For Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, original members of the folk-rock band America, performing live for their fans is the ultimate satisfaction.
“By far, the best part of our career is the feedback we get night after night from our fantastic fans,” Beckley said.
Bunnell prefers the live performances to the recording studio.
“I enjoy the live show very much these days,” he said, “The studio is a creative world, but the live show is in real time every night.”
America will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at RiverEdge Park in Aurora.
Beckley and Bunnell are backed by Rich Campbell on bass and keyboards, Ryland Steen on drums and Bill Worrell on lead guitar.
America was formed in 1970 by guitarists, singers and songwriters Beckley, Bunnell and Dan Peek. The trio first met as sons of United States Air Force personnel stationed in London, England.
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“Living in England at the time, the band name helped to define who we were as young Americans,” Bunnell said. “Also, the band Chicago had recently come on the scene, and we thought if they could be named after the city, why not the country.”
The band’s debut, self-titled album “America,” released in 1971, produced the hits “A Horse with No Name” and “I Need You.”
The album “Homecoming” (1972) had the singles “Ventura Highway” and “Don’t Cross the River.”
“Holiday” (1974) featured “Tin Man” and “Lonely People” and 1975’s “Hearts” generated “Daisy Jane” and “Sister Golden Hair.”
The band won a Grammy award for Best New Artist of The Year in 1972. Dan Peek left the group in 1977, deciding to become a contemporary Christian recording artist. Bunnell and Beckley continued to perform as a duo. Peek died in 2011 at the age of 60.
Also performing at RiverEdge Park on Saturday is blues-soul rocker Boz Scaggs, who gained fame in the 1960s as a guitarist and one-time lead singer with the Steve Miller Band.
As a solo artist, Scaggs hits include “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle,” both from his 1976 album “Silk Degrees.” Other Boz Scaggs hits include “Breakdown Dead Ahead” and “Jo Jo.”
For America’s portion of the show, Bunnell said they will play all the band’s hits and also add some more recent songs.
“We’ll probably be doing ‘Driving’ from the last album, ‘Lost & Found’ (2015), as well as ‘Woodstock’ and ‘Til I Hear It from You’ from the ‘Back Pages’ album (2011),” Bunnell said. “Also ‘Green Monkey’ from our 1973 album ‘Hat Trick.'”
And the answer to the question that has been asked of Beckley and Bunnell perhaps a million times: What is the real meaning behind the song “A Horse with No Name”?
“Basically, it’s a travelogue description of a trip through the desert with an environmental message,” said Bunnell, who wrote the song. “And now I’ve been asked that question a million and one times.”
Randall G. Mielke is a freelance writer.
America and Boz Scaggs
When: Saturday
Where: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway Ave., Aurora
Tickets: $45; Parking, $5
Information: 630-896-6666 or www.riveredgeaurora.com