Song:Dust In The Wind
Album:The Essential Kansas: Limited Edition 3.0
Kansas was one of the most popular bands of the 70s mostly based on constant touring. Dust In The Wind was their only top ten single but they were more of an album band anyway. They fell apart in the 80s. The band was made up of guys who all played in high school bands in Topeka, KS. Guitarist and keyboard player Kerry Livgren had several bands in the 60s including The Reasons Why with singer Lynn Meredith, keyboard players Don Montre and Dan Wright. They brought in Scott Kessler on bass and Zeke Lowe on drums and changed their name to Saratoga. Then they merged with Phil Ehart's band White Clover and were renamed Kansas. After a tug of war between the two bands, Livgren was invited to join with Ehart, White Clover bassist Dave Hope, violinist Robbie Sieinhardt, keyboard player Steve Walsh and guitarist Richard Williams. They hadn't decided on the group name but decided on Kansas when they signed with Kirshner Records. Their first three albums did OK but they finally had success when their fourth album Leftoverture went 5XPlatinum on the strength of the top 20 hit Carry On Wayward Son in 1976. Dust In The Wind was an even bigger hit and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. They never had another big hit but their albums still sold well. Kansas began to fall apart when Kerry Livgren became a born again Christian and became increasingly uncomfortable in secular music. Livgren and Dave Hope left Kansas on New Year's Eve 1983 to form the Christian rock band AD with Warren Ham of Bloodrock. Steve Walsh returned to Kansas and hired guitarist Steve Morse of The Dixie Dregs. But it wasn't the same and they split up in 1989. There are a few Kansas comps available but this 3CD comp is the best value. Walsh, Ehart and Williams continue to tour as Kansas today. Kerry Livgren has continued to record as a solo artist and with AD. Here's the video for Dust In The Wind by Kansas.
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