Dan Peek – pioneer of Christian rock music
Dan Peek was an American musician, a pioneer of Christian rock music. He is best known as a member of the folk rock band America from 1970 to 1977, together with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell.
Daniel Milton “Dan” Peek was born on November 1, 1950 in Panama City, Florida. As a child he lived in Japan. In 1963 Peek moved to England.
Peek met his future band mates at school near London. They began as the trio Daze: Peek (guitar / keyboard / backing vocals), Gerry Beckley (lead vocals / guitar / bass) and Dewey Bunnell (guitars / percussion / backing vocals)
In 1971 they released their debut album. The Bunnell composition originally called Desert Song became the band’s most-famous. In the same year the group won a Grammy for best new artist.
The group then compounded platinum status for their album by also taking the 1973 Grammy for Best New Band. Six of the group’s first seven albums achieved either gold or platinum status in the USA. They also had eight Top 40 hits in the early 1970s, according to Billboard.
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