Robby Steinhardt, violinist and co-guide vocalist of the rock outfit Kansas, died Saturday, July 17th. He was 71.
Steinhardt’s spouse, Cindy Steinhardt, confirmed his dying on Fb. Cindy stated Steinhardt was admitted to the medical center with acute pancreatitis in May. Not extended following, he went into acute septic shock and was positioned on lifetime support, and though the outlook was “very grave” at the time, he managed to recuperate. Nevertheless, a number of months later, just as he was about to be produced from health care care and moved to a rehab heart, Steinhardt suffered yet another sepsis.
“We are over and above devastated as our life ended up about to begin a new experience,” Cindy claimed. “Robby just recorded his initially solo album with the proficient songs producer Michael Franklin at Photo voltaic Studios. A tour to start in August, Robby was so hunting forward to remaining back on stage executing what he cherished. I have generally attempted to share our lives with you but I ask you to remember to regard this heavy time of grief. I inspire you to share your tales and shots of Robby on his webpage. My only regret is that I just can’t share them with him to exhibit him how much he is beloved.”
Kansas issued a statement as effectively, declaring, “The customers of the band Kansas, earlier and existing, wish to express our deepest sorrow above the dying of our bandmate and friend, Robby Steinhardt. Robby will always be in our souls, in our minds, and in our music. What he brought to us as bandmates, to the admirers who attended our concert events, and to the sound of Kansas, will often be heartfelt.”
Steinhardt was born May perhaps 25th, 1950 in Chicago, and was adopted by his mom and dad, Ilsa and Milton Steinhardt, when he was 4 days aged. A single year later on, as a biography on Steinhardt’s web-site notes, the loved ones relocated to Lawrence, Kansas, exactly where Milton worked as a tunes professor and inevitably turned the Chairman of the Songs Heritage and Literature Office at Kansas University. Steinhardt grew up participating in and learning classical violin, but in 1972, he joined a fledgling rock primarily based out of Topeka, then regarded as White Clover.
White Clover experienced existed in a number of varieties already, and had even previously utilized the identify Kansas I. At the time Steinhardt joined, the lineup highlighted Steve Walsh, Phil Ehart, and Rich Williams, although Kerry Livgren joined quickly right after. Steinhardt shared vocal duties with Walsh, with the pair switching concerning backup and lead but it was Steinhardt’s violin that assisted distinguish Kansas’ audio from other bands.
In 1973, the band scored a report deal and officially settled on the title Kansas. The subsequent calendar year, they unveiled their self-titled debut, and more than the up coming several many years, they created a focused audience by way of constant touring and several much more well-been given albums. Kansas’ mainstream breakthrough arrived in 1976 with Leftoverture, which showcased the strike single and long term traditional rock staple, “Carry on My Wayward Son.” Kansas scored their 2nd main hit the subsequent yr with “Dust in the Wind,” which appeared on their album, Issue of Know Return.
In a 1992 interview, Livgren made available this evaluation of Steinhardt’s contributions to Kansas, declaring: “Robby had a completely distinctive function as a violinist, 2nd vocalist, and MC in a dwell situation. Robby was the link concerning the band on the phase and the viewers.”
Just after their Seventies achievements, Kansas experienced a collection of shakeups in the Eighties, initially with the departure of Walsh, and then Steinhardt in 1982. In between 1982 and 1997, Steinhardt and Rick Moon played jointly in the group Steinhardt Moon, even though Steinhardt also performed with the Stormbringer Band in the Nineties. Steinhardt rejoined Kansas in the late-Nineties but still left the group once more in 2006.
In 2013, Steinhardt suffered a coronary heart attack, but shortly returned to music.