Beth Mercier Gray


Beth and her husband, Tom, on their wedding day, September 25, 1999, along with Justin and Jordan.
Click on the photo to see a larger version


Meet Beth Mercier Gray from Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

I am now the ripe old age of 31, and I've been listening to America since I was about 5 years old thanks to my older brothers! My very first favorite song was, of course, Horse With No Name.

The very first album I bought with my very own money was History. Sister Golden Hair was my favorite tune for about three years! I own just about every album on vinyl, and very few on CD.

I was in love with Gerry Beckley from the time I was 12 years old -- maybe even younger than that! Love his silky voice and his blonde boy-next-door look! I grew up inheriting America albums from my brothers, and then, buying them on my own. I felt their lyrics were often times just meant for me. Their music brought such comfort to my terminal teenage years. No matter what the crisis, Gerry, Dan, and Dewey could make me feel okay again.

Finally, after over a quarter-century of playing their albums, I finally got the chance to see them LIVE!! Last summer at the Dane County Fair in Madison, WI. My best friend from High School called me out of the blue and said, "America's playing in Madison, do you wanna go?" We got together for the first time since graduation, and we went to see Gerry and Dewey. We sat in the second row!! Made eye contact!! I sang along to every song! It was such a great experience, I'll treasure it forever.

Soon afterwards, I found Steve's America site on the Web, and I've been coming back here ever since! Looking forward to seeing more upcoming concert dates, and I love that he has printed the lyrics here! Great job!

I really, really need to find a way to get some of the older vinyl on CD!! Anybody have an outlet to that end??

And another thing -- who knows what the connection is with all the early albums beginning with "H"?? I've always wondered about that!!

Thanks for being here. It's great knowing there's so many more people out there who appreciate My Favorite Band!!


Here's an update from Beth received March 5, 1999.

This past February 13, 1999, I enjoyed my second live concert of my favorite band. This show took place at the Lake of the Torches Casino, in little itty bitty Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin (about 50 miles down the highway from my hometown). I learned about the show on a chance - not a subscriber to my local newspaper, I happened to spot an ad in the paper at the office. The caption read "Everyone in America will be here" (And there was Dewey and Gerry's smiling faces) "Both of Them"

Well, I couldn't believe they were going to be so close! I made plans with my boyfriend, and tried unsuccessfully to reach my old high school buddy, with whom I had attended my first America concert. Her number was no longer in service. Information had her classified as Unlisted. I turned instead to my big brother Jeff. It took a little convincing! He said, "They're not the same guys anymore, are they?" I confirmed they had lost Dan Peek. He said, "They'll probably just play all their new stuff." I assured him they would come out with "Riverside" and go all through the old favorites. He finally conceded, "Put me down for two, then."

We arrived at the Casino and I was jumping out of my skin. Picked up the tickets, and paced around waiting for the doors to open up. I bought a sweatshirt, and was told if I were lucky, they'd be out after the show signing autographs. I contemplated that for awhile, being able to make that kind of close contact with my heroes! Then we took our seats, and sure enough, the first song is "Riverside". But the sound is bad. The mix is not good. I can barely recognize the tune. But there they are! They're right in front of me, singing and playing guitar!

By the time they played "Only In Your Heart" the sound had improved. I can't quite describe the joy I felt in watching my brother's face as he recognized the song. He was grinning, and rocking in his chair. It felt so good to me, I got goosebumps. Then Gerry started into "I Need You" and my brother Jeff said, "Oh, man" and his eyes teared up. We thoroughly enjoyed the show. The encore was, of course, Horse. They had played their new song, "From a Moving Train" and also another new one, "Pages". I knew right then I would buy the new CD. As a writer, this song touched me deeply.

The show ended all too soon, and we filed out into the lobby area. Jeff, Sunnie, and I stood around talking about how true they had stayed to the early days, how they'd improved with age, gotten finer. Then Sunnie says, "There goes your man!" (Meaning Gerry) And as I turned to look, here comes Dewey! They took their places behind the t-shirt table, and began signing autographs. I wouldn't have had the courage on my own, but with my brother's wife at my elbow, I stood in line with the crowd and was rewarded with a few words with Gerry Beckley. A man I have admired and felt great affection for so long in my life, I can't remember a time I didn't know who he was. Another fan was asking if they would get up this way again soon. Gerry explained he didn't know, as so many new shows had been added to the schedule. I piped in with, "They'll be in Madison on May 23rd." The gentleman fan turned to me and said thanks. Gerry looked at me! He said, 'I used to know, but they've added 100 shows, and now I can't keep track." I smiled at him and said, 'Well, I'm on your Web Site' He grinned! He said, 'That's great! Then you know better than I do where we'll be!"

Those moments will live with me the rest of my days. I can't begin to count how many times I've sung the songs, written the lyrics in the margins of my notebooks at school, cried and been comforted by the music, the voices, even the album covers are like old and trusted friends. To have had that personal contact with Gerry Beckley, to have had it be so rewarding and real, everything comes alive again. All those old memories, the good, the bad, the pain and joy of growing up, my life as it's been. Always intertwined with America.

I went over to Dewey's side of the table. What a pleasant, friendly man he is! He was looking perplexed at a shirt lying there, said, 'Is this somebody's?" I said, "You don't want to sign the wrong shirt, eh?!" He laughed and said, "Well, no. If it doesn't belong to someone, then I'm not supposed to." I put my shirt down for him to sign and as he did I told him "I admire your work. I always have." He smiled and thanked me. I then asked him what did he think of our great North Woods? He thought a moment and then said, "Cool!" with a twinkle in his eye. And he went on to say they had played up here before. "Well, not here, where is this? Lac du Flambeau?" I said, "Yes. Lake of the Torches."

And that's my personal experience with the gentlemen of this great band. It was a thrill beyond what I can explain, but I know there are others who have had the same experience. These guys really do love their fans!

On the trip home, I learned a few things about my brother Jeff I hadn't known before. We talked about the times when I was just a child, and he and my eldest brother were teenagers. We talked about the feelings they had had, and some hard times they'd gone through. It was an awakening for me. More influence of America in my life. Jeff was regretting not being able to find his old America guitar book, that sure would have been something to have signed! He vowed to look for it harder when he got home.

He never did find that book, but I gave him the Web Site address, and he's downloaded a binder-full of songs! He's playing guitar again, after twelve or thirteen years. I was talking with his wife Sunnie on the phone two weeks ago, and Jeff was playing and singing in the background. I kidded him that everything sounds like Riverside. Sunnie told me he's going crazy trying to find the old albums on CD, so he can listen along and play more accurately.

I brought him the first three CD's last weekend. I had gone over to his place, a working ranch, to visit my horse. Hap, the original white horse, was a gift to me from Jeff and Sunnie on my thirtieth birthday, four years ago. After trimming hooves, we sat out in the barn, with their log cabin home in view. Jeff grinned at me and said, "I've got a whole America concert going in my head!" I smiled and told him I could help him with that. We went on in the house, and he cued up the stereo. He picked up his guitar and I sang along.

Wonderful. The best parts of my childhood summers were spent sitting out on the old front porch of our cabin, surrounded by brothers, two of which would play guitar and sing. And when they would play America songs, I would know the verses they had forgotten. They would encourage me to sing along louder, help carry the music.


Here's an update from Beth received September 27, 1999.

On September 25 I was married to a wonderful man named Tom Gray. Here is a link to some wedding photos.


Feel free to send your comments or questions to Beth.


Written: 21 November 1996
Last Revised: 28 September 1999