America plays 50 years of classic rock hits at F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on Oct. 19
From a press release:
The iconic multi-platinum-selling rock group America will celebrate their 54th anniversary with a series of concerts in 2024.
Billed as the Ride On Tour, it launches July 18 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will continue throughout the year, with many more shows to be added coast to coast. It was announced today that this run will come to the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Known for the timeless magic of their music and powerful live performances, the Grammy Award winners and perennial classic rock favorites will draw on their deep catalog of hits, including signature song “A Horse with No Name,” a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972.
Doors at the Kirby Center (71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre) open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets, which are $59.75, $79.75, $99.75, and $149.75, plus applicable fees, go on sale this Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at the Kirby Center box office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.), online at kirbycenter.org and ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 570-826-1100. A Kirby Member pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 12 at 10 a.m.
A limited number of VIP experiences will be sold online for $349.75, plus fees. This includes one premium reserved seat, a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with founding band member Dewey Bunnell, an America shirt, and a VIP laminate signed by Bunnell.
Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley – all sons of U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in London – formed the band in 1970. On their way to becoming a global household name, America’s journey found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, which include “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross the River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” and “Sister Golden Hair,” were cornerstones of 1970s Top 40 and FM rock radio. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners would discover there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of melodic pop rock and folk jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms, and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with other, more traditional country rock leanings and highly personal lyrics.
America’s albums – six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, “History,” racking up over four million in sales – displayed a fuller range of the trio’s talents than did their singles. Their material encompassed an ambitious artistic swath; from effects-laden rockers to oddball medleys to soul-bearing ballads, the band displayed a flawless blend of disparate genres and styles as wide open as the great American plains.
Enjoying massive success early in their career, America earned their stripes as musical soldiers on the battlefield amidst the excess, craziness, and chaos of the ’70s. The trio won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1972 and began working with George Martin and Geoff Emerick in 1974. This successful team went on to record seven albums and several Top 10 hits, including “Tin Man,” “Sister Golden Hair,” and “Lonely People.”
Their growth as singers, songwriters, and musicians has continued into the present day, as illustrated by landmark releases such as 2000’s “Highway” three-disc box set; 2002’s “Holiday Harmony,” an album comprised of seasonal classics and live showcases; 2007’s “Here & Now;” 2009’s “Live in Concert: Wildwood Springs;” 2011’s “Back Pages;” and 2015’s “Lost and Found” and “Archives, Vol. 1.”
In 2020, the band released their ultimate eight-disc anniversary box set, “Half Century” (America Records), and streamed their concert special “America: Live at the London Palladium” for the very first time. 2020 also saw the release of the book “America, the Band: An Authorized Biography” by journalist Jude Warne. She weaves original interviews with the band and many others into a dynamic cultural history of America, the band and America, the nation. Billy Bob Thornton wrote the foreword.
As further testament to the band’s staying power and influence, America was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. Despite the passing of Peek in 2011, Bunnell and Beckley continued to tour and record, maintaining the integrity and spirit of the band. Beckley recently retired from the road to spend more time with family and friends but pledged to remain an active member of America, who welcomed back touring guitarist Andy Barr for the Ride On Tour.
“We are incredibly excited to announce our return to performing live and to have Andy Barr back with us,” Bunnell stated. “It’s been too long since we’ve been able to connect with our fans in person, and we can’t wait to share the stage again and bring our music to life.”
From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with their uplifting music full of timeless melodies, rich harmonies, and positive messages. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America’s audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second, and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group’s enduring appeal as a beloved and influential force in the world of music.
The F.M. Kirby Center is a historic Art Deco/Moderne-style performing arts center located in downtown Wilkes-Barre. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
