Muskrat Love

In late 1979, I was fortunate enough to not only hear America's singer Dan Peek perform solo here in Brisbane, but also get to meet him and spend some time with him after his performance. You could not meet a lovelier and more down to earth man. He played a small venue of only a couple hundred  yet gave a great honest and intimate performance and made no demands and seemed to be a gentle and humble soul. Affable, likeable and very modest of his own abilities, he shared not only in his onstage performance, but was equally honest and open as we talked afterwards.

I was therefore saddened to hear of his death today - he was just 4 years older than me and in 1978 he had already packed a lifetime of living touring the globe with America soon after their early success when he was just 16 years old. Little is known of the circumstances and hopefully we'll hear more in the next day or two. Dan had become somewhat reclusive in the last 20 years, no longer touring as the other 2 members of America have continued working. He died at home on his farm on Sunday and his wife Catherine found him in bed. So tonight I'll be listening to "Sister Goldenhair", "Horse With No Name", "Ventura Highway","Don't Cross the River" and a string of other hits that Dan and the boys produced in the early 70s.


Don't give up, 'til you drink from the Silver Cup.