Dan Peek

{{Short description|American musician (1950–2011)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dan Peek | image = Dan Peek on TopPop 1972.png | caption = Peek performing in 1972 | birth_name = Daniel Milton Peek | birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|11|1}} | birth_place = Panama City, Florida, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|7|24|1950|11|1}} | death_place = Farmington, Missouri, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Folk rock|soft rock|country rock|contemporary Christian}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass guitar|keyboards|harmonica}} | years_active = 1969–2011 | label = {{hlist|Warner Bros.|Lamb & Lion}} | past_member_of = America }} '''Daniel Milton Peek''' ({{Daterangedash|1950-11-01|2011-07-24|mdy}}) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the co-founder of the band America,<ref name=Latimesobit>{{Cite news|last=Lewis|first=Randy|title=Dan Peek dies at 60; founding member of the band America|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-dan-peek-20110727,0,1714260.story|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> and later a "pioneer" in contemporary Christian music.<ref name="bbcobit">{{Cite news|title= America singer Dan Peek dies aged 60|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14306120|work=BBC News|date=July 27, 2011|access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name=bill>{{Cite news|title=Dan Peek, Co-Founder of America, Dead at 60|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/469051/dan-peek-co-founder-of-america-dead-at-60|quote=Peek was born in Panama City, Fla., 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.|newspaper=Billboard|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2012 }}</ref>

== Early life == Peek was born in Panama City, Florida, on November 1, 1950, while his father was in the U.S. Air Force.<ref name=Latimesobit/>

Beginning in 1963, Peek was educated at London Central Elementary High School at Bushey Hall in North London. For the 1965–66 school year, Peek attended San Angelo Central High School after his family relocated from Pakistan earlier that year. He moved again to England in 1968 with his family when his father was assigned to a base in London. It was there that he met Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley at London Central High School.<ref name=bill/>

In 1973, he married Catherine Maberry (d. March 11, 2021),<ref name="Times obit"/> with whom he would write a number of songs, including "Lonely People".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111130184723/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=420182869&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=tswpbv&results_pp=30&start=1 "Lonely People" compositional info], ASCAP. Retrieved August 31, 2011.</ref>

When Peek was young he suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and had to be hospitalized {{convert|100|mi}} away from the family home; his parents could visit only 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, where they were subsequently sold to a collector, resulting in a $50,000 donation ({{Inflation|US|50000|2010|r=-3|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2010/feb/06/a-first-for-navy-ship-baby-born-on-board/|title=A first for Navy ship: Baby born on board|work=U-T San Diego|date=February 6, 2010 |access-date=September 16, 2015}}</ref>

== Career == ===America=== {{Main|America (band)}} After a brief stint at Old Dominion University in Virginia during 1969,<ref name="Billboardobit"/> Peek returned to London. Soon afterwards, the three former London Central High School classmates Peek, Beckley, and Bunnell began making music together. Known for singing the high harmonies, Peek contributed lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and harmonica to their recordings during his tenure in the band.<ref name="Billboardobit"/> 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), for all of which he also sang lead vocals. "Lonely People" and "Today's the Day" also hit No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' AC charts.<ref name="Times obit">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/arts/music/dan-peek-of-the-rock-band-america-dies-at-60.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=Dan Peek, of the Rock Band America, Dies at 60|author=Margalit Fox|author-link=Margalit Fox|work=The New York Times|quote=Dan Peek, an original member of the rock band America who later forsook the band for a life in Christian music, died on Sunday at his home in Farmington, Mo. He was 60. ...|date=July 26, 2011}}</ref>

Peek abused alcohol and other drugs during his time touring with the band and elected to leave shortly after America's February 1977 release of the ''Harbor'' album, disenchanted with the travel, recreational drug use, and female groupies.<ref name="Billboardobit">{{Cite web|last=Graff|first=Gary|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/469051/dan-peek-co-founder-of-america-dead-at-60|title=Dan Peek, Co-Founder of America, Dead at 60|publisher=Billboard Magazine|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> In 2004, he released an autobiography about that era entitled ''An American Band: The America Story'' which was "very difficult" for him to write because of the bad memories it brought up.<ref name=Latimesobit/>

=== Contemporary Christian music === Years of life on the road with America had taken a toll on him.<ref name=telegraph/> He renounced drugs and alcohol, renewed his Christian faith, and began to seek a different artistic direction than Beckley or Bunnell. He went on to sign with Pat Boone's Lamb & Lion Records and found renewed success as an artist in the emerging Christian pop music genre.<ref name=telegraph>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8666525/Dan-Peek.html|title=Dan Peek|work=The Daily Telegraph|date= July 27, 2011|access-date=July 28, 2011|location=London}}</ref>

Peek's debut solo album, ''All Things Are Possible'', was released in 1979. Chris Christian co-wrote, produced, and contributed acoustic guitar and backing vocals on the album. The title track reached the ''Billboard'' charts, making the Top 10 on the A/C ''Billboard'' chart and number 1 in the Christian charts, becoming one of the earliest contemporary Christian music crossover hits. Another song on the album, "Love Was Just Another Word", was recorded in Los Angeles and written by Chris Christian and Steve Kipner. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell contributed the background vocals. This was the last time the three original members of America recorded together.<ref name="BostGlobeobit">{{Cite news|url=https://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2011/07/28/dan_peek_singer_on_horse_with_no_name/|title=Dan Peek, singer on 'Horse With No Name'|work=The Boston Globe|last=Salter|first=Jim|date= July 28, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> At the 22nd Grammy Awards, the album was nominated, losing in the Contemporary Gospel category to The Imperials album ''Heed the Call''.<ref name="bbcobit"/>

Peek waited five years before releasing a second solo album, 1984's ''Doer of the Word'', which hit number 2 on the Christian charts. Gerry Beckley contributed background vocals, which were recorded at Chris Christian's studio in Los Angeles while Peek was there.<ref>{{YouTube|Rpv_ukm7WdA|Dan Peek recording ''Doer of the Word'' with Gerry Beckley and Chris Christian in LA}}.</ref> 1986 saw the release of his ''Electrovoice'' album, again to the CCM market, which included a remake of "Lonely People", featuring a very similar lead vocal treatment and overall arrangement to the original America version. He changed some of the song's lyrics to reflect his Christian faith; for example, the lines "And ride that highway in the sky" and "You never know until you try" became "And give your heart to Jesus Christ".<ref name=ElectoVoice>{{AllMusic|album|electro-voice-mw0000933811|Electro-Voice|access-date=August 17, 2017}}</ref>

Peek spent much of the 1990s in semi-retirement, occasionally recording music at his home in Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island.<ref name=telegraph/> He released several solo projects and collaborated with Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry as "Peace" on three albums. In the years before his death, Peek released music via his website. His last musical collaboration was performing lead vocal on a track on the 2011 album ''Steps on the Water'' by Etcetera.

He published ''An American Band'', an autobiography based on America's most successful period, and his own spiritual journey.<ref name=telegraph/>

== Death == Peek died in his sleep of uremic pericarditis on July 24, 2011, at the age of 60 at his home in Farmington, Missouri.<ref name=Latimesobit/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tijs|first=Andrew|url=http://www.undercover.fm/news/15484-r-i-p-dan-peek-of-america|title=Dan Peek of America Dies at 60 - Undercover.fm News|publisher=Undercover.fm|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922104605/http://www.undercover.fm/news/15484-r-i-p-dan-peek-of-america|archive-date=September 22, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> He was interred in Farmington's Zolman Cemetery. thumb|Gravestone of Dan and Catherine Peek in Zolman Cemetery in Farmington, Missouri, U.S.

== Discography == See also America discography

{|class="wikitable" |- !Year !Single{{\}}Track !{{Abbr|CCM|Contemporary Christian Music Pop Chart}} <ref name="Hot hits: Christian hit radio">{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006S1EBK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2XLXT7FQSXJ4Z&coliid=I76Y6NWA7PUFG|title=– Hot hits: Christian hit radio : 20 years of charts, artist bios, and more|date=January 1999 |publisher=CCM Creative Ventures|access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> !{{Abbr|CCM{{Break}}AC|Contemporary Christian Music Adult Contemporary Chart}} <ref name="Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978-2001">{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1410732940/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1|title=– CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978-2001|date=July 23, 2003 |publisher=1st Book Library|isbn=9781410732941 |access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> !{{Abbr|BB|''Billboard'' Pop Singles Chart}} <ref name="US Billboard Music Charts">{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/genre_index.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051031005711/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/genre_index.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2005|title=– US Billboard Music Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> !{{Abbr|AC|''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary Chart}} <ref name="US Billboard Music Charts"/> ! width="35"|CAN AC {{Break}}<ref name=nlc008388.9258.pdf>{{Cite web|title=RPM Adult Oriented Playlist|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9258.pdf|work=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=August 1, 2018|pages=1}}</ref> !Album<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dan-peek-mn0000953589/discography All Music Guide Dan Peek discography, retrieved 30 August 2022]</ref> !Notes |- | rowspan="2" |1979 |"All Things Are Possible" | style="text-align:center;" |1 | style="text-align:center;" |1 | style="text-align:center;" |78 | style="text-align:center;" |6 | style="text-align:center;" |— |''All Things Are Possible'' |13 weeks at No. 1.{{Break}}Grammy Award nomination.<ref name="www.awardsandshows.com">{{Cite web|title=1980 Grammy Awards|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1980-228.html|publisher=Awards and Shows|access-date=August 1, 2018|pages=1}}</ref> |- |"The Star" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''On This Christmas Night'' {{Small|(various artists)}} | rowspan="3" |produced by Chris Christian<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-things-are-possible-mw0000589049/credits All Music Guide Dan Peek All Things are Possible album credits, retrieved 30 August 2022]</ref> |- |1980 |"Ready for Love" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |7 | rowspan="2" |''All Things Are Possible'' |- |1981 |"Divine Lady" | style="text-align:center;" |23 | style="text-align:center;" |25 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- | rowspan="2" |1984 |"Doer of the Word" | style="text-align:center;" |2 | style="text-align:center;" |2 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="3" |''Doer of the Word'' |backing vocal by Gerry Beckley |- |"Redeemer" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |26 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="2" |produced by Chris Christian<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/doer-of-the-world-mw0000065383/credits All Music Guide Dan Peek Doer of the Word album credits, retrieved 30 August 2022]</ref> |- |1985 |"Holy Spirit" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |39 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- | rowspan="3" |1986 |"Lonely People" | style="text-align:center;" |2 | style="text-align:center;" |1 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="2" |''Electro-Voice'' |No. 1 four weeks. {{Break}}Remake of America's 1975 hit. |- |"Electro Voice" | style="text-align:center;" |7 | style="text-align:center;" |33 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | |- |"Sleep Baby Jesus" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Christmas Greetings'' {{Small|(various artists)}} | |- | rowspan="3" |1987 |"A New Song" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |18 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Electro-Voice'' | |- |"Cross Over" | style="text-align:center;" |13 | style="text-align:center;" |17 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="2" |''Cross Over'' | |- |"I Will Not Be Silent" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |24 | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | |- | rowspan="2" |1988 |"My American Dream" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |non-album single | |- |"Love Was Just Another Word" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''The Best of Dan Peek'' {{Small|(compilation)}} |backing vocal by America |- |1989 |"Living Water" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Light of the World''{{Hsp}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Light-World-Marvin-Gentry-Peek/dp/B001F4SM0K/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1|title=Marvin & Gentry with Dan Peek - Light of the World - Amazon.com.com Music|website=Amazon |access-date=September 16, 2015}}</ref> |with Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry |- |1997 |"Summer Rain" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Peace'' |''Peace'' {{Small|(with Marvin and Gentry)}} |- |1999 |"Bodden Town" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Bodden Town'' | |- | rowspan="2" |2000 |"On Wings of Eagles" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Under the Mercy'' |''Peace'' {{Small|(with Marvin and Gentry)}} |- |"Mary's Boy Child" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Caribbean Christmas'' |instrumental |- |2001 |"Driftin' " | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Driftin' Tales From The Lost Islands'' | |- |2002 |"Guitar Man" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Guitar Man'' | |- | rowspan="2" |2006 |"I Spent the Summer South of the Border" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Release the Endorphins''{{Hsp}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cactustom.com/musicbox/release-the-endorphins.htm|title=Release the Endorphins|publisher=cactustom.com|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref> |with The Endorphins |- |"Refugee-Song" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Guitar Man II'' | rowspan="2" |digital download |- |2007 |"All American Boy" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''All American Boy'' |- |2008 |"Velvet Elvis" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Meet the Endorphins''{{Hsp}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cactustom.com/musicbox/meet-the-endorphins.htm|title=Meet the Endorphins|publisher=cactustom.com|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> |with The Endorphins |- |2011 |"Kiss Me on the Waves" | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |''Steps on the Water'' |Etcetera featuring Dan Peek |- | rowspan="5" |2012 | rowspan="5" | | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |— |''Greatest Hits'' | rowspan="5" |digital download, compilation |- |''Christian Artists Series: Dan Peek, Vol. 1'' |- |''Christian Artists Series: Dan Peek, Vol. 2'' |- |''Christian Artists Series: Dan Peek & Friends'' {{Small|(various artists)}} |- |''Christmas with Dan Peek and Friends'' {{Small|(various artists)}} |- |2014 |"Endless Flight" {{Small|(remix)}} | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |non-album single<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HtDbGLFpoQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8HtDbGLFpoQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Dan Peek Featuring Laredo - Endless Flight (remix)|date=January 15, 2014 |publisher=youtube.com|access-date=October 23, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |Remix by Laredo |- |2018 |"Right Now" {{Small|(remix)}} | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | rowspan="3" |''Peace Revisited'' | rowspan="3" |Remix by Marvin and Gentry |- |2019 |"Still Love You" {{Small|(remix)}} | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- |2020 |"Blue Skies, Blue Eyes" {{Small|(remix)}} | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |- |2021 |"Little Darlin" {{Small|(remix)}} | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— | style="text-align:center;" |— |non-album single<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITrrcvOx624 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ITrrcvOx624 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Dan Peek - Little Darlin (remix)|date=April 4, 2021 |publisher=youtube.com|access-date=April 20, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |Remix by Ken Marvin |}

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p30564|label=Dan Peek}} * {{IMDb name|id=0670215|name=Dan Peek}} * [http://www.venturahighway.com Official ''America'' website] * [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/8666525/Dan-Peek.html Obituary of Dan Peek, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 27 July, 2011] * [http://www.parklandnews.com/news-july-2011-dan-peek-autopsy.html Dan Peek Autopsy Report, ParklandNews.com]

{{America (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peek, Dan}} Category:1950 births Category:2011 deaths Category:People from Panama City, Florida Category:American rock musicians Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American soft rock musicians Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom Category:America (band) members Category:People from Farmington, Missouri Category:American rock singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American folk guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:American country guitarists Category:Singer-songwriters from Florida Category:Singer-songwriters from Missouri Category:Guitarists from Missouri Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:Country musicians from Florida Category:Country musicians from Missouri Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:20th-century American multi-instrumentalists