If you were

in a rock 'n' roll band, you would expect to have hundreds of different

experiences throughout your career.

For the members

of America, which will perform at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater

this Friday and Saturday, they have had a long, strange trip that continues

to provide them with new and interesting experiences.

Gerry Beckley

and Dewey Bunnell began performing together as teenagers in 1968. In 1970

while living in England with their fathers who were both U.S. military

officers, they recorded the song "A Horse With No Name" with

Dan Peek. The song began to climb the charts and within two years the

band was proclaimed Best New Artists at the Grammy Awards.

The hits kept

coming for the band. Songs like "Ventura Highway," "I Need

You," "Sister Golden Hair" and "Tin Man" became

staples on the radio and landed on the pop charts. Peek left the band

in 1977, later establishing himself as a successful gospel artist, and

five years later America had another big hit with "You Can Do Magic."

America never

altered its musical style, though many bands experimented with disco and

country sounds in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "We stay very true

to form," said Beckley. "America's music has always been acoustic,

lyrical, harmonious and accessible. Nothing way to the left or way to

the right."

The band recently

recorded its 18th album, "Hourglass." It was the first time

that Bunnell and Beckley wrote songs together. Many of their older songs

were written by one or the other. Another collaborator on the new album

is Bill Mumy, the former child star on the television series "Lost

In Space," who co-wrote the track "Sleeper Train" with

Bunnell. Beckley has also done voice work with Timothy Schmidt, formerly

of the Eagles, and recording artist Andrew Gold, who sang the theme song

to the television series "The Golden Girls."

That trio provided

the singing voices for a doo-wop band in the film "Cry Baby"

and provided the voices of The Chipmunks on several albums. Beckley played

"Theodore."

Both Beckley

and Bunnell are involved in several political and health causes and both

enjoy recording and touring. Recently, America toured with The Beach Boys

and Beckley brought his 14-year-old son, Matthew, on tour with him. At

the end of the show, Matthew would grab his guitar and join both bands

on stage for the big finale.

America will

perform at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept.

7 and Saturday, Sept. 8. There are standing-room-only tickets available

for both nights. The tickets cost $35 and go on sale at 6:30 p.m. Call

770-631-0630.

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