Thursday's Top Tune Throwback: "Sister Golden Hair" by America

“Well, I keep on thinking ’bout you
Sister Golden Hair Surprise
And I just can’t live without you
Can’t you see it in my eyes”
America, a trio of U.S. citizens who started playing together while in London, is one of my all-time favorite bands. Sons of U.S. Air Force personnel, the three lads—Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley—brightened up the 1970s with their sweetly melodic, toe-tapping pop tunes.
Between 1972 and 1983, America charted 11 hits, including two Number 1 records and five Top Tens. Our featured song this week, “Sister Golden Hair,” hit Number 1 in April 1975. This song was inspired by George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.”
Other blockbuster hits by America included “A Horse with No Name” (No. 1, 1972); “Ventura Highway” (No. 8); “Tin Man” (No. 4, 1974); “Lonely People” (No. 5, 1975); and “Daisy Jane,” a top 20 single that followed “Sister Golden Hair.”
Another classic surfaced in 1982 when “You Can Do Magic” reached No. 8. The trio wrote most of their own material; their 1973 single, “Muskrat Love,” reflected just the second time the band recorded a song not written by a member of the group.
Peek left the group in 1977 to pursue a solo career and briefly reunited with America some years later. He died in 2011. America’s musical contributions are considerable, and the band will be forever remembered for its close vocal harmonies and light acoustic folk rock sound.

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.