Mark & Diane North

Mark with Dewey after the Frederick, Maryland concert in 1994

Meet Mark and Diane North from Gaithersburg, Maryland.

My wife and I are biologists and we live in Maryland. Until recently, I believed that I was the only really BIG fan of America left - that is until I began surfing the internet and discovered Steve Lowry's web page.

My first exposure to America was through an 8-track (eek!) of their first album at a friend's house back around 1974 (I was 8 years old). They've been my favorite band for as long as I can remember - everybody who knows me knows this to be true. My love of America has rubbed off on Diane who now considers them one of her favorite bands as well. One of our biggest regrets is that we didn't use "All My Life" as our wedding song. Somehow in all of the pre-nuptial confusion, it never occurred to us.

I've had opportunity to see them perform on two occasions. The first time was in Frederick, Maryland, where I obtained my first autographs and was able to have a photo taken with Dewey! Wow! Not only that, but the concert was several days before the official release of "Hourglass" and I was able to hear a sampling of it live! The latest show was at Dewey Beach, Delaware, in July of 1995. We drove three and a half hours, locked ourselves out of our car at a gas station, yet still made it to the show with about two minutes to spare. All of the hassle was worthwhile however, as they performed for about two hours and we were only ten or fifteen feet from the stage. Among the songs that they sang were "The Last Unicorn" (unbelievable, but true) and "Three Roses" (very nicely done). The encore was "California Dreaming." Their live performances are very energetic and worth traveling to see!

It pains me greatly that I still don't have all of America's albums on CD, in fact, I'm still lacking "Alibi" and "The Last Unicorn" on any format. During the days when these were readily available, I was just a poor kid with no money for albums. Now I'm forced to scour the used record stores and shows regularly, but I've found that the Capitol label albums are rare. I have Dan Peek's "All Things are Possible" on LP, but I'm lacking his other recordings on any format.

Diane and I tried to pick a few of our favorite songs (excluding their greatest hits which we also love) but as you can see from the following lengthy list, this wasn't easy:

My most-loved songs are (no particular order):

• Dan:
• It's Life
• Saturn Nights
• Don't Cry Baby
• Never Found the Time
• Gerry:
• Another Try
• Till the Sun Comes Up Again
• Could've Been the One
• On Target
• Dewey:
• Moon Song
• Tall Treasures
• Three Roses
• Can't Fall Asleep to a Lullaby

Diane's most-loved songs are (no particular order):

• Dewey:
• Three Roses
• Cornwall Blank
• Molten Love
• Love on the Vine
• Moon Song
• Seasons
• Gerry:
• Submarine Ladies
• Clarice
• She's Gonna Let You Down
• To Each His Own
• Dan:
• Never Found the Time
• It's Life

Diane is a big Dewey fan and says that, "Dewey simply can't write a bad song."

Miscellaneous facts:
My favorite album is "Homecoming", but a close second would be "Silent Letter" or "View from the Ground."
Diane's favorite album is also "Homecoming", followed by "Hat Trick" and "Silent Letter" - a tie.
I keep two photos of America (including the one of Dewey and myself) and two of my wife on my desk at work.
The song that I play most often on my guitar is "Don't Cry Baby."
The song that I play most often on my piano is "Till the Sun Comes Up Again."
The song that always makes Diane dance is "Love On the Vine."
The very first CD that I purchased was "History/Greatest Hits."
My pipe dream - the release of a comprehensive CD boxed set containing previously unreleased material, extensive liner notes and complete scores.
The lyrics that I ponder most often: "Newton under roseberry topping, it's cold and it's wet and you feel like you're part of all time" - what the heck does this mean?
After naming my first three pet cockatiels, Daisy Jane, Fred and Dewey, my wife said, "Enough! No more America-related names." Besides, the next logical choice was Gerry and that's her dad's name.
I possess an LP of a radio interview with Dan Peek talking about his religious beliefs and containing cuts from his album "All Things are Possible". I assume that this is rare.
Other groups whose albums you'd find in my CD player or on my turntable: Bread, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Poco, Paul Davis, Firefall, Ambrosia and Seals and Crofts (yes, I'm a slave to the 70's).
Diane's music collection includes: David Bowie, Tori Amos, King Crimson, Live, Black Crowes and Journey (she recognized Steve Perry's voice on "Can't Fall Asleep to a Lullaby" right away).

I am desperately seeking the following:

• Alibi -- on any format
• Your Move -- on CD
• Perspective -- on any format (my cassette squeals - those cursed XDR tapes!)
• Silent Letter -- on CD
• The Last Unicorn -- on any format
• Dan Peek solo albums -- on any format

If anyone can tell me where to find the albums or songbooks that I am missing, please e-mail me at mnorth@raex.com. I am also willing to pay all costs involved in photocopying and mailing if some kind soul would photocopy their songbooks until I am able to find my own original copies. My address is:

Mark North
P.O. Box 3104
Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3104

NOTE: Mark sent Steve a message indicating that he will be moving to Akron, Ohio the end of February to attend law school. That means that Mark's e-mail and snail mail addresses will be changing. I have updated his e-mail address but I haven't received his snail mail address yet. I'll update it as soon as it becomes available.

Feel free to send your comments or questions to Mark or Diane. You can also visit their web site.