Soundstage with America

America's songs strike deep and remain in your heart. The years have slipped by, but not their music, sounding as fresh tonight on PBS's Soundstage as it did in the early 1970s, when "A Horse with No Name" and "Ventura Highway" soared to the top of the charts. Every time I drive Highway 101 between Ventura and Santa Barbara, enjoying the serenity of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, I hear and sing those beautiful songs.

At the height of the rock era, America gained success as an acoustic band. Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley (pictured) still drive America, and to me, they sing and play better than ever. The rest of their band came across beautifully. On two numbers, they were joined by banjo player, album cover artist, and rock photographer Henry Diltz and singer Christopher Cross. For almost an hour, America played one song after another, evoking memories and images spanning the decades. Soundstage showed once again how very, very good television can be.