The band AMERICA, formed in London in 1970 by high school mates Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and the late Dan Peek, sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in the English capital, returned to the city for their only UK gig last month at the London Palladium. It was one of the best live concerts I have ever seen. Their music was a big part of my teenage years.

Managed by the legendary George Martin, AMERICA, known for their close harmonies and light acoustic folk rock sound had a string of hit albums and singles throughout the 70’s culminating in one of my all-time favourite records, which instantly went platinum, HISTORY: AMERICA’S GREATEST HITS featuring their first international number 1, “A Horse With No Name” and “Tin Man” written by Dewey and Gerry respectively, along with “Sister Golden Hair”, “Sandman”, “Daisy Jane”, “Ventura Highway” and Dan’s “Lonely People.” In fact the albums pretty much made up the set list for the Palladium gig plus their great cover of the Mammas and the Pappas classic “California Dreamin'” and a salute to George with the Beatles cover of “Eleanor Rigby”.

I left this quick sketch of Gerry and Dewey at the Palladium Stage door and was very happy to receive it back signed. A very nice memento for a very memorable evening.