(November 1, 1950 – July 24, 2011)
America
Peek contributed lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and harmonica to their recordings during his tenure in the band. As a member of America, Peek wrote or co-wrote four Top 100 singles: "Don't Cross The River" (#35), "Lonely People" (#5), "Woman Tonight" (#44), and "Today's the Day" (#23), all of which he also sang lead on. "Lonely People" and "Today's the Day" also hit number 1 on the Billboard AC charts.[3]During this period Peek was "a spectrum drug abuser, alcoholic, you name it". In 2004 Peek released an autobiography about this era entitled An American Band: The America Story which was very difficult for him to write because of the bad memories it brought up.[1] His last musical collaboration was in 2011 in the album of the Spanish band "Etcetera" - Steps On The Water - where he sang "Kiss Me On The Waves", written and arranged by Guillermo Albelo.
Contemporary Christian music
Peek left the band shortly after the February 1977 release of the Harbor album. Years of life on the road had taken a toll on him.[4] He renewed his Christian faith and had begun to seek a different artistic direction than Beckley or Bunnell. He went on to sign with Pat Boone's Lamb & Lion Records[4] and found modest success as a pioneering artist in the emerging Christian pop music genre, outside of rejoining Beckley and Bunnell on stage on one spontaneous occasion several years after.[citation needed]Peek's debut solo album, All Things Are Possible was released in 1979. Chris Christian co-wrote, produced, and contributed backing vocals on All Things Are Possible and reached the Billboard charts, making the Top 10 in the A/C Billboard chart and number 1 in the Christian charts. Another song on the album was "Love Was Just Another Word", which was recorded in LA 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.[citation needed] Peek followed "All Things Are Possible" with "Doer of the Word". "Doer of the Word" was a number 1 Christian hit and Gerry Beckley sang background vocals on the record, but Beckley did the recording at Chris Christian's studio in Dallas and Dan was not present.
Peek's first solo album and single became popular hits on contemporary Christian music (CCM) radio stations and charts. The single "All Things Are Possible" not only hit number 1 on the CCM singles chart, it also crossed over to the Billboard singles and adult contemporary charts, becoming one of the earliest CCM's crossover hits. At the 22nd Grammy Awards, the album was nominated,[2] losing in the Contemporary Gospel category to The Imperials album Heed the Call.
Peek waited five years before releasing a second solo album, 1984's Doer of the Word. While several of his songs would make the CCM charts, none crossed over to the Pop or Adult Contemporary charts. The title track, "Doer of the Word", was an upbeat, very "America-like" song[citation needed] that was backed by Beckley. It hit number 2 on the CCM charts. 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 that was done on the original America version years prior. He changed some of the song's lyrics to reflect his Christian faith,[citation needed] 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."
Peek spent much of the 1990s in semi-retirement, occasionally recording music at his home in Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island.[4] 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.
Personal life
Peek was born in Panama City, Florida.[1] Beginning in 1963, Peek was educated at London Central Elementary High School at Bushey Hall in North London. In 1973 he married Catherine Maberry,[3] with whom he would write a number of songs, including "Lonely People".[5] He published an autobiography entitled An American Band, based on America's most successful period, and his own spiritual journey.[4]Peek died in his sleep on July 24, 2011 at age 60 at his home in Farmington, Missouri.[1]
Discography
Table Key:CCM – Contemporary Christian Music Chart
BB – Billboard Pop Singles Chart
AC – Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart
CB – Cash Box Singles Chart
Year | Title Album -------------------------- Single | CCM | BB [6] | AC [6] | CB [7] | Comments |
1979 | All Things Are Possible (album) | - | - | - | - | Produced by Chris Christian |
1979 | "All Things Are Possible" | 1 | 78 | 6 | 95 | 13 weeks at number 1. Nominated for a “Grammy” award. |
1980 | "Ready for Love" | - | - | - | - | 7 Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart |
1981 | "Divine Lady" | 23 | - | - | - | - |
1979 | On This Christmas Night | - | - | - | - | Produced by Chris Christian |
1979 | "The Star" | - | - | - | - | "On Christmas Night" Christmas song |
1984 | Doer of the Word (album) | - | - | - | - | -Produced by Chris Christian |
1984 | "Doer of the Word" | 2 | - | - | - | Backing vocal by Gerry Beckley |
1985 | "Power and Glory" | - | - | - | - | - |
1986 | Electro Voice (album) | - | - | - | - | - |
1986 | "Lonely People" | 2 | - | - | - | Remake of Peek’s 1975 hit with America |
1986 | "Electro Voice" | 7 | - | - | - | - |
1987 | Cross Over (album) | - | - | - | - | - |
1987 | "Cross Over" | 13 | - | - | - | - |
1988 | Best of Dan Peek | - | - | - | - | - |
1989 | Living Water | - | - | - | - | With Marvin and Gentry |
1994 | Stronger Than You Know | - | - | - | - | Peace with Marvin and Gentry |
1997 | Peace | - | - | - | - | Peace with Marvin and Gentry |
1998 | "Summer Rain" | - | - | - | - | Peace with Marvin and Gentry |
1999 | Bodden Town | - | - | - | - | - |
2000 | Under the Mercy | - | - | - | - | Peace with Marvin and Gentry |
2000 | "On Wings of Eagles" | - | - | - | - | - |
2000 | Caribbean Christmas | - | - | - | - | Instrumental |
2001 | Driftin' | - | - | - | - | - |
2002 | Guitar Man | - | - | - | - | - |
2006 | Guitar Man II | - | - | - | - | Digital Internet release |
2007 | All American Boy | - | - | - | - | Digital Internet release |
2011 | Kiss Me On The Waves (Collaboration in the album "Steps On The Water" of the Spanish band "Etcetera") | - | - | - | - | Digital Internet release |
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