America: TV Guide Article

February 21-27 l998

Grammys Turn 40

(complete text at bottom)

No Grammy category is as hit or miss as Best New Artist. Some winners go on to flourish (Bette Midler): others disappear without a trace (A Taste of Honey). Stef McDonald checks in with four former winners of this fluky honor.

BEGINNER'S LUCK

Competition (for America) in 1972: Harry Chapin, the Eagles, Loggins and Messina, John Prine (AMERICA WON!!!)

Pick for 1998: "Fiona Apple is very talented gal," says Dewey Bunnell. "Gerry is always raving about Puff Daddy."

Riding high on the success of their mystical folkie hit, "A Horse With No Name," America didn't bother showing up to accept their Best New Artist award. The young trio (Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley were 20, Dan Peek was 21) instead played a concert on Grammy night. "We could have changed our schedule," says Bunnell, now 46, "but we thought it would be hipper to watch it from the road." (Dusty Springfield accepted for the band.)

The band is still working (Peek left in 1977), putting together America's 20th album in Beckley's home studio in Los Angeles. And they're still touring, but without quite as many amenities. "We never left the road,": says Bunnell. "We do 130-150 shows a year. In the '70s, we had private planes and the whole thing. We were rock stars, but that gets old and expensive after a while. But I would certainly opt for that lifestyle again."

Bunnell and Beckley are still a little surprised they won Best New Artist, given the competition. "Whenever I see Glenn Frey or any of the Eagles now," says Bunnell, "the only thing I can ever say is, 'We beat you guys.'"

Picture: Beckley (left in glasses) and Bunnell today; the band in '71 (Peek at far right)