1. Kerry Allen Livgren was born on September 18,1949 and is an American musician, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the American rock band Kansas.
40 Facts About Kerry Livgren
1. 2.
Kerry Livgren formed bands such as the Gimlets, Saratoga, and eventually Kansas.
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In 1979, Kerry Livgren converted to Christianity, which influenced his subsequent work.
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Kerry Livgren continued to work with Kansas, formed a new band called AD, and pursued a solo career.
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Kerry Livgren later formed a band called Proto-Kaw, which released new material until 2011.
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Kerry Livgren was raised in Topeka, Kansas, by his father Allen Leroy, an industrial engineer, and his mother Betty.
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Kerry Livgren was drawn to music at a young age, and his first musical interests developed with classical and jazz influences.
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Kerry Livgren was a member of numerous bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s and developed a reputation for complex compositions and poetic lyrics that explored spiritual themes.
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Kerry Livgren formed his first band, the Gimlets, with several close friends in high school, including John Pribble, drums, Scott Kessler, bass, Tim Strauss, guitar, and Dan Wright on keyboards.
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In 1971, Ehart and Hope left the group, and Kerry Livgren reworked the band and continued it under the name Kansas.
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Shortly afterward, Kerry Livgren was invited by Ehart to join the re-formed White Clover, which included vocalist Walsh, violinist Robby Steinhardt, bassist Hope, guitarist Williams and Ehart on drums.
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In early 1979, Kerry Livgren became interested in The Urantia Book, a series of papers that claim to be a revelation authored by supernatural beings.
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Kerry Livgren subsequently rejected Urantia doctrine, and while on tour with the band in support of Monolith, he converted to Christianity.
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In 1980, Kerry Livgren released his first solo album, Seeds of Change.
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Meanwhile, Kerry Livgren had become increasingly dissatisfied with the band's musical direction, and he would leave the band himself shortly after Drastic Measures was released.
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Kerry Livgren has has appeared occasionally with Kansas on various tours since the 1990s and contributed new songs to The Kansas Boxed Set in 1994 and to Freaks of Nature in 1995.
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In 1983, after his departure from Kansas, Kerry Livgren recorded his second self-produced album for CBS, Time Line with Hope, Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and drummer Dennis Holt.
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Kerry Livgren has stated on several occasions that he experienced some of the highest and lowest points in his career during his time with AD.
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In 1988, Kerry Livgren released a collection of previously unreleased AD songs titled Prime Mover.
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Kerry Livgren played all instruments, and all vocals were performed by Ham.
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In 1997, Kerry Livgren rediscovered recordings of two AD performances from 1984 and 1985 that had been recorded by the soundboard engineer.
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In 1989, Kerry Livgren released his first all-instrumental album, One of Several Possible Musiks.
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Kerry Livgren played all instruments on the album, which combines orchestral, jazz and rock styles.
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Kerry Livgren then released a double-CD retrospective, titled Decade, celebrating 10 years since his first solo recording.
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Enthusiasts of Kerry Livgren's music continue to hold this album in high regard, making it very hard to find.
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In 1994, after moving back to Topeka, Kerry Livgren created GrandyZine production company and Numavox Records.
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Kerry Livgren converted a restored barn on his farm into a state-of-the-art recording and production facility.
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In 1995, Kerry Livgren released his next solo album, When Things Get Electric, on his new label.
29.
In 1998, Kerry Livgren mostly re-recorded the album Prime Mover and added five new songs and a new version of "Fair Exchange" from the Kansas album Vinyl Confessions to the reissue, Prime Mover II.
30.
In 2000, Kerry Livgren released Collector's Sedition, featuring several vocalists, including his nephew, Jake Kerry Livgren.
31.
In late 2010, Kerry Livgren announced that the members of Proto-Kaw had decided to finish working on the band's fourth CD.
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Kerry Livgren is listed as a "Famous Kansan" by the Kansas State Historical Society.
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Kerry Livgren was honored by the Kansas State Legislature with a commendation on April 28,2006.
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Kerry Livgren played on the Robin Crow album Electric Cinema and contributed a guitar solo to "Long Story", a song on Neal Morse's album Testimony.
35.
On his website, Kerry Livgren reported in July 2009 that he had recently contributed to the new album by former Kansas bandmate John Elefante.
36.
On September 1,2009, Kerry Livgren had a stroke early in the day.
37.
Kerry Livgren underwent surgery and received two stents in his carotid arteries.
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Kerry Livgren's family says his face did not have the "sagging" often found in stroke victims and he recognized family members squeezing their hands in recognition.
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Kerry Livgren has now recovered partially and has resumed work on his various musical projects.
40.
Kerry Livgren made his first post-stroke appearance with Kansas on January 28,2011 when he conducted the Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra for "Dust in the Wind" during a special concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the state of Kansas.