Kansas

  • Topeka, KS
    hometown
  • Alternative
    genre
  • 1973
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Kansas

Official Site: http://kansasband.com/


Fusing the complexity of British prog rock with an American heartland sound representative of their name, Kansas were among the most popular bands of the late '70s; though typically dismissed by critics, many of the group's hits remain staples of AOR radio play lists to this day. 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. The group spent the early part of the decade touring relentlessly and struggling for 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.

Kansas' self-titled debut LP appeared in 1974; while only mildly successful, the group toured behind it tirelessly, and their fan base grew to the point that their third effort, 1975's Masque, sold a quarter of a million copies. In 1976, Leftoverture truly catapulted Kansas to stardom. On the strength of the smash hit "Carry On Wayward Son," the album reached the Top Five and sold over three million copies. 1977's Point of Know Return was even more successful, spawning the monster hit "Dust in the Wind." While the 1978 live LP Two for the Show struggled to break the Top 40, its studio follow-up, Monolith, the band's first self-produced effort, reached the Top Ten. That same year, Walsh issued a solo record, Schemer-Dreamer.

In the wake of 1980's Audio-Visions, Kansas began to splinter; both Hope and Livgren became born-again Christians, the latter issuing the solo venture Seeds of Change, and their newfound spirituality caused divisions within the band's ranks. Walsh soon quit to form a new band, Streets; the remaining members forged on without him, tapping vocalist John Elefante as his replacement. The first Kansas LP without Walsh, 1982's Vinyl Confessions, launched the hit "Play the Game Tonight," but after only one more album, 1983's Drastic Measures, they disbanded. 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." When the follow-up, 1988's In the Spirit of Things, failed to hit, seven years passed before the release of their next effort, Freaks of Nature. Always Never the Same followed in 1998. Seeing the return of founder singer/songwriter Kerry Livgren, Somewhere to Elsewhere was released in 2000. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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Music

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  • Point Of Know Return
    kansas
    Video
    Point Of Know Return
  • Carry On Wayward Son
    kansas
    Video
    Carry On Wayward Son
  • Dust In The Wind
    kansas
    Video
    Dust In The Wind
  • Windows
    kansas
    Video
    Windows
  • 5814
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    • Carry On Wayward Son
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/9/4/1/8/104681493.mp3
    • Dust In The Wind
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/1/4/8/6/104668414.mp3
    • Point Of Know Return
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/7/5/2/9/104592571.mp3
    • Hold On
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/3/9/1/8/104681930.mp3
    • Play The Game Tonight
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/4/2/1/8/104681240.mp3
    • Carry On Wayward Son
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/9/9/8/1/245518994.mp3

Photos

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  • Kansas

News

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  • Kansas
    Kansas' Williams: 'Dust In The Wind' Success was 'An Absolute Fluke' | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    Rich Williams says he and the other members of Kansas "don't talk much" about the group's various anniversaries, but hitting 35 years since the group'...
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Tour Dates

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  • May 31 Friday
    Houston, TX, US Arena Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 1 Saturday
    Arlington, TX, US College Park Center, UTA
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  • Jul 6 Saturday
    Granville, OH, US Campus Commons, Denison University
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  • Jul 11 Thursday
    Ridgefield, CT, US Ridgefield Playhouse
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Lockport, NY, US Molson Canal Concert Series
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  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Atlantic City, NJ, US Tropicana Casino - Tropicana Showroom
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  • Jul 18 Thursday
    Albany, OR, US Linn County Fair & Expo Center
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  • Jul 20 Saturday
    West Wendover, NV, US Peppermill Concert Hall
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  • Aug 1 Thursday
    Frankfort, IL, US Cd & Me Special Events & Banquets
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  • Aug 11 Sunday
    Stroudsburg, PA, US Sherman Summer Stage
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  • Aug 14 Wednesday
    Atlanta, GA, US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
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  • Aug 17 Saturday
    Pittsburgh, PA, US Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
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  • Sep 6 Friday
    Hutchinson, KS, US Kansas State Fairgrounds
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Discography

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  • There's Know Place Like Home (2009)
    Kansas
    There's Know Place Like Home (2009)
    StarCity Recording Company
  • Works in Progress (2006)
    Kansas
    Works in Progress (2006)
    Compendia Music Group
  • Greatest Hits Live (2003)
    Kansas
    Greatest Hits Live (2003)
    King Biscuit Entertainment
  • Device, Voice, Drum (2002)
    Kansas
    Device, Voice, Drum (2002)
    Compendia Music Group
  • Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
    Kansas
    Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
    Magna Carta
  • King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (1998)
    Kansas
    King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (1998)
    King Biscuit Entertainment
  • Always Never the Same (1998)
    Kansas
    Always Never the Same (1998)
    Compendia Music Group
  • Freaks of Nature (1995)
    Kansas
    Freaks of Nature (1995)
    Diablo (UK)
  • Live at the Whisky (1992)
    Kansas
    Live at the Whisky (1992)
    Nibelung
  • In the Spirit of Things (1988)
    Kansas
    In the Spirit of Things (1988)
    Universal Special Products
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