Michael Gleason

Michael Gleason is an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members of the 1980s rock band AD. Biography Gleason grew up around Wichita, Kansas. He was drawn to music at a young age. When he was in high school and early college he became increasingly interested in 1970s progressive rock music. In particular, he was an admirer of Kansas. He had performed in night clubs for years before he joined Kansas as a touring member. Despite being increasingly attracted by rock music, he did not choose a typical rock'n'roll lifestyle but he wanted to share a positive message, written from a Christian worldview. As Gleason stated in an interview in 1990, "I had the very good fortune of being raised in a home with two parents who were strong committed believers. So whether Jesus Christ was the truth or was real was never really a question. It was in my earliest upbringing. It was a natural part of me as a child. Of course, there came that moment of truth later on as an adolescent where I internalised that and made it my own. I'm committed to it, and have seen it borne out in the lives of people around me". Early 1980s Being an admirer of the music of Kansas and their main songwriter, Kerry Livgren, Gleason did some multi-track studio work that he sent to a post office box, which was on Livgren's first solo album, Seeds of Change from 1980. Several months later, Livgren called him back and asked him if he could join him on a new solo record. After vocalist Steve Walsh left Kansas in 1981, Gleason was among the hopefuls to become the new Kansas frontman, along with Warren Ham and others. Although John Elefante became new lead singer and keyboardist of Kansas, both Gleason and Ham left an impression on Livgren and were invited to join Kansas in the Drastic Measures tour in 1983 as touring members. Gleason played additional keyboards and added background vocals. AD, 1983–1988 In 1983, Livgren recorded his second solo release along with himself on guitar and keyboard, Michael Gleason on vocals, keyboards and guitar, Warren Ham on saxophone, flute, harmonica and vocals, David Hope on bass, and Dennis Holt on drums.