Sons of American fathers and British mothers, their fathers being military personnel stationed at the West Ruislip USAF base in London, all three attended London Central High in Bushey, Hertfordshire in the mid-60s where they met while playing in two different bands.
They eventually got together and formed the rock band America, honoring the name of the homeland they had hardly even seen during their several travels around the world. They played their first gigs in pubs and clubs in the London area, including some highlights at the Roundhouse, where Pink Floyd had been playing at the beginning of their own career.
Their first LP was recorded at Trident and Morgan studios in London and 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 second album, appropriately named Homecoming, saw the band moving back to the United States to record. The most notable song was "Ventura Highway."
The group's fourth album Holiday had them with George Martin (former producer for The Beatles), who worked with them through Silent Letter in 1979 with much success. The next album, Hearts, featured "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane."
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.
America continued with consistent live work and sporadic recordings following their departure from Capitol Records in the mid-80s.
In 1982 America provided the soundtrack for the magical anime film The Last Unicorn. Although officially produced by an American company, the film is an important transitional work in the development of Japanese anime, since most of its animation was subcontracted to the Japanese company Topcraft. The music was composed by Jimmy Webb, though performed by America, and the title song was covered many times later on. The tone is wistful and the themes are of loss.
Beckley released a solo set - "Van Go Gan" - in 1999.
Later, in his post-America career, 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.
Members include:
Gerry Beckley (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, harmonica
Dewey Bunnell (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, guitars
Dan Peek (1970-1977) - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica
Hollywood
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lights of the city at night set the scene
Stumble through the bars of forget-me-not lane
Sparkle through the glitter but don't show the pain
In Hollywood
Underneath a golden palm tree
Hollywood
For free
Heartbeats echo through a cavern of love
Come to the tavern I'll meet you up above
Soaring through the heavens, what a fabulous ride
But everybody's heading for the same place to hide
In Hollywood
Underneath a golden palm tree
Hollywood
Come to the party the drinks are on me
For free
The drink's on me
For free
The drink's on me
For free
The drink's on me [Repeat: x4]
The song "Hollywood" by America provides a vivid description of life in the city of dreams. The first stanza of the song depicts the lively and colorful atmosphere of the city at night. The colorful lights, the bars, and the glitter of the city create a scene that is filled with excitement yet hides the pain that comes with it. The second stanza talks about the people in Hollywood and how they all seek a place to hide. They all gather in the "tavern of love" where they can forget their worries and enjoy the amazing life the city offers.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Come to the party, the drinks are on me, for free," which reinforces the idea that life in Hollywood is all about partying, drinking, and escaping reality. The repetition of this chorus suggests that this lifestyle becomes addictive, creating a never-ending cycle of fleeting pleasures and distractions that ultimately leave one feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the Hollywood lifestyle, where people are drawn into its glitz and glamour but also hides its darker side.
Line by Line Meaning
Orange and yellow and purple and green
The colorful lights of Hollywood at night
The lights of the city at night set the scene
The lights of Hollywood create a perfect setting
Stumble through the bars of forget-me-not lane
Get lost in the bars of Hollywood, trying to forget something
Sparkle through the glitter but don't show the pain
Despite the glamor and glitter, pain is still hidden
Heartbeats echo through a cavern of love
Love is everywhere in Hollywood
Come to the tavern I'll meet you up above
Meet me at the bar and let's escape to a higher place
Soaring through the heavens, what a fabulous ride
Life in Hollywood can feel like an amazing adventure
But everybody's heading for the same place to hide
Despite the beauty, everyone is trying to run away from something
The drink's on me
I'll pay for the drinks
For free
No charge
The drink's on me [Repeat: x4]
I'm buying the drinks for everyone
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEWEY BUNNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind