DAN PEEK RIDES THAT HIGHWAY IN THE SKY

Among the high profile passings of the great Clarence Clemmons and the troubled Amy Winehouse I fear that the death of Dan Peek might not get the attention it deserves.

I was shocked to learn that the former member of the band America passed away July 24 . I had the honor of communicating with Dan on a number of occasions and he was a kind and talented man who even helped me with a charitable venture with which I am involved regularly.

With fellow bandmates Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnel,Dan helped craft the sound of the 70's,soft rock classics one after another that defined the early part of the decade. His music still resonates after he has left us,with "Lonely People" a never give up anthem for the ages that was the highlight of his amazing music making career.

Dan left the band many years ago. He had had enough of the rock and roll lifestyle. Sex,drugs and rock and roll didn't hold the appeal it once did for Dan and he wrote about those days in a wonderful inside rock and roll book "An American Band" . Dan found solace in becoming a born again Christian and he made his mark writing,singing and producing Christian Rock. His first solo album "All Things Are Possible" was a success and even featured a reunion with his old bandmates on one of the cuts,

Dan has left us much too young..cause of death has yet to be determined. But what HAS been determined is that Dan Peek left an indelible mark on the music world. And for many more years we will be hearing Dan advise us: "Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup,and ride that highway in the sky."

And "Lonely People" concludes with a line that will always endure:

"You never know until you try,"

He gave up a lifestyle and a career as part of a classic rock group to sing his own song,one devoted to faith and spirituality.He followed his heart,he realized his dream,he comes face to face with the God that was so important to him.

Thank you Dan for your talent and your friendship.

Condolences to Dan's wife Cathy and all his friends and family.

To see Dan perform his signature song, go to www.danpeek.com

WHEN THE HEAT IS ON,NEWS ANCHORS ,MEDIA SHOULD COOL IT

I know,I know..it's July and to expect anything less than heat would be unrealistic...even though the most ardent fans of summer weather might admit its been a little extreme in these parts lately.

Yet no one glorifies and sensationalizes the heat of summer like the media. That's a little unfair as they also sensationalize the weather in winter and any other season that dares to deviate from a seasonal norm.

You see,weather is the one thing that affects each living,breathing person. And if you're a living,breathing person, the local stations want you to tune into their newscast. So when they lead with the weather-when they make heat and storms and rain and snow and cold a big deal, they think maybe you'll be more likely to watch.

There are few more annoying on air events than the news anchor (who generally confines comment to proclaiming after hearing the forecast "We'll take it!"--how insipid is that?) complains to the weather forecaster about current conditions.

ABC7's Kathy Brock has made this an art form. She spent April and May grousing and giving playful dirty looks to the weather forecaster about the chill . Thinking she is speaking for us all -as anchors tend to believe- she would say that she was "praying for warm weather" and forever badgering Jerry Taft,Mike Caplan or whomever was forecasting,about when it would ever warm up. Now in the throes of record heat,Brock is whining about how uncomfortable this is and asking for a cool off.

The media warns us about the basics-staying hydrated,cutting down on outdoor activity,using sunscreen...on and on. As if we are space aliens who have never experienced a red hot July or snowy January. We must be told in terms like "dangerous", even "life threatening."

I have lived in Chicago all my life. I've known plenty of hot summers,heatwaves,snowstorms and freezing cold. I don't need the local station or the newspaper trying to lure me with over the top weather tales. I bet you're not that naive either.

It's summer.It's hot. Stay cool. Do what is necessary to deal with the heat. Treat us all like we have a brain.