It registered commanding spots on the charts of 14 countries, including the Billboard 200 and Top Rock Albums charts at home. A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. In early 1982 Walsh was replaced by vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist John Elefante,[4] whounknown to Livgren and Hope at the timewas also a Christian. Somewhere to Elsewhere, released in July 2000, featured all the original members of Kansas, plus Greer, with all songs written by Livgren. Sony Music released a boxed set in 2004 titled Sail On which featured unique KANSAS cuts as well as vintage video footage on the DVD disc that was included. Leftoverture was a breakthrough for the band, hitting No. In the end, we told him that he needed to go away for a while. Former Kansas band violinist Robby Steinhardt dies from pancreatitis In 2009, in their hometown of Topeka, KANSAS celebrated their 35th Anniversary with a symphonic concert, accompanied by the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Larry Baird. Available on both DVD and Blu-Ray, Theres Know Place Like Home includes favorites such as Dust In The Wind, Carry On Wayward Son and Point of Know Return as well as a sampling from each album in their discography, with a special symphonic touch. The band's current lineup features constant members Williams (currently as lead guitarist) and Ehart, alongside bassist and vocalist Billy Greer (since 1985, co-lead vocalist since 2006), violinist and rhythm guitarist David Ragsdale (from 1991 to 1997, and since 2006), vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt (since 2014), and keyboardist Tom Brislin (since 2018). Steinhardt's violin was a distinctive element of the group's sound, being defined more by heartland rock than the jazz and classical influences which most progressive rock violinists followed. Alex Lifeson joined them on stage for a short set of Kansas before Geddy Lee flew in to join Alex for a Rush set, with Ehart on drums subbing for Neil Peart.[11]. KANSAS, America's legendary progressive rock band, will release their new live album Point of Know Return Live & Beyond on May 28, 2021. . ", "KANSAS drummer Phil Ehart has sustained an arm injury Kansas Band | Classic Rock Band | the Absence of Presence", "Kansas celebrate their half-century with Another Fork In The Road 50 Years Of Kansas", "How 'Carry on Wayward Son' became Supernatural's unofficial theme song", "James Corden And Jim Parsons Nail Their Version Of 'Dust In The Wind', "The Suicide Soundtrack: The Songs That James Gunn Picked First", Innerviews: Career-Spanning 2015 Band Interview, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kansas_(band)&oldid=1148646627, Ronnie Platt lead and backing vocals, keyboards, This page was last edited on 7 April 2023, at 12:57. After a final New Year's Eve performance on December 31, 1983, Livgren and Hope left to form AD with Warren Ham and Michael Gleason. [1] Career From the band's 1976 album Leftoverture, the songs "Opus Insert" and the epic "Magnum Opus" could both be the inspiration for the name. [22] Due to manufacturing delays, the album was released on July 17, 2020. [30], Kansas's musical style, a fusion of hard rock, southern rock, and progressive rock,[31] was influenced by several bands. This would be the final album with the original lineup (until they briefly reunited in 19992000), and also the last Kansas studio album to be certified gold by the RIAA. [30] After Walsh initially only stated that "it's time for me to go", it was later revealed that the singer was experiencing vocal problems and had lost interest in the band, with guitarist Rich Williams explaining later that "Steve was really struggling [he] had been struggling for years with his voice, but besides that, he just wasn't enjoying it any more. The album generated a Top 40 single in "People of the South Wind", whose title refers to the meaning of the 'Kanza' (Kaw) Native American people, after whom the state and the band are named. The original members were Don Henley (b. July 22, 1947, Gilmer, Texas, U.S.), Glenn Frey (b. November 6, 1948, Detroit, Michigand. [4] The band has produced nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums (Leftoverture 4, Point of Know Return 4, and The Best of Kansas 4), one other platinum studio album (Monolith), one platinum live double album (Two for the Show), and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas is an American progressive rock band from Topeka, Kansas. Kansas is an American rock band that became popular during the 1970s initially on album-oriented rock charts and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind". Nevertheless, the album eventually went platinum. It led to a new studio album, Before Became After (2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. On July 24, 2014 the band announced that their longtime lighting specialist David Manion would be handling the main keyboard parts for the band on stage along with Platt, giving the group a full-time keyboardist for the first time since Greg Robert's departure in 1997. Two more singles, the title track and "Can't Cry Anymore", were less successful, "Power" hitting the lower end of the Hot 100 and getting substantial play and charting on the Rock Charts, but "Can't Cry Anymore" receiving little airplay despite a clever music video. The song is frequently played throughout the show Supernatural and also appears in Supernatural: The Anime Series (as the ending for each episode). Kansas bandmembers began to drift apart in the early 1980s. Thursday", "Kansas Violinist Robby Steinhardt Suffers Heart Attack", "Drastic Measures - Kansas: Songs, Reviews, Credits", "Audio Archaeology: Drastic Measures (1983)", "One of Donald Trump's Lawyers Is in a Rock Band with Former Kansas Singer John Elefante", The Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, "Kansas to perform at Niswonger: Legendary rock band features Surgoinsville native Billy Greer", "Bass Transcription: Dave Hope's Bass Line on "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas", "Preview: Arena-rock titans Boston, Kansas and Styx all hit Pittsburgh on the same weekend", "Always Never the Same - Kansas: Songs, Reviews, Credits", "15 Years Ago: Kansas Release 'Somewhere to Elsewhere', "Steve Walsh On His Exit From Kansas: 'Time For Me To Go', "What really happened when Steve Walsh left Kansas", "Kansas Welcomes Ronnie Platt as Its New Lead Singer", "Kansas Welcomes New Keyboard Player, David Manion, to Band's Lineup", "Kansas Announce First New Album in 16 Years, 'The Prelude Implicit', "Rock Band Kansas Adds Zak Rizvi as 2nd Guitarist", "Kansas: Leftoverture Live & Beyond album review", "Kansas announces new keyboard player Tom Brislin", "Rock Utility Player Warren Ham on His Years With Ringo Starr, Toto, and Cher", "KANSAS Live Omaha 1982 full concert (7 piece line-up with John Elefante and Warren Ham)", "Michael Gleason: A bright new name on the American AOR scene - Michael Gleason", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Kansas_band_members&oldid=1152436394, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Kerry Livgren guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, Steve Walsh vocals, keyboards, percussion, Robby Steinhardt vocals, violin, viola, cello, Billy Greer bass, guitar, backing vocals, David Ragsdale violin, guitar, backing vocals, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 06:41. Released in 1977, Point of Know Return was even more successful, spawning the monster hit "Dust in the Wind." Kansas is a progressive rock band that formed in Topeka, Kansas, United States in 1970. That was to be the final Kansas recording with Elefante, and the group disbanded after its release. [5] After the subsequent concert tour later in 1982, however, Steinhardt followed Walsh in leaving Kansas. 5 on Billboard's pop album chart. He also added, "If you're too young to know who Kansas was, to hell with you.". [4] The new lineup included Streets bassist Billy Greer and guitarist Steve Morse (formerly of the Dixie Dregs). [6] Citing Steinhardt's ongoing problems with substance abuse, Ehart has since recalled that "We'd been trying for ages to persuade Robby to clean up. After a final New Year's Eve performance on December 31, 1983, Livgren and Hope left to form AD with former Bloodrock member Warren Ham, who had toured as a sideman with Kansas in 1982, and Michael Gleason, who had done the same in 1983. Can the island keep it? Kansas the band: the story of the Carry On My Wayward Son hitmakers The supergroup began four days of rehearsals in Hawaii on March 10 before beginning a 17-day tour playing for the United States Seventh Fleet in the Indian Ocean and land-based troops in Korea, Okinawa, Diego Garcia and the Philippines. Due to creative differences over the lyrical direction of the next album, Walsh left in October 1981 to form a new band, Streets. Robby Steinhardt, Kansas violinist and singer, dead at 71 - New York Post December 12, 2019 2:43pm Kansas band members include, from left, Tom Brislin, David Ragsdale, Zak Rizvi, Richard Williams, Phil Ehart, Billy Greer and Ronnie Platt. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. Included on it are various tracks from all 16 Kansas studio albums, however, tracks from Power and In The Spirit Of Things are omitted on disc 2 of the North American version. Kansas appeared on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. [13][14] Morse recorded two albums with the group Power and In the Spirit of Things before leaving in 1989 to promote his third solo effort (the first under just his name) High Tension Wires. Low 51F. [2] The group's first lineup change came in October 1981, when frontman Walsh left the band during the early stages of writing for their eighth studio album Vinyl Confessions. Kansas continued to tour every year. In March of 2020, Kansas released a three-and-a-half-minute video trailer hosted by Platt to announce the June release of Absence of Presence. In early 1997, Robert and Ragsdale left the band and Steinhardt returned. The first single, "All I Wanted," became the last Kansas single to hit the Billboard Top 40 chart, peaking at #19. This lineup is sometimes referred to as Kansas II, and 30 years later would re-form under the name Proto-Kaw. Andrew Lester, accused of wounding Ralph Yarl in Missouri, will face The concept album and subsequent tour were popular with the fan base but did not receive widespread airplay beyond the "Stand Beside Me" video on MTV. [4] This early Kansas group, sometimes called Kansas I, lasted until early 1971 when Ehart, Hope and some of the others left to re-form White Clover. By Chris Fisher. The album featured backing vocals from Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who was recording in the studio next door. With the Internet, they get curious and discover all the other things we do, and now they are fans., Regardless of how you feel about crustaceans pulled from the Gulf, its hard to deny the appeal of the Rosewood Crawfish Festival, which hosts its 15th annual rendition of the event this Saturday, May 6. Classic rock radio staples who found fame in the 1970s with a mixture of prog-rock complexity, hard rock riffs, and pop hooks. Kansas was much more than one song or one style of playing, but its typical designation as a prog-rock act doesnt really concern Williams. Kansas was formed in early 1973, with the original lineup comprising Steve Walsh, Robby Steinhardt, Kerry Livgren, Rich Williams, Dave Hope and Phil Ehart. [1] Throughout the 1970s, the band issued a series of critically and commercially successful releases, including US Billboard 200 top ten albums Leftoverture and Point of Know Return. Formed in early 1973, the group originally featured lead vocalist and keyboardist Steve Walsh, violinist and co-lead vocalist Robby Steinhardt, lead guitarist and keyboardist Kerry Livgren, rhythm guitarist Rich Williams, bassist Dave Hope and drummer Phil Ehart. You clearly hate it.' Coinciding with the celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2015, KANSAS was inducted into both the Kansas Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame as recognition for their achievements from both their native state and adopted home state. They were working me over, giving me a real brow beating, and threatening to sue if I left the band. Kansas will perform live on stage at the Glasgow, Kentucky Kentucky Plaza Theater on Friday May 13, 2011. "Hold On", a Top 40 single from that album, displayed his new-found faith. The band's classic lineup consisted of Steve Walsh (lead vocals and keyboards), Richard Williams (lead guitar), Kerry Livgren (keyboards and guitar), Robby Steinhardt (violin, lead and backing vocals), Dave Hope (bass) and Phil Ehart (drums). Read more12-year-old Columbia singer nabs 3rd nomination for national gospel artist award. [11] During a tour of military bases organized by the United Service Organizations (USO) in March 1984, Elefante decided that he would leave Kansas to focus on his own Christian music. The band kicked off 2013 being featured on the Rock Legends II cruise. Along with original KANSAS band members Phil Ehart on drums and Richard Williams on lead guitar, Point of Know Return Live & Beyond, features . The latter stopped for 15 years after 2000's Somewhere to Elsewhere, a release that featured all the original members of Kansas, with all songs composed by Livgren. [18] The album's co-producer and co-writer, Zak Rizvi, was subsequently named as a full member of the band, giving Kansas a second full-time guitarist for the first time since Steve Morse's departure in 1991.[19]. [26], Former violin player and vocalist Robby Steinhardt died from pancreatitis on July 17, 2021, at the age of 71. Kansas Announces Live Concert Album Out May 28 - BroadwayWorld.com the Eagles, American band that cultivated country rock as the reigning style and sensibility of white youth in the United States during the 1970s. The performance was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray and the DVD hit #5 on Billboard's Music Video Chart the week after its release. Higher wind gusts possible.. Clear skies. [21], On March 20, 2020 the band announced the upcoming release of a new studio album, The Absence of Presence. Entry to the event is free. Bryan Holmes, from The Producers, likewise filled in for Ehart during the spring and summer of 1994 until that December, when Phil returned for a tour of Germany. [21][22] Walsh returned later in the year for an orchestral tour, which led to the recording and release of Always Never the Same with the London Symphony Orchestra. This led to a new studio album, Before Became After (2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. Receive a breakdown of the weeks best concerts, shows and other happenings to your inbox from Free Times! Still, sales of the album fell short of gold status. KANSAS Celebrates their 50th Anniversary in 2023 - Kansas Band [20] In 1997, Steinhardt returned as both Ragsdale and Robert departed. Elefante was chosen over other applicants including Sammy Hagar and Doug Pinnick. [19], Kansas settled in the early 1990s with the lineup of Walsh, Williams, Greer, Ehart, Robert and Ragsdale, releasing Live at the Whisky in 1992 and Freaks of Nature, their first studio album in seven years, in 1995. The 2006 tour was delayed for a few weeks due to Steinhardt's second departure, and Ragsdale subsequently returned to the lineup. After signing with Century Media's InsideOut label, Kansas released The Prelude Implicit in 2016. Since leaving the band, Elefante has become a popular Contemporary Christian music artist and has not performed with the group since. He said that he had just lost the desire to do this anymore. In 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of Kansas' first album) released an album under the group name Proto-Kaw, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. 4. Proto-Kaw released a third album, The Wait of Glory, in 2006. In 1976, Leftoverture truly catapulted Kansas to stardom. "Hold On," a Top 40 single from that album, displayed his newfound faith in a pop setting. Formed in Topeka in 1970, the founding members of the group -- guitarist Kerry Livgren, bassist Dave Hope, and drummer Phil Ehart -- first played together while in high school; with the 1971 addition of classically trained violinist Robbie Steinhardt, they changed their name to White Clover, reverting back to the Kansas moniker for good upon the 1972 arrivals of vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh and guitarist Richard Williams. Why does all the blue crab at Walmart come from Louisiana? 2016 marked the release of The Prelude Implicit, KANSASs fifteenth studio album. The show featured guest appearances by Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope and the first set featured symphonic accompaniment by the Three Rivers Orchestra, conducted by Larry Baird. [32] Livgren cited the 1960s band Touch as foundational to his development. [7] Eventually they received a recording contract with Don Kirshner's eponymous label, after Kirshner's assistant, Wally Gold, heard one of their demo tapes and came out to check out the band at one of their local gigs in March 1973 in Ellinwood, Kansas. Dave Hope - Wikipedia The new line-up included bassist Billy Greer (of Streets) and guitarist Steve Morse (formerly of the Dixie Dregs). The next decade found Kansas continuing to tour heavily and release compilations and live albums, culminating in their 2014 induction into the Kansas Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, which coincided with the group's 40th anniversary. Both have appeared on every Kansas album to date. The resulting lineup of Ehart, Greer, Ragsdale, Robert, Walsh, and Williams lasted from 1991 to 1997. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. [17] A second leg in North America was scheduled for the following year, with Hope bowing out after the first, before Livgren left again and Morse returned to complete the dates. The band's current lineup features constant members Williams and Ehart, alongside bassist and vocalist Billy Greer (since 1985, co-lead vocalist since 2006), violinist and guitarist David Ragsdale (from 1991 to 1997, and since 2006), vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt (since 2014), and keyboardist Tom Brislin (since 2018). The follow-up studio album to Point of Know Return was Monolith (May 1979), which was self-produced. In 2000 KANSAS went back into the studio with original band member and songwriter Kerry Livgren to produce Somewhere to Elsewhere, the first album featuring all 6 of the original players in 20 years! Two follow-ups, 'Song for America' and 'Masque', both came out in 1975 and brought them additional acclaim, the releases showing the band's philosophical-based lyricism in songs such as the myth-inspired "Icarus (Born On Wings Of Steel)". [15], Following Morse's departure, Kansas parted ways with MCA Records and went on a temporary hiatus, as the remaining members focused on other projects. [34] The album marked the debut of new guitarist Zak Rizvi, who had originally been brought in as a co-producer but was later made a full member of the group. Kansas released its fourth album, 'Leftoverture', in November 1976, which produced a massive hit single in "Carry On Wayward Son" and brought comparisons to other records such as Yes' 'Fragile'. The song would eventually be removed in favor of other songs on the remastered release of the compilation. During this period, Kansas became a major headlining act and sold out the largest venues available to rock bands at the time, including New York's Madison Square Garden. The band gained a solid reputation for faithful live reproduction of their studio recordings. It defined the band's signature sound, being comprised of a mix of American-style boogie rock with complex, symphonic arrangements featuring changing time signatures similar to British art rockers. That year, violinist David Ragsdale joined the group and the return of the violin allowed Kansas to perform earlier material in arrangements closer to the originals. Kansas Announces Massive 2023-24 Tour - American Songwriter By the end of that, my fingers were bloodied.. [33] Livgren's evolving spirituality is reflected in the band's songs, with early works showing an interest in the mysticism of Eastern religions, works in the late 1970s influenced by the American spiritual philosophy of The Urantia Book, followed in the early 1980s by works embracing born-again Christianity. Steinhardt, who grew up in Lawrence, and Livgren, a 1967 graduate of Topeka West High School, were among co-founders of Kansas, which was formed in Topeka. This period saw one live album and accompanying video, Live at the Whisky (July 1992), and one studio album, Freaks of Nature (May 1995). [24], Rizvi left the band in April 2021 in order to pursue new projects. Kansas is an American progressive rock band from Topeka, Kansas. Bailey: The Ladson Solution: Harvard professor warns the end is near for Charleston, Charleston attorney Joe Rice's Kentucky Derby horse, and 'goosebumps', Charleston to revisit its tourism signage ordinance after recent complaint, Shooters fired randomly into 'flash party' at Columbia park, injuring 11, sheriff says, New SC airport rules paused after Greenville development outcry, New restaurant coming this summer to former home of The Whitney in downtown Aiken, MUSC nurses, therapists help sexual assault patients take back control and heal, Charleston County to spend opioid settlement money on data dashboard, more Narcan. Robby Steinhardt was from Lawrence. In 1998, KANSAS released an orchestral album; Always Never the Same, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London. It fits us at times, and we were called classical rock before classic rock was classic, he offers. Genres. Livgren left during the 1991 tour, to be replaced temporarily by Steve Morse again. [6] It defined the band's signature sound, a mix of American-style boogie rock and complex, symphonic arrangements with changing time signatures. Ehart was replaced by Zeke Lowe and later Brad Schulz, Hope was replaced by Rod Mikinski on bass and Baker was replaced by John Bolton on saxophone and flute. A new version of Last.fm is available, to keep everything running smoothly, please reload the site. On July 6, 2014 former Kansas lead singer John Elefante issued a statement that he had been contacted by the band on July 2 to discuss rejoining. 19, 2021 at 7:44 AM PDT. The re-formed band released Power in November 1986. [4] KANSAS Announce Resignation Of Guitarist ZAK RIZVI Regarding the documentary, we just wanted to tell the story of the original band members coming from Topeka and climbing to the top of the mountain. A two CD set, Leftoverture Live & Beyond, was released in November 2017 that contained nineteen songs culled from different shows during the tour and the band's 2017 fall dates also included further 40th anniversary shows. For their 1983 tour for Drastic Measures, Kansas was joined on stage by the aforementioned Michael Gleason and Terry Brock (who covered the absent Steinhardt's harmony vocals). The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show), and two one million-selling gold singles, 'Carry On Wayward Son' and 'Dust in the Wind.' KANSAS appeared on the Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the In the fall of 2018, KANSAS embarks on the Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour in select markets. The band's current lineup features constant members Williams and . A statement was issued on July 14, 2014 through the band's official Facebook page stating that Chicago native Ronnie Platt (who had previously sung with Shooting Star) had been selected as the band's new lead vocalist and keyboard player. I finally said, 'Guys, I'm gone. The group spent the early part of the decade touring relentlessly and struggling to gain recognition; initially, their mix of boogie and prog rock baffled club patrons, but in due time they established a strong enough following to win a record deal with the Kirshner label. Ronnie Platt (Kansas) Interview - Live and Beyond - The Prog Report On September 1, 2015 a press release announced that Kansas had signed with Inside Out Music, a German label dedicated to progressive rock and related genres, for the release of their upcoming 15th studio album. Kansas Tickets, Tour Dates & Concerts 2024 & 2023 - Songkick They will be performing with Symphonies of various colleges around the U.S. in an effort to raise money for the individual schools' music programs. Somewhere to Elsewhere, a new studio album released in July 2000, featured all the original members of Kansas, plus Greer, with all songs written by Kerry Livgren. During the tour supporting Monolith, Livgren became a born-again Christian, and this was reflected in his lyrics on the next three albums, beginning with Audio-Visions (September 1980). Kerry Livgren, once Kansas' main songwriter, hasn't been with the group for nearly three decades, and just last year, original lead singer Steve Walsh retired, replaced by Ronnie Platt.. Also in 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of the first Kansas album) released an album under the name Proto-Kaw, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. Material was taken from a decades worth of studio, live albums and home videos; 1992s Live At The Whisky, 1995s Freaks Of Nature, 1998s Always Never The Same and 2002s Device Voice Drum. Dust In the Wind was the groups biggest hit, but, as Williams recalls, its delicate acoustic guitar sound didnt come easy. Tenacity and absence of fear helped Kansas torpedo to rock n' roll stardom. Instrument (s) Bass Guitar. The first Kansas album with Elefante, Vinyl Confessions, was released in June 1982. Other big names included Foreigner, Paul Rodgers, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Bachman & Turner, 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, Blue yster Cult, Foghat and Molly Hatchet. TOPEKA, Kansas Robert E. "Robby" Steinhardt, a violinist and vocalist with the progressive rock band Kansas, has died due to complications from pancreatitis. The song peaked at No. (lead 1984, 198990, 199199, 2000-2016, 2021-present, rhythm otherwise), (from 19921997, 20062016, 2021present), guest appearance on one bonus track only, "30 years after taking "Drastic Measures", John Elefante revisits Kansas", "Constantly Touring Kansas Performs In S.L. The follow-up, Point of Know Return, recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana and Woodland Sound in Nashville and released in October 1977, featured the title track and "Dust in the Wind", both hit singles. Band Kansas, founded in Topeka, still carries on - The Topeka Capital 1 in 1997. In 1986, however, Kansas re-formed around Ehart, Williams, and Walsh; adding the famed guitarist Steve Morse as well as bassist Billy Greer, the refurbished band debuted with the album Power, scoring a Top 20 hit with "All I Wanted." Read moreKoger Center of Arts will host free music festival emphasizing southern sounds, With one foot in the past and one in the present, Todds headlining spot for the Koger Centers new series beckons a larger, inclusive theme of dynamic regional music from the Carolinas and beyond. After the tour, Morse left and Ragsdale took over the extra guitar parts, leaving Williams as the primary guitar player. John and brother Dino Elefante were later successful producers for contemporary Christian artists, including Sweet Comfort Band, Petra, Bride, Rick Cua, and Guardian. "[5], After around a year later, it was announced in July 1985 that Kansas had reformed with original vocalist Steve Walsh, who was then touring with Cheap Trick as their live keyboardist. In 1970 they changed the band's name to Kansas and merged with members of rival Topeka progressive rock group White Clover. [24] Recording started in early 2000 for a new album, Somewhere to Elsewhere, at the guitarist's own Grandyzine Studios in Topeka, where the group had originally formed. While the album produced a Top 40 single in "People of the South Wind"the title refers to the meaning of the Kanza word 'Kansas'it failed to garner the sales and radio airplay of its two predecessors.