possible" in 1979; the title track hit No. 1 on the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award, while Beckley and Bunnell sang harmonies on the track "Love Was Just Another Word," marking the last time the three recorded together -- although they did occasionally reunite on stage. Peek recorded and performed sporadically after that, putting a revised version of "Lonely People," which was a No. 2 CCM hit, on his 1986 album "Electro Voice." His other CCM hits included "Divine Lady," "Doer of the World," "Cross Over" and the title track from "Electro Voice."

Matthew Perpetua, writing for Rolling Stone (www.RollingStone.com ) says that according to his Peek's wife, Peek died in his sleep at their home in Farmington, Missouri. The specific cause of death is not yet known.

Peek became a born-again Christian in 1977 and renounced drugs and alcohol, which led to him leaving America the same year. In 1979, he began a career in Christian pop with his first solo album All Things Are Possible, which was recorded for Pat Boone's Lamb and Lion Records. In recent years, Peek went into semi-retirement while remaining active as a songwriter.

Maridee Lawson, Daily Journal Staff Writer at www.dailyjournalonline.com , says Peek died early Monday morning at his home.

Peek went to school in Doe Run at one time. His father was in the military, so the family soon moved, but Peek moved back to the Farmington area with his wife in 1978.

The newspaper states that according to www.imdb.com , Peek was born on Nov. 1, 1950 in Panama City, Florida. He attended London Central High School in England, where he met his future band mates of "America."

While stationed in England in the late 1960s, Peek attended a school with many other American children. Which is how he met Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, whose fathers also were in the military.

The three eventually formed the band "America." Among their popular songs were "A Horse With No Name," "Ventura Highway," "Tin Man" and "I Need You."

Through the years, Peek hobnobbed with other rock stars including the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, James Taylor, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Rod Stewart, Sir George Martin, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Jackson Browne.

Peek was a member of the band from 1970 to 1977.

Peek's father, Milton "Colonel" Peek, said the boys were playing one night and a talent scout from Warner Brothers heard them play and signed them. They went on to have eight gold and several platinum albums.

Peek left the band he started to perform on his own, but wasn't as successful. In 1978 he and his wife Catherine lost their belongings in a house fire and moved back to Farmington where they have stayed since.

"The song 'Horse with No Name' was the group's biggest hit and Dan had a couple of solo hits," said his dad.

Bunnell and Beckley both posted their condolences on the "America" website www.venturahighway.com  .

After leaving "America" in Februrary, 1977 Dan signed with Pat Boone's Lions & Lambs Records and established himself as an artist in the then-burgeoning Christian pop music genre. He released his debut album "All Things Are Possible" in 1979. The same-titled single was not only a No. 1 one hit on the contemporary Christian music radio stations, but also was a crossover success on both the Billboard and adult contemporary radio charts.

"He was a pretty prolific songwriter and pretty good guitar player. His mother's family was very musical and they got their musical talents from her family," said his dad.

Dan Peek signs copies of his book 'AN AMERICAN BAND, The America Story,' in preparation for his book signing at the Oasis Christian Bookstore in Farmington in 2005. (Photo from The Daily Journal, Farmington, MO)

Dan released his second album "Doer of the Word" in 1984 and had a few additional hit songs on the contemporary Christian music charts. He spent much of the '90s in semi-retirement occasionally recording music at his home in the Cayman Islands. Peek has collaborated with musicians Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry as the group "Peace" on a handful of albums.

Peek wrote an autobiography called "An American Band: The America Story," which specifically focused on his years as a member of "America" and his personal spiritual journey.

Peek's autobiography chronicles the group's formation, its rise to stardom and life in the fast lane of the 1960s and 1970s. Oasis Christian Book Store's owner, Jane Cook agreed to carry the book and asked him to do a signing in 2005.

It was announced in June "America" will receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington, Missouri.

---

** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Ne wswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter