Dan Peek(1950-2011)

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dan Peek was born on November 1, 1950 in Panama City, Florida. Dan attended London Central High School in London, England, where he met fellow musicians Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. The trio formed the folk-rock group America in the late 60s. Peek was a member of the band from 1970 to 1977. Peek renewed his faith in Christianity after years of recreational drug use and too much unhappy living in the fast lane. After leaving America in Februrary, 1977, Dan signed with Pat Boone's "Lions & Lambs Records" and established himself as an artist in the then-burgeoning Christian pop music genre. He released his debut album, "All Things Are Possible", in 1979. The same-titled single was not only a #1 hit on the contemporary Christian music radio stations, but also was a crossover success on both the Billboard and adult contemporary radio charts. Peek wrote an autobiography called "An American Band: The America Story", which specifically focused on his years as a member of America and his personal spiritual journey. Dan released his second album, "Doer of the Word", in 1984 and had a few additional hit songs on the contemporary Christian music charts. He spent much of the 90s in semi-retirement occasionally recording music at his home in the Cayman Islands. Moreover, Peek not only collaborated with musicians Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry as the group "Peace" on a handful of albums, but also recorded several albums that he sold on his official website. Dan died at age 60 on July 24, 2011 in Farmington, St. Louis, Missouri.