Richard Williams is the guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

ist for the rock band

Rock Band

Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...

 Kansas

Kansas (band)

Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...

, and has been with them since their 1974 self-titled debut album. Rich lost his right eye in a childhood fireworks accident. He wore a prosthetic eye

Ocular prosthesis

An ocular prosthesis or artificial eye replaces an absent natural eye following an enucleation, evisceration, or orbital exenteration. The prosthetic fits over an orbital implant and under the eyelids. Often referred to as a glass eye, the ocular prosthesis roughly takes the shape of a convex...

 for many years, but now wears an eye patch instead.

In the beginning, Williams shared guitar duties with keyboardist/guitarist Kerry Livgren

Kerry Livgren

Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...

. Livgren was also Kansas' chief songwriter. In the late '80s, Williams shared the stage with guitar virtuoso Steve Morse

Steve Morse

Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...

. Years later, after some personnel changes in Kansas, Williams found himself as the only guitar player. While Livgren's sound could be described as virtuosic and bright, Williams' style was well balanced with his melodic and mellow sound. Williams and Phil Ehart are the only two members of Kansas who have never left the band, and have been present for all Kansas albums to date.

Among the songs he co-wrote with the band are "Can I Tell You

Can I Tell You

Can I Tell You is the first single by American progressive rock band Kansas. It was written by Rich Williams, Phil Ehart, Dave Hope, and Steve Walsh and is the first track on the band's debut album Kansas...

", "Don't Open Your Eyes" and "No Room for a Stranger."

Discography

• Kansas (1974)
• Song for America
  Song for America
  Song for America is the second album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1975. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2004....
  
  (1975)
• Masque (1975)
• Leftoverture
  Leftoverture
  Leftoverture is the fourth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001.-Overview:...
  
  (1976)
• Point of Know Return
  Point of Know Return
  Point of Know Return is the fifth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2002.The huge success of Kansas's previous effort, Leftoverture, brought a new kind of pressure...
  
  (1977)
• Two for the Show (1978)
• Monolith (1979)
• Audio-Visions
  Audio-Visions
  Audio-Visions is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1980. The album was remastered and reissued in 2011, as a Japanese import vinyl-replica....
  
  (1980)
• Vinyl Confessions
  Vinyl Confessions
  Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album, and ninth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 . The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2011.-Background:...
  
  (1982)
• Drastic Measures
  Drastic Measures
  Drastic Measures is the ninth studio album, and tenth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1983.The shift in direction that Kansas took with Vinyl Confessions took its toll before recording began on this album...
  
  (1983)
• The Best of Kansas
  The Best of Kansas
  The Best of Kansas is the first compilation album and 11th album overall from the American rock band Kansas. It was originally released in 1984, and featured one new track, "Perfect Lover," written and performed by then-lead vocalist John Elefante...
  
  (1984)
• Power (1986)
• In the Spirit of Things
  In the Spirit of Things
  In the Spirit of Things is the 11th studio album, and 13th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1988 . It is a very loosely organized concept album telling the story of a flood hitting the real Kansas town of Neosho Falls in the early 1950s...
  
  (1988)
• Live at the Whisky
  Live at the Whisky
  -Track listing:#"Introduction" – 1:04#"Howlin' at the Moon" from "Magnum Opus" – 1:31#"Paradox" – 4:11#"Point of no Return" – 4:44#"Song for America" – 8:57...
  
  (1992)
• Freaks of Nature
  Freaks of Nature
  Freaks of Nature is the 12th studio album, and 17th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1995. While the band hoped that it would be a springboard to a strong comeback, the album received little attention beyond what was left of the fan base...
  
  (1995)
• Always Never the Same (1998)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas
  King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas
  King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas is the third live album, and the 19th album overall, from American rock band Kansas, released in 1998 . In 2003, the album was re-titled and re-released as Greatest Hits Live...
  
  (1998)
• Somewhere to Elsewhere
  Somewhere to Elsewhere
  Somewhere to Elsewhere is the 14th studio album, and 20th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 2000.This album marks the reunion of the band's original 1970s lineup, along with Billy Greer, who joined Kansas with Power. Kerry Livgren composed all of the album's tracks, and he sings ...
  
  (2000)
• Device, Voice, Drum
  Device, Voice, Drum
  Device, Voice, Drum is the fourth live album, and 21st album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 2002 . It is a double-CD companion to the DVD of the same name....
  
  (2002)
• There's Know Place Like Home
  There's Know Place Like Home
  There's Know Place Like Home is Kansas' fifth live and 26th overall album. It was released as a double CD and also on DVD on October 13, 2009 and Blu-ray on November 23, 2009...
  
  (2009)