Dan Peek
| Dan Peek | |
|---|---|
|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daniel Milton Peek |
| Born |
November 1, 1950 Panama City, Florida |
| Died | July 24, 2011 (aged 60) Farmington, Missouri |
| Genres | Folk rock, soft rock, country rock, contemporary Christian |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica |
| Years active | 1969-2011 |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Lamb & Lion |
| Associated acts | America |
Daniel Milton "Dan" Peek (November 1, 1950 – July 24, 2011) was a musician best known as a member of the folk rock band America from 1970 to 1977, together with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. He has been called a "pioneer in contemporary Christian music".
Peek was born in Panama City, Florida on November 1, 1950 while his father was in the U.S. Air Force.
When Peek was a young boy, he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and had to be hospitalized for weeks 100 miles (160 km) away from the family home; his parents could only visit occasionally. Peek remembered this experience when, about a year before he died, he decided to dispose of five of his vintage guitars. Because the Ronald McDonald Houses exist to provide housing for families of hospitalized children close to hospitals around the United States and the world, Peek donated these five guitars to the San Diego house, which were subsequently sold to a collector, resulting in a $50,000 donation.
Peek moved to England in 1963 with his family when his father was assigned to a base in London, meeting Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley at London Central High School.
Beginning in 1963, Peek was educated at London Central Elementary High School at Bushey Hall in North London. In 1973 he married Catherine Maberry, with whom he would write a number of songs, including "Lonely People". He published an autobiography entitled An American Band, based on America's most successful period, and his own spiritual journey.
Peek contributed lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and harmonica to their recordings during his tenure in the band. As a member of America, Peek wrote or co-wrote four Top 100 singles: "Don't Cross the River" (No. 35), "Lonely People" (No. 5), "Woman Tonight" (No. 44), and "Today's the Day" (No. 23), all of which he also sang lead on. "Lonely People" and "Today's the Day" also hit No. 1 on the Billboard AC charts.
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