One time America frontman Dan Peek dies in St Louis

DAN PEEK, the singer who in the '70s fronted the band America who had a multi-million selling hit with "A Horse With No Name" and who subsequently turned to Christian music, died in his sleep at his home in St Louis on 24th July. He was aged 60.

Peek was born in1950 in Panama City, Florida. He met Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley when the three of them attended high school in London while their fathers, who were all in the military, were stationed in the UK. They first formed as a band called Daze in 1970 and reconfigured as America in the US in 1972. America's first self-titled album, which included the chart topper "A Horse With No Name", was released in 1972. Another number one hit was "Sister Golden Hair" in 1975. In all, America recorded four Gold and four Platinum albums.

In 1978 Peek recommitted his life to Christ and began work on a Christian album. 'All Things Are Possible' released by Lamb & Lion reached number one on the Contemporary Christian Music chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Further solo albums were 'Doer Of The Word' (Home Sweet Home, 1984), 'Electro Voice' (Greentree, 1986) and 'Crossover' (Greentree, 1987). Peek wrote the biography An American Band which was published in 2004.

Dan Peek is survived by his English-born wife, Catherine.