Kerry Livgren was one of the founding members and primary writers for the '70s supergroup
Kansas. Having grown up listening to the works of classical composers (notably the Romantics such as
Liszt and
Wagner),
Livgren's songwriting technique has always tended toward orchestration -- with an ear for the majestic or the symphonic. Playing with numerous bands throughout the late '60s and early '70s -- including early incarnations of
Kansas that included
Dave Hope and
Phil Ehart --
Livgren joined White Clover in 1974, a band featuring vocalist
Steve Walsh and violinist
Robbie Steinhardt. Shortly after
Livgren joined, the group changed their name to
Kansas. As a member of
Kansas,
Livgren shared songwriting duties with
Walsh and as the group progressed, it became evident that
Livgren contributed much of what made their music so unique -- specifically, its complexity and lyrics that spoke of a restless search for truth. In 1976, while
Walsh was suffering from a bout with writer's block,
Livgren penned nearly all the songs on their
Leftoverture album, including their smash hit "Carry on Wayward Son."
The following year saw an even greater commercial success on the strength of their
Point of Know Return album, which featured the existential
Livgren-penned "Dust in the Wind." After many years of flirting with various religious teachings,
Livgren became immersed in Urantia, a then-trendy spiritualist, pantheistic faith. Many of the songs of
Kansas'
Monolith album resonate with Urantian teachings. While on tour supporting
Monolith,
Livgren converted to Christianity (as later did fellow bandmate
Dave Hope). Many of the songs on the albums to follow, particularly 1982's
Vinyl Confessions and
Livgren's first solo album Seeds of Change have a distinct (if not overbearing) Christian message. During the recording of
Vinyl Confessions, many other notable Christian artists began to gravitate toward
Kansas, specifically
John Elefante,
Warren Ham (formerly with
Bloodrock), and
Michael Gleason. Dissatisfied with
Kansas'
Drastic Measures album and the musical direction the group was taking, and also afire with his newfound faith,
Livgren,
Hope,
Ham,
Gleason, and drummer
Dennis Holt formed a new band, AD, taking on many of
Livgren's complex musical stylings, giving them an '80s spin, and injecting the freedom to sing about religious subjects.
Three albums were released with AD: Time Line, Art of the State, and Reconstructions (released after
Warren Ham's departure). Bound by contractual obligation,
Livgren was unable to release music by any vehicle other than
Kansas. As a result, the latter two AD albums were released only in the Christian market and that, combined with tours consisting primarily of small clubs and churches, allowed the public virtually no exposure to AD's music. The band ran themselves into the ground fairly quickly, acquiring some significant debts. In an attempt to pay these off,
Livgren and
Ham quickly recorded
Prime Mover, a collection of previously unrecorded AD tracks.
Livgren has since become a full-time farmer, releasing the odd album here and there. He has continued to write music and has appeared with the re-formed
Kansas from time to time. The 2000
Kansas album Somewhere to Elsewhere was recorded at
Livgren's studio in
Kansas, featuring all the original members (and bassist
Billy Greer). Each track on Somewhere to Elsewhere was written by
Livgren himself. ~ Mark W.B. Allender