DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2010
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER
AMERICA
TO PERFORM CHRISTMAS DAY
ON NBC-TV’S
“SALUTE TO GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN SKATING”
THE GROUP’S CD ‘HOLIDAY HARMONY’ AVAILABLE NOW
Grammy-winning icons AMERICA—GERRY BECKLEY and DEWEY BUNNELL–are set to appear on NBC-TV’s Christmas Day ice skating special–“Salute To Golden Age Of American Skating”–performing a medley of their biggest hits including “Ventura Highway,” “Tim Man,” “You Can Do Magic,” “I Need You,” “Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair.” Taped recently at Atlantic City’s 10,000-seat Boardwalk Hall Arena, the special includes skating’s biggest stars and will air Saturday, December 25 at 4:00PM ET/PT.
AMERICA is truly in the holiday spirit, having digitally reissued their HOLIDAY HARMONY CD in late November with a newly recorded bonus track, “Holly Jolly Christmas.” The album features BECKLEY and BUNNELL’s classic AMERICA sound–a mix of pop and folk with subtle jazz and Latin touches–on HOLIDAY HARMONY. On the 14-track self-released recording, they merge such holiday standards as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow” and “Silver Bells” with three holiday originals: “A Christmas To Remember,” “Winter Holidays” and “Christmas In California.”
On the NBC special, the group plays their hits as an array of skating stars performs. Look for Tara Lipinski, the youngest Olympic gold medal-winner, as well as 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek along with legends of the sport like Sarah Hughes, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi.
The 30 skaters who will appear at Caesars Tribute presented by Colgate Total® include 20 members of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. The cast has combined to win 17 Olympic medals, including 10 golds. These skaters have also claimed 60 medals at World Championships, including 26 gold medals. They also own 140 National Championship medals, 70 of which are gold.
About AMERICA:
The group’s debut album was released in late 1971 and quickly went Platinum. Five subsequent releases went either Gold or Platinum and their History greatest hits compilation reached the four million sales mark. #1 hits include “Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair.” Other hits include “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” “Daisy Jane,” “I Need You,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Lonely People” and “You Can Do Magic.” At the same time, there was always more to America than the hits indicated. In many ways the band was rooted in the melodic pop rock of the British Invasion, most particularly in Gerry Beckley’s hook-laden songwriting. This connection was made explicit when legendary Beatles producer George Martin came on board to help refine their sound. For his part, Dewey Bunnell brought a tinge of folk-jazz, combining Latin-leaning rhythms with playfully rhyming words and impressionistic lyric imagery. Catch up with the band at their official website: www.venturahighway.com.
For more information on AMERICA, contact:
MSO 818.380.0400
Todd Brodginski x239 toddb@msopr.com
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