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Phil Ehart is the drummer in the rock band Kansas, who, along with Rich Williams, has appeared on every Kansas album. He has also taken on the band's management responsibilities in recent years. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas on February 4, 1951, Phil took up the drums in grade school. Ehart contacted Kerry Livgren about joining White Clover after hearing that Livgren's band Kansas (the second band of that name) had recently disbanded. White Clover in time renamed to Kansas. This third Kansas is the band that became the well-known American progressive rock band.
Ehart's drumming style has indeed been the starting point for many drummers since the 1970s with a classic heavy yet tasteful style. In the early 1970's Phil, like many American musicians, wanted to more closely study and play the "British" style of music that was popular at the time, so he moved to England. Unfortunately, he did not find the atmosphere too welcoming, as the musicians there were happier to learn the country and rhythm and blues styles that Phil brought with him, so he quickly returned to America.
Phil Ehart is the father of a little boy named Noah who has autism. Over recent years Phil has become an autism advocate and traveled to Washington, DC to speak at the Unlocking Autism Power of One conference in 2001. Phil's wife, Laurie, has joined him in his journey to help their son Noah and other children with autism.
