In the driver’s seat

GREEN BAY – Since the “garage band from Topeka” released their debut album in 1974, Kansas has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, with 16 studio albums and five live LPs.

The band appeared on Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played in sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan, with songs like “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Point of Know Return” and “Dust In the Wind.”

But the band’s roots run a little deeper.

The original six

“There was a Kansas previous that was a band called ‘White Clover’ with Dave Hope and Phil Ehart, who were also in the very first incarnation of Kansas, and another local band called ‘Saratoga’ that Kerry Livgren was in,” explained original guitarist Richard “Rich” Williams.

“Well, White Clover and Saratoga kind of merged and formed what is referred to as Kansas 1.

“And then, White Clover got back together. I was in college but, I had one foot out the door all the time. I was playing in different bands, etc. And I got back together with Phil and Dave Hope.

“And then, the other version of Kansas had kind of petered out, and we got Kerry to join. That's when we got Steve Walsh to join and Robby Steinhardt and that is what is known to Kansas today as the original six.”

Those original six members were discovered by Wally Gold and signed a recording contract with

Don Kirshner.

Their 1974 self-titled debut album introduced the band’s signature sound — a blend of hard rock, southern rock and progressive rock — instituting Steinhardt’s violin.

Taking control

In the 1980s the band members began moving in different directions.

“There was a period of time back in the later 80s, I guess, or early 90s, where we weren't officially not a band, but it was basically me and Phil. We still had a record deal with CBS Records, but we didn't have a team to put on the field, and so we had kind of a couple of years off.

“We hadn't quit, but I went fishing and played a lot of golf for a couple of years, and Steve Walsh had his own band now called ‘Streets.’ Well, that kind of folded up, and me and Phil were wanting to get something going again, and the ‘Dixie Dregs’ had broken up, and so Steve Morse was living in our area,” Williams recalled.

“So we reformed, and we started Kansas back up again. And we were told at one point by the record company ‘Guys, nobody cares. We know we owe you some records, but we're not going to do them and you guys just need to find something else to do,’ which was coming from the top of CBS, which was a very hurtful meeting. (They said) management doesn't care; booking agents don't care; the people don't care. Give it up.’

“Well, me and Phil were pretty tenacious, and I think if anything, it probably encouraged us.

“We got invited to go to Germany by a promoter. He said, ‘If you guys want to come over here, put the band back together for a couple of weeks. You know, I'll tour you all through here. And so we did and it was very successful. We had a really good time.

“We go back to set up one show, which we did in Atlanta. It sold out right away. And so we were thinking, ‘Well, well, we don't really have a career, but what if every summer we got together and, you know, out for two, three weeks.’

“So, we booked a couple weeks, and then we booked a couple weeks, and then we never stopped. And so, ever since we were told to give it up, I've been busier than I've ever been, and from management to the record companies, etc, the obvious thing was they grossly underestimated us, and more importantly they under underestimated our fan base.

“And so, that was when we started managing ourselves and doing everything the way we wanted to do — taking control of our lives and our career.

“And we haven't stopped since.

“These last 10 years, Steve Walsh retired, and we were going to continue on. Ronnie Platt joined the band and that really was very helpful, because Steve was getting limited in what he could sing because he was losing his voice, like so many rock singers do. And once Ronnie joined, all of a sudden the whole catalog was wide open, with longer shows a lot more material, etc, and it was being presented at a much higher quality. And our career has just taken off in the last 10 years.

“So now, I mean, we work as much as we want, because we're ones in the driver's seat, and we're working a lot. We generally do 80, sometimes up to 200 shows in a year. Which when you combine a travel day to get to a place and a travel day to get home, that's a lot of time gone. So we're very busy.

“Again, our fan base was grossly underestimated and will never be underestimated again by us.”

Kansas will make a stop at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton on Nov. 2, which Williams said is a two hour and 15 minute show featuring the entire history of Kansas in a “very well produced” show by a dedicated group that is held to a high standard.

For more information on the current tour, visit kansasband.com/tour-dates.

For ticket information on the Appleton show, visit https://foxcitiespac.com.