Had social media existed a half-century ago, the music careers of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek might have ended within moments of the band’s name being blasted out to the masses: Who are you guys to call yourselves America? #Pretentious #LoseTheEgos. Indeed, the trio likely never would’ve been given the chance to explain why they chose America: As sons of U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in London in the late 1960s, Beckley, Bunnell and Peck simply wanted to identify their nationality, lest they be labeled Brits trying to sound American.

But America was given the opportunity to let their music do the talking. And needless to say, pop-music fans liked what they heard, starting with the No. 1 hit “A Horse With No Name,” which helped earn them the 1972 Grammy for Best New Artist. Although Peek left the group in 1977, Beckley and Bunnell have waved the America flag by releasing new material and live albums, all while touring. –Matt Jacob

Golden Nugget, 8 p.m. Feb. 9, starting at $31.61 plus tax & fee. 866.946.5336