Kansas is a fascinating band. Their fusion of the American Heartland with British progressive rock gave them incredible popularity during the late ‘70s. The band was formed in Topeka, Kansas in 1970 by guitarist Kerry Livgren, bassist Dave Hope and drummer Phil Ehart. The band started out by playing together in high school and soon added violinist Robbie Steinhardt, who was classically trained. The band knew that their music was different from the very beginning--what they did not know was that it was way ahead of its time. Eventually, in 1972, the band rounded itself out with the addition of vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh and guitarist Richard Williams.

The band spent their first years touring and working tirelessly to gain recognition, until they were discovered by Wally Gold, an employee of Don Kirshner. They signed their first recording with Kirshner and released their eponymous debut album in 1974. From 1974 to 1980 the group released an impressive seven albums, including number four pop album Point of Know Return in 1978 and number five album Leftoverture in 1977.

The ‘80s saw the beginning of a difficult time for the band, Hope and Livegren both became believers in Christ. With their new-found faith and a changed mindset divisions entered the band and Walsh eventually left to form Streets. As the remaining members continued without him, but the band did not last long after he had left and only released one album before they split up altogether. In their first run, however, they released eight gold albums, three six-time platinum albums and a one million selling gold single. The band reformed around Walsh, Ehart and Williams in '86 adding guitarist Steve Morse and bassist Billy Greer. The band continued to play throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s and then in 2000 Kerry Livgren returned to write, record and release the album Somewhere to Elsewhere. The band is still going strong today.