Kansas (band)

The 1990s saw a string of barely noticed releases, and Kansas has continued to tour year after year, but the band has never been able to regain any mass popularity or critical notice. They had Top 40 hits with songs "One Fine Morning" and "Sunny Days". In spite of a successful 1982 album called Vinyl Confessions, the group split in 1983, only to reform in 1986 with the album Power. The band lost key members in 1973 and 1974 and finally broke up in 1976 but reunited for a series of shows in Toronto in 1982. Hope and Livgren became born-again Christians and Walsh formed a new band, replaced by John Elefante. The band toured with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet production "Ballet High". After a few more albums, Kansas began to fall apart in the early 1980s. They received Juno Awards in 1971, 1972 and 1973, when they were awarded Group of the Year.

By the time the band's fourth album, Leftoverture (1976) was released, Kansas was popular enough for the album to be a smash hit and a constant presence on the burgeoning AOR radio format, as was the followup Point of Know Return (1977). The group performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival and the Isle of Wight Festival. Relentless promotion by Kirshner and touring behind the debut album and its two followups slowly brought Kansas' name to households across America. Bob McBride replaced Pinky Dauvan on vocals in 1970. A somewhat successful debut album, Kansas, was released in 1974, and showcased Kansas' signature mix of guitars, keyboards, vocals, and Steinhardt's ever-present violin submerging American-style boogie-rock in complex arrangements and changing time signatures. There were 13 members in all in the original lineup. Upon the arrival of Kerry Livgren (keyboards, guitar) the band's name was changed to Kansas and the group soon won a record deal with Don Kirshner's eponymous label. The band also included Howard Shore on saxophone and Grant Fullerton on bass guitar.

Dave Hope (bass), Phil Ehart (drums), Robby Steinhardt (violin), Steve Walsh (keyboards, vocals) and Rich Williams (guitar) had formed a group called White Clover in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas. The founding members were Skip Prokop on drums, Ralph Cole on guitar and Paul Hoffert on keyboards. In spite of a harsh critical reception then and now, Kansas has remained a classic rock radio staple. The band's music included elements of rock music, jazz and classical music. Kansas is a 1970s American rock and roll band, specializing in progressive rock with a distinctly American flavor. Lighthouse was a Canadian rock band formed in 1969 in Toronto which included horns, string instruments and vibraphone. 2003 From The Front Row...Live!. Official site (http://www.lighthouserockband.com/).

2002 Device, Voice, Drum. Best of Lighthouse (1974). 2000 Somewhere to Elsewhere. Can You Feel it (1973). 1998 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents. Sunny Days (1972). 1998 Always Never the Same. Lighthouse Live! (1972) (recorded live at Carnegie Hall).

1995 Freaks of Nature. Thoughts of Moving On (1971). 1992 Live at the Whisky. One Fine Morning (1970). 1988 In the Spirit of Things. 1986 Power.

1983 Drastic Measures. 1982 Vinyl Confessions. 1980 Audio-Visions. 1979 Monolith.

1978 Two for the Show. 1977 Point of Know Return. 1976 Leftoverture. 1975 Masque.

1974 Song for America. 1974 Kansas.