With Kansas, he achieved commercial success, writing hit songs like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind".

As the primary songwriter for Kansas, Livgren contributed to the band's worldwide success, with numerous Gold and multi-Platinum albums and over 14 million recordings sold.

Livgren was raised in Topeka, Kansas, by his father Allen Leroy, an industrial engineer, and his mother Betty (née McElhiney).

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.

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.

They soon found themselves booked after school and on weekends throughout Kansas and neighboring Missouri, where they played their original compositions, a blend of pop, English and psychedelic rock.

After graduating from Topeka West High School in 1967, Livgren continued to perform with the Gimlets through college before joining a predominantly black mainstream rhythm-and-blues band named the Mellotones, in which he met keyboard player Don Montre in 1969.

Forming a friendship, Livgren and Montre decided to leave the Mellotones and join the more commercially viable band the Reasons Why, which included Lynn Meredith and Wright.

In 1970, Livgren and Ehart decided to form a new group by combining the best members from Saratoga and Phil's band White Clover (which included Steve Walsh, Rich Williams, Hope and Jeff Glixman).

Kansas II continued to perform Livgren's original works, which fused experimental rock with psychedelia and jazz.

Kansas II generated a loyal fan following, and the built-in audience helped the band secure concert bookings.

Before Livgren joined the band, White Clover had sent out a five-song demo tape, which Don Kirshner was interested in for his new label.

As part of the effort to sign with Kirshner, the players soon renamed themselves Kansas, becoming the third, and eventually the best-known, lineup to use the name.

Because Walsh was experiencing writer's block, Livgren wrote or co-wrote all the songs for the group's fourth album, Leftoverture.

On the last day of rehearsal for the new album, Livgren brought the band one more song, which they performed once before heading to the studio.

Livgren subsequently rejected Urantia doctrine, and while on tour with the band in support of Monolith, he converted to Christianity.

The discussions between Livgren and Pollard concerned whether the Bible or the Urantia Book was the accurate record of the life of Jesus Christ.

Because of the debates, Livgren became convinced that the Bible was the genuine record of Christ and that he had been mistaken in following the teachings of the Urantia Book.

Though the album received very favorable reviews, sales were not comparable to Kansas' past successes decades earlier.

In 1983, after his departure from Kansas, Livgren recorded his second self-produced album for CBS, Time Line with Hope, Warren Ham, Michael Gleason and drummer Dennis Holt.

Due to financial difficulties, AD faded away in 1986 after releasing the album Reconstructions, though no official breakup was announced.

Enthusiasts of Livgren's music continue to hold this album in high regard, making it very hard to find.

In late 2010, Livgren announced that the members of Proto-Kaw had decided to finish working on the band's fourth CD.

Although he had suffered a stroke and was unable to play guitar or keyboard, Livgren worked with other band members to finish the project.

As primary songwriter, lead guitarist and keyboard player for Kansas, having penned such hits as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind", Livgren propelled the band to worldwide success and critical acclaim, with numerous Gold and multi-Platinum albums and more than 14 million recordings sold to date.

[3] Livgren's keyboard and guitar playing can be heard on the 2nd Chapter of Acts albums Rejoice (1981), Singer Sower (1983) and Night Light (1985).

[4] On his website, Livgren reported in July 2009 that he had recently contributed to the new album by former Kansas bandmate John Elefante.