Artist:Kerry Livgren f/Ronnie James Dio
Song:Mask of the Great Deceiver
Album:Seeds of Change
Kerry Livgren is best known as the guitarist and main songwriter for the popular 70s band Kansas. After he became a born again Christian in 1979, he recorded the 1980 album Seeds of Change. This caused conflict in Kansas and led to Livgren's 1983 departure. His music is no different from Kansas. But the lyrics are Christian. Livgren was born Sept. 18,1949 in Topeka, KS. As a child, he rigged up a homemade electric guitar and started writing songs. While in high school, Livgren formed the band The Gimlets and they played local shows. He was also in the R&B band The Mellotones with keyboardist Don Montre. They left and joined The Reasons Why. They weren't happy there and formed Saratoga and that became Kansas. So we all know how successful Kansas was in the 70s. While Kansas was on tour in 1979, Livgren became a Christian after talking to Jeff Pollard of Le Roux who were on tour with Kansas. That's when Livgren recorded the 1980 album Seeds of Change. Several Kansas members played on the album. Ronnie James Dio of Black Sabbath sang lead on Mask of the Great Deceiver. Other guests include Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow, Jeff Pollard of Le Roux, Mylon LeFevre and David Pack of Ambrosia. This album is available on CD. Livgren recorded three more albums with Kansas. But there was tension within the band over the Christian lyrics of his songs. Livgren left Kansas in 1983 and formed a new band AD. They recorded four albums but were unsuccessful because they were not allowed to market the band to the secular market. After AD split up in 1989, Livgren recorded solo for his own label until he formed the band Proto-Kaw in 2003. They recorded four albums and ended after Livgren suffered a 2009 stroke. Obviously that slowed him down. But Livgren has performed occasionally and released a couple of albums. Here's Kansas performing Mask of the Great Deceiver 1980.
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