1.) AMERICA
image: rocknewsdesk.com
Members: (left to right) Dan Peek, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell
Countries of origin: England and the United States
Years active: 1970-present
Claims to fame: Two #1 hits and seven top 10 singles in the U.S.; received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012
How to remember them: All three founding members had American fathers and British mothers because their fathers were military men stationed at a London Airforce base. All three eventually moved to the United States, and they chose the name "America" because they did not want to be perceived as Brits mimicking the sound of American rock.
2.) BREAD
image: twitter.com
Members: (clockwise from top) Mike Botts, James Griffin, Rob Royer, David Gates, Larry Knechtel (not pictured)
Country of origin: United States
Years active: 1969-1977, brief reunion in 1996
Claims to fame: One #1 hit and five top 10 singles in the U.S.; Larry Knechtel was a member of the group of Los Angeles studio musicians known as "the wrecking crew," and he played on records by many important artists including Elvis, The Mamas and the Papas, The Doors, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel.
How to remember them: The name "Bread," slang for "money," was chosen ironically to draw attention to the dishonesty of bands who claimed to be indifferent to money.
3.) Seals and Crofts
image: ebsoundmarketing.com
Members: (left to right) James Seals and Darrell "Dash" Crofts
Country of origin: United States
Years active: 1969-1980, 1991-92, 1994
Claims to fame: Three top 10 singles in the U.S.
How to remember them: Just think of them as the devil's advocates--the group had three top ten hits, all of which peaked at #6. Also, both members are from Texas and their daughters, Juliet Seals and Amelia Crofts, currently play together in a band called The Humming Birds, which may have been named for the Seals & Crofts song "Hummingbird".
4.) Crosby, Stills, & Nash (& Young, when he felt like it...)
image: kenmeyerjr.deviantart.com
Members: (left to right) Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, David Crosby
Countries of origin: England (Nash), United States (Stills, Crosby), and Canada (Young)
Years active: 1968-1970, 1973-74, 1977-present
Claims to fame: All four members have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; two top 10 singles in the U.S.; far more renowned as solo artists than band members (well, except maybe Crosby).
How to remember them: The members all came from other successful bands: Nash emerged from British rock and roll group The Hollies, Stills from Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby from The Byrds. Young also played with Stills as a member of Buffalo Springfield. The name of the group consisted solely of names in order for each member to retain his respective individuality and musical identity.
In summary, these bands are not particularly radical or revolutionary,but they exemplify craft in action. Harmonies are exquisite and instrumentation is organic. These bands helped rescue popular music from the vortex of acid rock, reminding us that it's okay to partake in some illegal substances, but only enough to feel that summer breeze "blowin' through the jasmine" in your mind.
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