Editing America (band) (section)

===Recent activity and death of Dan Peek (2006–present)===
{{more citations needed section|date=July 2022}}
As the second half of the first decade of the 2000s began, the group remained very much active and popular in the nostalgia concert circuit. Though the group had occasionally issued new material on minor labels, their offerings had been largely ignored by the greater commercial music industry and record-buying public.

However, a fateful connection provided a sudden and unexpected change in fortune for the group. Around 2005, Beckley began correspondence with [[Adam Schlesinger]] of the independent rock music group [[Fountains of Wayne]]. Beckley had been a fan of the 2003 Fountains of Wayne album ''[[Welcome Interstate Managers]]'', and Schlesinger turned out to be a fan of America's work. The exchange of songs between the two resulted in them recording a few tracks together. The recordings came to the attention of [[SonyBMG]]'s new [[Burgundy Records]] label, which was impressed both by the quality of the material and by the possibility of pairing America with other independent artists. The company contracted America to record a new album with Schlesinger and his musical partner, [[James Iha]], formerly of [[the Smashing Pumpkins]], at the production helm. Entitled ''[[Here & Now (America album)|Here & Now]]'' (2007), it would be America's first major-label studio album since ''[[Perspective (America album)|Perspective]]'' in 1984.

The recording sessions at Stratosphere Sound in New York City, which ran through July, included guest musicians such as [[Ryan Adams]], [[Ben Kweller]], [[Stephen Bishop (musician)|Stephen Bishop]], [[Rusty Young (musician)|Rusty Young]] and members of the groups [[Nada Surf]] and [[My Morning Jacket]].

In an effort to aim the album toward both younger and older audiences, the label decided to bundle the new album with a second disc comprising live performances of every track from ''[[History: America's Greatest Hits]]'', previously recorded at [[XM Radio]] as part of XM's ''Then Again...Live'' series, recorded with longtime America drummer Willie Leacox, guitarist Michael Woods and bassist [[Richard Campbell (American musician)|Richard Campbell]]. In the run-up to the album's scheduled release on 16 January 2007, America attracted publicity unknown to it since the early 1980s. The release itself was well received by critics, and ''Here & Now'' went all the way to number 52 in the ''Billboard'' charts.<ref name="album charts"/>

[[File:DeweyBunnellHWoFFeb2012.jpg|thumb|left|Dewey Bunnell at a ceremony for America to receive a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in February 2012]]

In addition to receiving growing support from a new generation of musicians, America finally began to receive acclamation from the entertainment industry. In 2006 America was inducted into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vocalgroup.org/inductees/america/ |title=America |website=Vocal Group Hall of Fame |access-date=26 August 2015}}</ref> And on 6 February 2012 the group was given a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] for their contributions to music at 6752 [[Hollywood Boulevard]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/america|title=America {{!}} Hollywood Walk of Fame|website=Walkoffame.com|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/america/|title=America|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> The band continued to perform over 100 shows per year.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20090807_america_rides_in_on_horse_with_no_name |title = America rides in on 'horse with no name' |author = John Berger |date = 7 August 2009 |newspaper = Honolulu Star-Bulletin |access-date = 16 July 2011 }}</ref>
America's follow-up to ''Here & Now'' (2007) was released on 26 July 2011. Entitled ''[[Back Pages]]'', the album was a collection of twelve tracks covering songs from artists ranging from [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Joni Mitchell]] to Adam Schlesinger and the [[Gin Blossoms]]. Released on the [[E1 Music]] label, the album was produced by Fred Mollin, who had originally worked with America 31 years before on ''[[Alibi (America album)|Alibi]]''. The album was recorded in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], with the help of a number of studio musicians. The release of ''Back Pages'' was briefly overshadowed by the publicity surrounding the sudden death of founding member Dan Peek on 24 July 2011.

In February 2014 lead guitarist and background vocalist Michael Woods (Woodz), who had been with the touring band since the fall of 1977, announced his retirement from the band due to ill health. His replacement was America's current guitar tech and Nashville musician Bill Worrell, who had previously subbed for Woodz on tour in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://billworrellofficial.com/about|title=Bill Worrell - About|website=Billworrellofficial.com|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref>

In March 2014 long-time [[Beach Boys]] and [[Brian Wilson]] vocalist/guitarist [[Jeff Foskett]] subbed for Beckley at some concerts and long-time drummer Willie Leacox retired from the band in July 2014, after an almost 42-year tenure, and was replaced by former [[Reel Big Fish]] drummer [[Ryland Steen]].

In November 2014 America recorded a live performance at [[Infinity Hall]] in Hartford, CT for [[Connecticut Public Television]] that was subsequently aired nationwide in June 2015, and afterwards streamed online.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://ihlive.org/videos/america/ |title = America – Infinity Hall Live Season 04 Episode 01|website=Ihlive.org}}</ref> During late summer 2015, guitarist/keyboardist Andy Barr, from the group [[Cobra Starship]], came in for Worrell, who had a broken wrist. After healing, Worrell returned to the group until leaving for a solo career in October 2016. Barr then joined America permanently, but left himself for a solo career and was replaced by Steve Fekete in 2018.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} Long time America bassist David Dickey died on 3 December 2016 at his home in [[Sweetwater, Texas]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

In May 2019 Gonzo Multimedia released a deluxe boxed set of America's 2018 show at the [[London Palladium]] titled "America Live at The Palladium" featuring their greatest hits.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/5/28/listen-and-watch-now-america-releases-live-at-the-palladium.html |title = America releases "Live at The Palladium" deluxe boxed set |website = Abcnewsradioonline.com |access-date = 14 March 2020 |archive-date = 3 November 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221103044720/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/5/28/listen-and-watch-now-america-releases-live-at-the-palladium.html |url-status = dead }}</ref> America cancelled a string of shows in March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://1045theriver.radio.com/blogs/1045-the-river/coronavirus-covid-19-closings|website = 1045theriver.radio.com|title = Coronavirus (COVID-19) closings}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.indexjournal.com/news/breaking/coronavirus-causing-concert-cancellations/article_a02a070f-e180-5b7c-ba42-1e46fa25a4ee.html|website=Indexjournal.com |title = Coronavirus causing cancellations|date=17 March 2020 }}</ref> Thus, America's 50th Anniversary Tour was postponed and then went ahead in the summer of 2021 going forward.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.venturahighway.com/|website=VenturaHighway.com |title=Official home of music group America featuring Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell and songs Horse with No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway and others|first=Rich|last=Campbell|date=28 September 2015|access-date=16 January 2024}}</ref>

2020 also saw the release of the book ''America, the Band, An Authorized Biography'' by journalist Jude Warne.<ref name="auto"/>

In early 2024, it was announced that Gerry Beckley would be retiring from touring to spend more time at home with his family. Andy Barr, who had done stints with the band in 2015, and again in 2016-2018, was being brought back to replace Gerry on the road.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://venturahighway.com/|title=America - "Ventura Highway" Official Home|website=Venturahighway.com|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref>