There was something about the music of the 1970's that continues to pour volumes of influence onto our modern oversaturation of IPods, Microsoft tablets and other digital devices.
Rather than stacking spools of black vinyl in the corner of your teenage bedroom. Today's fan of music took a two decade time out during a generation of creative release called the compact disc.
They were expensive. Awkward for the front seat of the car. And being the former Montana champion of using 45's and albums as the next best thing to a Frisbee. CD's looked bright and beautiful like a peacock but soared through the air like a monkey with jet pack attached to its back.
I'm not shocked when I hear fans of music are discovering the art work and layout of a 1970's act. It was a simmering stew of every nation and style. The harmonies were genuine. And the lyrics were the farthest thing from embarrassment.
But today's listeners are smarter. Music isn't just about the band. Each thump of the pie arrives from a chunk of the cake. For there to be music. The requirement is unity. And that's when the fan uses their digital devices to uncover the history of legendary bass guitarists such as Billy Greer.
You know him. But you might not truly know the roots that have become the modern crop.
They write:
Sometimes, one band is not enough. That is certainly the case with
musician/ songwriter Billy Greer, best known as the bassist / backing vocalist for
legendary classic rock act, Kansas, as well as the driving force behind prog
rockers, Seventh Key.
Now with the release of I WILL SURVIVE, Greer and partner Mike Slamer
return with a new, dynamic Seventh Key CD, which many believe may be the
groupʼs strongest album yet. From the powerful title track, to its punchy closer, “I
Want It All,” this third album from Seventh Key shows the band has lost none of
its bite since 2004ʼs The Raging Fire.
“I think the new CD is maybe a little bit more hard edged and
probably some of the tracks are a little more progressive,” says Greer, who
managed to co-write and record the new album while holding down his
recording and performance duties with Kansas. In addition to his long-time
musical partner, Mike Slamer (ex-City Boy), the album also features
contributions from keyboardist David Manion; vocalist Terry Brock; and
drummer Chet Wynd. Kansas violinist David Ragsdale also is among the
special guests, playing on four tracks.
The seeds for Seventh Key began in the early 1980s, when Greer,
Slamer, and Kansas vocalist Steve Walsh were working together in the
group, Streets, which Walsh formed after departing Kansas in 1980. After
two albums on Atlantic Records, Streets went its separate ways, and
Walsh returned to a newly reformed Kansas in 1984, bringing Greer with
him. By the turn of the millennium, Greer was ready to start his own
musical project. In the end, Seventh Key came as a result of Greer’s
frustration at not being able to contribute more creatively to Kansas.
“ That is exactly what it was,” says Greer. “ I consider Steve Walsh one of
the best singers in rockʼnʼroll and that is a very big shadow to live in, especially if
you had always considered yourself a lead singer. That was what I was before I
met Steve Walsh. Because they already had a writing hierarchy in that band, I
have been kind of left out of the writing loop with Kansas. Over the years it
became a little frustrating to me. I wanted people to hear that I could sing too and
I could write my own songs, so, I decided to do my own record .”
Thatʼs when Greer decided to get his former Streets band mate, Mike
Slamer involved. Slamer became the producer and the engineer and eventually a
partner in the project, contributing writing, guitar work and backing vocals. Both
Greer and Slamer write the majority of the bandʼs material together.
“It's a collaboration but mainly Mike brings the musical ideas to the table
and I bring the melodies and the lyrics. That is the how we usually do it.”
The group was signed to Frontiers Records, who released its first CD,
entitled simply, SEVENTH KEY, to critical acclaim in 2001. THE RAGING FIRE
followed in 2004, and in 2005, a live DVD, entitled Live In Atlanta.
It would be eight years, between releases, although I WILL SURVIVE,
was actually begun in 2008 and simply took five years to complete. Slamer had
several production commitments; Greer remained very active with Kansas, and
both had personal distractions, continually pushing back the release of the CD.
“Eventually, it got finished,” laughs Greer. “We did it at Mikeʼs place in Los
Angeles. He has his finger on that melodic rock stuff that is still big in Europe,
and we went after that style. “ During the down time, the label remained patient.
“Frontiers has always been very supportive and I think we have always delivered
them a really good product.,” adds Greer.
Both Greer and Slamer believe the albumʼs title track, “I Will Survive,”
exhibits the essence of the new record. “We wanted something that was
progressive and was a Kansas-type song,” says Greer. “Obviously, I have been
with Kansas for a really long time, so obviously it has influenced me. It's a really
big song; great solos and the chorus pays off as well as any song on the album.”
While the musical make up of the song, is exactly the sound both Greer
and Slamer were going for, it is the lyrical theme of “I Will Survive,” that drives
the point of the entire album home.
“ What I was trying to say with that song is that if Kansas broke up
tomorrow, I would still survive,” says Greer. “This song is setting me up to have a
musical life even if Kansas ever decides to hang it up. But,” he says with a
pause, “don't get me wrong- I have been blessed with Kansas, and I have made
a really good living with them. I just needed Seventh Key as another creative
outlet.”
And progressive rock music fans everywhere are glad he did.

Please visit: www.billygreer.com
For more information about Seventh Key: