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Phil Ehart

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Phil Ehart
Phil Ehart performing with Kansas in 2012
Phil Ehart performing with Kansas in 2012
Background information
Born (1950-02-04) February 4, 1950 (age 74)
Coffeyville, Kansas
GenresRock, progressive rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums

Phillip W. Ehart (born February 4, 1950)[1] is the drummer in the progressive rock band Kansas.[2] He and Rich Williams are the only two members who have appeared on every Kansas album. Though his songwriting contributions to the group were few, he co-wrote two of their biggest hits, "Point of Know Return" and "Play the Game Tonight". He has also taken on the band's management responsibilities in recent years.

Early life

Born in Coffeyville, Kansas on February 4, 1950, Ehart became a drummer in grade school. The United States Air Force stationed his father in such places as England, the Philippines, and Japan.[3]

Career

Ehart contacted Kerry Livgren about joining a band named White Clover after hearing that Livgren's second iteration of Kansas had recently disbanded. With White Clover, he performed at the New Orleans Pop Festival in 1969, which had a huge impact on him.[4] White Clover was renamed Kansas. This third iteration of Kansas became the well-known American progressive rock band.

Like many American musicians in the early 1970s, Ehart wanted to more closely study and play the British style of popular music, so he moved to England. He did not find the atmosphere welcoming, as the musicians there were happier to learn the country and rhythm and blues styles that Ehart brought with him, so he quickly returned to America.[5] In 1978, he and Kansas singer Steve Walsh were invited to play on Steve Hackett's second solo album, Please Don't Touch.

Ehart endorses Yamaha drums,[6] Evans drumheads, Promark drumsticks, and is a longtime user of Zildjian cymbals.[7] Past endorsements include Ludwig Drums, Drum Workshop, Slingerland drums, and Paiste cymbals.[citation needed]

Personal life

Phil Ehart is a father of one son, Noah, and one daughter, Avery. Due to Noah's autism, Ehart has become an autism advocate and traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak at the Unlocking Autism Power of One conference in 2001.[citation needed] He resides in Henry County, Georgia with his wife, Laurie, just outside of Atlanta where his house was specially crafted for his son's autism needs.

References

  1. ^ "You searched: Phil Ehart 19500204". Public Background Checks. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  2. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Kansas". AMG. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  3. ^ Romano, Will. "Phil Ehart of Kansas on the Roots of Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, and the New Prelude Implicit Album". Modern Drummer. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "Interview: Phil Ehart (Kansas)". June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Phil Ehart - Drummer". Modern Drummer Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "Phil Ehart". Yamaha Drums. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Phil Ehart Zildjian Artist". Zildjian. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
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