Mark Maley

Meet Mark Maley from Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

The first time I saw America in concert was 1973 or 1974, when they played in front of about 15,000 fans in the Auditorium in Chicago. Opening act was Eric Carmen.

What impresses me most about Dewey and Gerry is their enthusiasm for their music and their respect for their fans. Could you imagine singing "Horse with No Name," "Tin Man,' "Daisy Jane" and their other hits in 200 concerts a year for the last 20 years? Yet, every time I've seen them on stage, they are enthusiastic and don't just go through the motions ‹ like some groups from the '70s do.

I've seen them play for small crowds, like 100 people, and in crowds with thousands of people, and the enthusiasm and energy is always there!

The other thing I admire about Gerry and Dewey is that they're still coming up with new music!! It would be easy for them to go around the country and play county fairs and casinos and just keep rehashing the old songs with no attempt to try anything new (like Three Dog Night, for example). But the last album, "Hourglass," was excellent.. I really believe the song "Hope" could have been a hit single for them.

Like most of the people who are going to read this, I'm really looking forward to their new album. And I give America a lot of credit for staying in the studio and coming out with new stuff!!

On a personal note, I just turned 40 (yech!) and I'm married, and live in Oak Creek, Wis., which is a suburb of Milwaukee (Home of Laverne and Shirley, and Fonzie..etc.) My wife likes America, but she's not the fanatic that I am.

I'm a writer and an editor for a newspaper in Milwaukee...And when I'm not listening to America, I'll have Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Cat Stevens on the CD player...(OK, so I'm a folkie from the '70s ‹ what can I say?)

If you'd like to share your thoughts on America, or just want to say "hi", I'm at MarkM2@worldnet.att.net.

Feel free to send your comments or questions to Mark.