Robby Steinhardt , founding member of Kansas, singer and guitarist, died last Saturday, the 17th, from complications of acute pancreatitis, at the age of 71.
The death was confirmed by the family in a statement. The artist leaves behind his wife, Cindy, and daughter, Becky, as well as a solo album he planned to release this year. The partnership with producer Michael Franklin "brought together a star-studded cast of famous musicians" and was to include a tour, but those plans were postponed due to his illness.
“His violin and vocals on “Dust in the Wind,” “Point of No Return,” and “Carry On Wayward Son” secured Robby a solid place in rock history,” the family honored him (via Louder Sound ). “He will be greatly missed by everyone he knew, and his music will live on forever. A memorial will be announced in the future.”
“The members of Kansas, past and present, wish to express our deepest sadness at the death of our bandmate and friend, Robby Steinhardt,” the band posted on social media. “Robby will always be in our souls, in our minds, and in our music. What he brought to us as bandmates, to the fans who attended our shows and to the sound of Kansas, will always be sincere. We love him and will miss him forever.”
The musician joined the band before they signed a contract as Kansas in 1973. At the time, the progressive rock group was still known as White Clover and had already gone through several line-up changes, but it was with violinist Steve Walsh (singer and songwriter), drummer Phil Ehart Rich Williams that the band solidified.
Rolling Stone recalls , the group went through tensions during the 1980s due to conflicts over artistic direction, and Steinhardt left Kansas in 1982. He returned in 1997 and left the group permanently in 2006.
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