Kerry Livgren

Kerry Livgren biography.
Американский гитарист Керри Ливгрен (Kerry Livgren, род. 18.9.49) начинал свою карьеру в легендарной группе KANSAS. Однако, в конце Семидесятых он уверовал в Иисуса Христа,став христианином и стал подумывать о выходе из группы. В качестве первого шага в 1980-м году он выпустил первый сольный альбом Seeds Of Change - отличный образец американского хард-рока, в записи которого принимали участие многие известные музыканты: вокалист Ронни Джеймс Дио (Ronnie James Dio, ex-ELF, RAINBOW), вокалист Стив Уолш (Steve Walsh, KANSAS), вокалист Дэйв Пэк (Dave Pack, AMBROSIA), ударник Барримор Барлоу (Barriemore Barlow, ex-JETHRO TULL), скрипач Робби Штейнхард (Robbie Steinhardt, KANSAS), ударник Фил Эхарт (Phil Ehart, KANSAS), а также басист Пол Годдард (Paul Goddard), басист Барри Гилберт (Barry Gilbert) и ударник Джон Томпсон (John Thompson). Вскоре после выпуска альбома Керри расстался с KANSAS и сосредоточился на сольной карьере. Основой для нее он выбрал свой проект AD, который изначально рассматривал, как группу для свободного время провождения. Одновременно группа AD стала трибуной, с которой Керри принялся проповедовать свои религиозные убеждения. В состав группы вошли: клавишник-вокалист Майкл Клисон (Michael Cleason), басист Дэйв Хоуп (Dave Hope, KANSAS) и ударник Деннис Холт (Dennis Holt). AD оказался очень живучим проектом, за последние двадцать лет было выпущено множество альбомов: Time Line (84), Art Of The State (85), Reconstructions (86), Prime Mover (88), Prime Mover M (98), Live (98) и сборник Decade, включивший в себя первый альбом AD и сольник Seeds Of Change. Сложно говорить о текстовом содержании этих альбомов, но вот с музыкальной точки зрения проект не подкачал и продолжает радовать поклонников Ливгрена крепким, добротным АОР-ом. В 1989-м году Керри выпустил свой второй сольный альбом - One Of Several Possible Musiks. Причина случившегося крайне проста - альбом инструментальный и, коль скоро религиозного содержания не наблюдается, Керри решил реализовать его под своим именем. В 1995-м году Ливгрен выпустил новый альбом When Things Get Electric совместно с группой CORPS DE PNEUMA. Работа над пластинкой длилась два года, и в итоге было записано тринадцать композиций Ливгрена, исполнять которые помогает скрипач из KANSAS Дэвид Рэгсдэйл (David Ragsdale). Помимо свой основной деятельности Керри активно работает сессионным музыкантом. Еще в 1978 году он написал песню Another Slant для альбома Майлона ЛеФевра (Mylon LeFevre) Love Rustler. В 1985 году отыграл на двух песнях альбома Anywhere You Go Дэвида Пэка, а год спустя снова помогал ЛеФевру в записи проекта LOOK UP. Плюс его игру можно услышать на релизах групп REJOICE, SINGER SOWER, NIGHT LIGHT.
Kerry Livgren was born in Topeka, Kansas the first son in a family of six. Drawn to music at a young age, his first musical interests developed with classical and jazz influences while his peers were embracing Elvis Presley. Starting with an electric guitar he built himself, Kerry focused on writing songs as he learned to play -- seeking to create songs that if nothing else, were original.
Kerry's first band was the Gimlets, which he formed with several close friends in high school. After school and on weekends, they soon found themselves booked throughout Kansas and neighboring Missouri. Kerry's involvement with the band continued through college, before joining the Mellotones, a mainstream rhythm and blues band. Driven by a desire for more creative expression, Kerry formed Saratoga, who played for audience members around the area, including a young drummer named Phil Ehart and a bass player, Dave Hope.
In 1970, they formed the group, Kansas, combining the best members from their respective bands. Known for their sometimes bizarre originality, the band went through several iterations before becoming the six-member group signed by Don Kirshner in 1973. Kerry remained with the band for 13 years as the band's primary song writer, lead guitarist and keyboard player. Penning such prog classics as Journey From Mariabronn and Song for America as well as hits "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind," Kerry propelled the band to worldwide success and critical acclaim, with numerous gold and multi-platinum albums.
In 1980 Kerry Livgren released his first solo work, Seeds of Change, featuring vocalists Ronnie James Dio and David Pack of Ambrosia, drummer Barriemore Barlow, and guest spots by friends from Kansas. Also accompanying the album was Kerry's book of the same name. Together, they expressed the passage and resolution of Kerry's spiritual journey, often the subject of his songs with Kansas.
Following his departure from Kansas in 1983, Kerry recorded his second self-produced album for CBS, Timeline, in the same year. With the musicians involved in that project, he formed the band, AD. Between 1983 and 1986, the band released two albums and toured extensively.
Kerry next signed with Sparrow records and released Prime Mover in 1988, followed by his first instrumental work, One of Several Possible Musiks in 1989. Exploring a new musical direction, this confluence of orchestral and rock styles received the Dove Award for Instrument...Kerry Livgren was born in Topeka, Kansas the first son in a family of six. Drawn to music at a young age, his first musical interests developed with classical and jazz influences while his peers were embracing Elvis Presley. Starting with an electric guitar he built himself, Kerry focused on writing songs as he learned to play -- seeking to create songs that if nothing else, were original.
Kerry's first band was the Gimlets, which he formed with several close friends in high school. After school and on weekends, they soon found themselves booked throughout Kansas and neighboring Missouri. Kerry's involvement with the band continued through college, before joining the Mellotones, a mainstream rhythm and blues band. Driven by a desire for more creative expression, Kerry formed Saratoga, who played for audience members around the area, including a young drummer named Phil Ehart and a bass player, Dave Hope.
In 1970, they formed the group, Kansas, combining the best members from their respective bands. Known for their sometimes bizarre originality, the band went through several iterations before becoming the six-member group signed by Don Kirshner in 1973. Kerry remained with the band for 13 years as the band's primary song writer, lead guitarist and keyboard player. Penning such prog classics as Journey From Mariabronn and Song for America as well as hits "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind," Kerry propelled the band to worldwide success and critical acclaim, with numerous gold and multi-platinum albums.
In 1980 Kerry Livgren released his first solo work, Seeds of Change, featuring vocalists Ronnie James Dio and David Pack of Ambrosia, drummer Barriemore Barlow, and guest spots by friends from Kansas. Also accompanying the album was Kerry's book of the same name. Together, they expressed the passage and resolution of Kerry's spiritual journey, often the subject of his songs with Kansas.
Following his departure from Kansas in 1983, Kerry recorded his second self-produced album for CBS, Timeline, in the same year. With the musicians involved in that project, he formed the band, AD. Between 1983 and 1986, the band released two albums and toured extensively.
Kerry next signed with Sparrow records and released Prime Mover in 1988, followed by his first instrumental work, One of Several Possible Musiks in 1989. Exploring a new musical direction, this confluence of orchestral and rock styles received the Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.
Livgren concluded this period with his final album for Sparrow. Decade was a double CD retrospective marking ten years since his first solo recording. Featuring two complete albums, excerpts from others and previously unreleased songs, the set continues to be highly regarded among enthusiasts of his music.
In 1994, Kerry moved from Atlanta back to his home town of Topeka Kansas. Once there, he initiated his production companies, Grandyzine, and record company, Numavox Records. As part of this work, he constructed a state-of-the-art recording and production facility on his farm, in the frame of a restored barn. This studio would serve as the nexus of his and many other musician's work through the present day.
"Though I dearly love Georgia, it was great to be back in Kansas (the state) again. I immediately felt at home. There's something about returning to your roots that's inspiring." Composed over the period of two years, Kerry's next album clearly expressed this sentiment as one his most celebrated. Entitled "When Things Get Electric," this 1995 release was also the debut album for Kerry's new label.
Over the next several years, Mr. Livgren worked on recording projects with other artists, before returning to solo work in 1997. That year saw the release of his first soundtrack, for the third SONY's Mind's Eye computer animation feature, comprising the work of more than 100 computer artists.
Numavox released Prime Mover II in the spring of 1998, a complete re-recording of Livgren's original 1988 album (Sparrow), plus five new tracks featuring the single "Incantos", which he described as another completely new direction, and one of his most inspired lyrics. The CD also features his first re-recording of a Kansas song. ("Fair Exchange" from Vinyl Confessions.)
His next CD was the solo effort, Collector's Sedition Volume One, on Numavox. It featured the talents of several vocalists, including Kerry's nephew, Jake Livgren. "Jake began singing with me on a family trip to Georgia in 1992," Kerry says. "We were just goofing around in the studio but I quickly realized he had serious potential and lacked only experience. Over time my instincts have proven to be correct."
The new millennium saw the reunion of Kansas for the much anticipated release, Somewhere to Elsewhere. For this album, Kerry Livgren returned to his traditional role as the group's songwriter, lead guitarist and keyboardist. Recorded at the Numavox Studio, Kerry also produced the album. Many longtime fans feel it to be among the band's very best.
In 2002, Kerry released The Best of Kerry Livgren, an album celebrating 20 years since his first solo album. Both retrospective and forward-looking, it contains tracks from all his solo releases and those with the band, AD. There are also 2 new songs and new recordings of 4 others. Each of these new versions features the original vocalists, including Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and Ronnie James Dio.
Last year also saw the release of Proto-KAW, an album of Kerry's songs performed by Kansas II (the band which preceeded the familiar Kansas) from 1971-3. Released by Cuneiform records, it quickly became the best-selling CD in their history, garnering wide acclaim in publications such as Rolling Stone. Demand for a sequel was high, and Kerry felt the group had much unexplored potential. He reformed the group, some 30 years later (with the original members) and wrote new songs for a new album. It was released in April of 2004 on Inside Out records.
Kerry's following release will be the most ambitious of his career. An epic, orchestral and vocal composition, The Resurrection of Lazarus has been under development for almost 20 years. The album features a large ensemble cast, scheduled to include Matthew Ward (Second Chapter of Acts), Monty Colvin (Galactic Cowboys), Neal Morse, John Elephante, Phil Keaggy, David Pack (Ambrosia) and Phil Ehart (Kansas). Its scheduled release is fall, 2004.
Though Kerry Livgren is known for his music, he will quickly point out that it is only one of his many pursuits. "I'm a family man, I have a role in my church, I'm running a record label, a studio, a production company, a farm, and I have more hobbies and interests than there are hours in the day."
Courtesy of: http://www.numavox.com/
Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
Well, lets see Kansas is here and Proto-Kaw is here and this is the main songwriter of both. Steve Walsh is here and that is funny because he was the guy who pushed Kansas towards being a stright ahead rock band while Kerry wrote all of the symphonic classics from Journey Dromm Mariabronn, Apercu, Death Of Mother Nature Suite, Son For America, The Pinnacle etc. I think this additon is long overdue!
'Nuff Said!
Discography:
Solo
1980: Seeds of Change
1988: Prime Mover (see Prime Mover II)
1989/1996: One Of Several Possible Musiks*
1992: Decade
1995: When Things Get Electric
1997: Odyssey Into The Mind's Eye (DVD)
1997: Odyssey Into The Mind's Eye (Soundtrack)
1998: Prime Mover II
2000: Collector's Sedition Volume I
2002: The Best of Kerry Livgren
http://www.numavox.com