From: ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman)
Subject: Re: America (was Re: Rachel, Rachel)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:28:24 GMT

In article <676.UUL1.3#5131@mvac23.UUCP> thomas@mvac23.UUCP (Thomas Lapp) writes:
 
>This made me think of another story I heard once.  I'd be interested
>in knowing if there is any truth to it, or whether it is just an
>Urban Legend.  I want to say I heard it from an interview with
>one of the original band members, but I cannot recall now if it
>was or not.
>
>Here's the story.  The rock group America were Christians at first
>and prayed that if God would make them famous, they would use their
>fame to spread His word.  Sure enough, their popularity increased
>and at first they did stay true to their prayer.  However, as
>popularity increased even more and they become very well known,
>they forgot about their promise to God and just looked toward
>themselves as the source of their fame.  But then, God also
>saw that they broke their promise, and soon after their fame
>and fortune took a turn downhill and they fell into obscurity
>once again.
>
>Anyone else here this?

I'd say it's more in the category of Urban Legend. 

The three guys who formed America (Dan Peek, Dewey Bunnell, and Gerry
Martin) were originally in a group called The Cyrcle (who had a 
top ten hit in 1966 with a silly Paul Simon tossaway called "Red
Rubber Ball".)  It was their only hit, and after several more
unsuccessful attempts to reach the charts, the group disbanded in
1969.

Dan, Dewey, and Gerry (minus a couple of folks from The Cyrkle) re-formed
as America in 1970.  Their first album contained their biggest hit
and probably best-known song ("Horse with No Name").  There's nothing
blasphemous (or even mildly humorous) on the album, but on the
other hand there's nothing to indicate that these guys were Christians
either.  So the idea that they started out with the intention of 
spreading God's word seems a little suspect to me.  The same holds true 
for all the other albums.  There were a number of other hits ("Ventura
Highway," "Sister Golden Hair," "Daisy Jane," "Oz Never Did Give Nothin'
to the Tin Man" - jeesh, the very thought of them makes me groan).
But again, there was nothing to indicate that these guys were Christians.

Dan Peek *did* become a Christian sometime in the late seventies, and 
released a couple of mediocre CCM albums on whatever Pat Boone's 
record label is called.  The one that I have, "All Things Are
Possible," is one of the most syrupy, schmaltz-filled albums I own,
and I'll glady pass it along to anyone who's interested.  Dewey
Bunnell, who wrote and sang most of America's songs, released at
least one solo album as well.  As far as I know, neither he nor
Gerry Martin are Christians.  

It's possible that Dan Peek might have made the kinds of statements
you quote above.  If it's true, then they hid their Christian faith
very well.  And without discounting the idea that America's demise
was God's judgement on their broken promises (which could very 
well be the case), I'd also say that another factor was that 
America ran headlong into the disco and punk/New Wave movements
that were radically changing the face of music in the late seventies.
They had a good, long run at the charts, and then their time was
up.  It may be more than that, but it may be as simple as that too.  

>                         - tom
>--
>internet     : mvac23!thomas@udel.edu  or  thomas%mvac23@udel.edu (home)
>             : lapp@cdhub1.dnet.dupont.com (work)
>OSI          : C=US/A=MCI/S=LAPP/D=ID=4398613
>uucp         : {ucbvax,mcvax,uunet}!udel!mvac23!thomas
>Location     : Newark, DE, USA

Andy Whitman
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
att!cblpn!ajw  or
ajw@cblpn.att.com