Kansas consists of Billy Greer (bass guitar, vocals), Phil Ehart (drums), Richard Williams (guitars), Robby Steinhardt (violin, vocals), Steve Walsh (vocals, keyboards).
Kansas is a 1970s American rock and roll band, specializing in progressive rock with a distinctly American flavour. In spite of a harsh critical reception now and then, Kansas has remained a classic rock radio staple.
Lynn Meredith, Don Montre, Dan Wright and Kerry Livgren were all in a band together in 1969 called The Reasons Why. They changed their name to Saratoga and started playing Livgren's original material with Scott Kessler on bass and Zeke Lowe on drums. They soon changed their name again to Kansas and took on some new band members in 1970.
Dave Hope (bass), Phil Ehart (drums), and Kerry Livgren (guitar, and later keyboards) formed the progressive rock group named Kansas in 1970 in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas, along with vocalist Lynn Meredith from Manhattan, Kansas, keyboardist Don Montre, keyboardist Dan Wright, and saxophonist Larry Baker. This was the first lineup of Kansas and lasted until 1971, when Ehart left for England. Fans refer to this lineup as Kansas I.
Ehart was replaced by Zeke Lowe and later Brad Schulz. Hope was replaced by Rod Mikinski on bass, and Baker was replaced by John Bolton on saxophone and flute. Fans refer to this lineup as Kansas II.
In the meantime, Ehart and Hope formed a group called White Clover with Robby Steinhardt (violin), Steve Walsh (keyboards, vocals) and Rich Williams (guitar). They changed their name to Kansas when they recruited Livgren from the second Kansas group, which then folded. Kansas III soon received a record deal with Don Kirshner's eponymous label, and they recorded the first Kansas album shortly thereafter.
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. Relentless promotion by Kirshner and touring behind the debut album and its two follow ups slowly brought Kansas' name to households across America.