Chris Biggs

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     Chris was born in 1958 in Kansas City, the youngest of five children. His parents, John and Bernice, also lived in Abilene, Kansas for much of their lives and eventually moved to Manhattan, Kansas where Chris went to school, including Kansas State University. For most of Chris' life his mother was a secretary at KSU and his dad worked at a hardware store. Chris loved to fish in the Big Blue River, play basketball and pick the banjo. He still does. Chris learned to sing, write songs and play instruments from his older brother, John, who had a successful career as a touring professional for many years.

     Chris is noted for his rich voice and skills on the acoustic guitar — particularly when it comes to flatpicking fiddle tunes. He was strongly influenced by guitar greats Doc Watson, Norman Blake and Dan Crary. Chris has written many songs, a number of which he performs with the bluegrass band Kansas Heart (see more on Kansas Heart below).  He placed third on three occasions at the National Flat Pick Guitar Champion­ship and has placed first at the Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships on both guitar and banjo.  He now performs regularly in a duo with Ken Gustin, and plays banjo with a gospel group, North Forty, headed by his long-time friend, Al Bowyer. He also performs with Scott Tichenor, a friend and renowned mandolin player from Lawrence, Kansas.  He has performed with Steve Hinrichs as a duo, and periodically performs with other area musicians, including Robert Rosenberg, Alice Boyle, and Bob Atchison.  Chris loves the tone of his old guitars.

     Chris also has a successful life in public service. He graduated from KU law school in 1983. He was Geary County Attorney for almost 15 years, prose­cuting the most serious criminal cases. He served as the Kansas Securities Commissioner from 2003–2010 and as the Kansas Secretary of State from March 16, 2010 until January 10, 2011. He currently is in private practice in Manhattan, KS, and resides in the Flint Hills near Junction City with his wife.  Read more on Wikipedia.

     Chris takes pride in his humble beginnings.  He worked his way through college and law school playing music and giving guitar and banjo lessons.  Music provides a wonderful balance to his professional life.

Kansas Heart

Kansas Heart is a band with a strong bluegrass tradition, combining some of the best bluegrass talents from Kansas. Their music is warm and lively, as the band members' musical prowess on traditional acoustic bluegrass instruments is blended with original material and modern vocal arrangements.

Schedule

Nothing scheduled at this time.   Check the Events tab for future engagements.

The Band

Chris Biggs is known by many for his powerful guitar playing and warm baritone voice, and is known as one of the best guitar talents anywhere.  Chris' CD, Blue Flannel Friday, features his multidimensional guitar playing, singing and song writing. The band performs many of his songs and his guitar playing is a strong asset to the group.  The band also features Midwestern banjo man, Mike Theobald. In the early 1960's, Mike and his father Jack helped introduce bluegrass music to Kansas, and are proud to have formed Kansas' first bluegrass band. They produced several albums, appeared at major bluegrass festivals in the Midwest, including the first Walnut Valley Festival in 1972. They became regulars on the Winfield lineup for several years in the 1970's and 1980's. Mike has appeared on many radio and TV programs, including the Nashville Network.

Mike is joined by his wife, Vickie Lynn Theobald, who provides solid mandolin playing and warm clear vocals. She is responsible for many of the vocal arrangements and helps produce, with Mike, the Kansas Heart CDs. Mike and Vickie have made Winfield appearances as part of the group Blue Plate Special, and again in 2001 and 2007 as part of Kansas Heart.

Bob Atchison of Manhattan, Kansas has been playing old-time fiddle since 1976 and has won several contests including the 1984 Arkansas State Old- Time Fiddle Championship. He enjoys playing a variety of fiddle styles with a preference for Appalachian and Missouri fiddling. During his residency in Arkansas, Bob performed at the Ozark Folk Center and the Grandpa Jones Dinner Theater. He has played at a variety of festivals including the Walnut Valley Festival and the Big Muddy Folk Festival with his wife Melissa, the Leatherwoods, Cathy Barton and Dave Para, Ron Wall and Kansas Heart.

Rick Desko of Overland Park, Kansas rounds out the group on bass. Rick is a veteran of many Kansas and Colorado bands and his smooth and solid bass playing provides the foundation for the Kansas Heart sound. Rick is also a Winfield veteran, having played banjo with the Bluegrass Attack in 1976.
Rick also plays bugarija with Kolograd.

Warning:  All the members of this band have been seen playing a banjo.

Together, this group presents quality music that is rich, warm, fun and unpretentious: Kansas Heart.