| This US group was formed in 1972 after David Hope (b. c.1951,
Kansas, USA; bass) and Phil Ehart (b. 1951, Kansas, USA; drums/percussion)
changed the name of their band, White Clover, to Kansas, recruiting Kerry
Livgren (b. 18 September 1949, Kansas, USA; guitar/vocals), Robert Steinhardt
(b. c.1951, Michigan, USA; violin/strings/vocals), Steve Walsh (b. c.1951,
St. Joseph, Missouri, USA; keyboards/vocals) and Richard Williams (b. c.1951,
Kansas, USA; guitars). Although an American band, Kansas were heavily influenced
from the outset by British rock of the time, such as Yes and Genesis, and
this was evident in the lyrics of their primary songwriter, Walsh. Kansas
released their debut in 1974, and the following two albums attained gold
record status, guaranteeing the band a high profile in the USA (although
no Kansas albums made the charts in the UK). By 1977 the band had tired of
the progressive rock pigeonhole into which the music press was forcing them,
and decided to try a more commercial approach. Their popularity was confirmed
on 27 June 1978 when they attended a ceremony at the Madison Square Gardens
in New York at which the organization UNICEF named the band Deputy Ambassadors
of Goodwill. In the early 80s Walsh decided to leave the band after he became
unhappy with the increasingly commercial sound they were producing. He released
the solo set, Schemer Dreamer, which featured other members of Kansas. He
was replaced by John Elefante (b. c.1958, Levittown, New York, USA;
keyboards/vocals) who wrote four of the songs on Vinyl Confessions. The band
split in 1983 following two unsuccessful albums. Livgren and Hope had become
born-again Christians, the former releasing Seeds Of Change, a commercially
disastrous solo effort based on his religious experiences. In October 1986
Walsh, Ehart and Williams re-formed Kansas with Steve Morse, lately of Dixie
Dregs (guitar), and Billy Greer (bass). This reunion was celebrated with
the release of Power, an album that rejected the jazz-rock feel of earlier
releases in favour of a heavier sound. Their first studio album in seven
years was released in May 1995.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 -
1998 |
