Kerry Livgren

Kerry Allen Livgren (born September 18, 1949) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.

Biography

Livgren was raised in Topeka, Kansas by his father, Allen Leroy, an industrial engineer, and his mother, Betty (nee McElhiney). He was drawn to music at a young age, his first musical interests developed with classical and jazz influences. His musical odyssey started with an electric guitar he built using a cheap Stella guitar, a Sears amplifier and a low-quality Astatic microphone. Along with learning guitar, Livgren also focused on learning to write songs due to his desire for more creative expression and originality. He attended Washburn University for some time.

Early years, 1960s–1973

Livgren was a member of numerous bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s and quickly developed a reputation for complex compositions and poetic lyrics that explored spiritual themes. His investigations into various religions are reflected in the lyrics of his songs on Kansas' first six albums. He explored themes such as reincarnation, astral travel, apparitions, nihilism and human frailty, among others.

Fair Exchange

Fair Exchange may refer to:

Fair Exchange (TV series)

Fair Exchange is an American television comedy that ran from 1962 to 1963 on CBS. It stars Eddie Foy, Jr. and Audrey Christie.

Premise

Eddie Walker (Foy) and Tommy Finch (Victor Maddern) were World War II veterans and old friends who decided to have their daughters live in each other's households for a year because Eddie's daughter Patty (Lynn Loring) wanted to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. While Patty lived in London with Tommy, his wife Sybil (Diana Chesney) and their son, Neville (Dennis Waterman), their daughter, Heather (Judy Carne) lived with Eddie and Dorothy Walker and their son, also named Tommy (Flip Mark).

The show focuses on the difficulties that Heather and Patty experience as they live in each other's families.

Fair Exchange replaced Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone on CBS's fall schedule in 1962. The series was the first hour-long sitcom since the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, but it was dropped. After mail protested CBS's decision, the network revived Fair Exchange in a half-hour format, but again the series failed in the ratings and was finally cancelled.

Vinyl Confessions

Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). It includes "Play the Game Tonight", which broke the Top 20 and is Kansas's third highest-charting single, surpassed only by "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind". The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2011.

Background

Vinyl Confessions was a major turning point for the band. After the conversion of both guitarist/keyboard player Kerry Livgren and bass player Dave Hope to Christianity, and the focus that Livgren placed on his religion in the band's lyrics, lead singer Steve Walsh did not agree with the new direction of the band and left to form his own band, Streets. Walsh had also contributed much as a songwriter, so the band was forced to find a new lead singer who not only had a vocal style that fit the band's music, but also could contribute material for the upcoming album. After a long audition process, the choice came down to three strong candidates: Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and John Elefante. The band eventually settled on Elefante.