Died On This Date (July 24, 2011) Dan Peek / America
themusicsover Dan Peek
November 1, 1950 – July 24, 2011
Dan Peek is perhaps best remembered as a member of popular soft-rock band America between 1970 and 1977 – the group’s most successful period. While in the band which also included Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, Peek played guitar, bass, and keyboards, and sang back up on such hits as “Sandman,” “A Horse With No Name,” and “Ventura Highway.” As a songwriter, he contributed such charting singles as “Lonely People,” “Don’t Cross The River,” and “Today’s The Day.” In 1977, Peek left the group to pursue a solo a career, being one of Christian rock’s earliest successes. His first single, “All Things Are Possible,” reached #1 on the Contemporary Christian charts, and by landing on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, became one of Christian rock’s first crossover hits. Although Peek never officially reunited with America, Bunnell and Beckley did sing on his solo debut, and he occasionally joined them on stage throughout the years. Peek all but retired from music during the ’90s, releasing a sporadic album or collaborating with others here and there. In recent years, he released new recordings via his website. Dan Peek was 60 when he passed away on July 24, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
What You Should Own
Bill Morrissey was a respected folk singer-songwriter who, since the release of his 1984 self-titled debut, built a sizable following thanks to his thought-provoking narratives that typically dealt with the ups and downs of life in small town America. Morrissey released ten albums throughout his career, with two earning him Grammy nominations. Bill Morrissey was 59 when he died of heart disease on July 23, 2011.
Fran Landesman was an American poet and lyricist who achieved international acclaim for penning the words to such songs as “The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men” and “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most.” Born in New York City, Landesman eventually settled with her husband in St. Louis, Missouri where they owned and operated the Crystal Palace, a world-renowned night club that hosted the likes of Barbra Streisand, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen. It was while sitting at the bar listening to the singers that Landesman was inspired to take a stab at writing song lyrics herself. The year was 1952, and it was then and there that she began collaborating with the club’s house pianist on a string of songs, some of which became hits as recorded by others. That list of singers includes R0berta Flack, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, 