"All

we are is dust in the wind"

-

Kansas, "Dust In The Wind."

The

Frederick Brown Amphitheater opens this Friday with an

explosive show from one of the biggest classic rock bands

of the '70s and '80s, Kansas.

Kansas was

formed in 1972 by David Hope and Phil Ehart. The duo

recruited Kerry Livgren, Robert Steinhardt, Steve Walsh

and Richard Williams and played under the name of White

Clover. The band's sound was heavily influenced by Britsh

progressive rock bands like Yes and Genesis. Walsh was

the primary songwriter for the group and its debut album,

"Kansas", was released in 1974.

The album

featured the songs "Can ITell You" and

"The Pilgrimage" and the band's next two

albums, "Leftoverture" and "Two for the

Show" went Gold. "Leftoverure" features

the classic "Carry On, Wayward Son", while

"Two for the Show" has their hit power ballad,

"Dust In The Wind."

By 1977 the

band decided to shed some of the progressive, jazzy rock

sounds and play more of their commerical material. It

worked. Kansas was named Deputy Ambassadors of Goodwill

Garden. By that point, the band had toured around the

world several times, recorded several hit albums and had

legions of fans from all walks of life.

Like many

bands, the magic was not there forever and conflicts

arose. Walsh left the band in the early 1980s because he

was growing tired of the commercial sound. He was

replaced by John Elefante, but by 1983 the band was

completely broken up. Livgren and Hope became born again

Christians and recorded what became the roots of the

modern Christian rock movement. Livgren recorded

prolifically with the band A.D.

As for

Kansas, all the group needed was a short break. By 1986

Walsh, Ehart and Williams reformed Kansas. They added

Steve Morse of the Dixie Dregs and Billy Greer to their

lineup and started recording and touring again. Their

first album after reforming was Power, a jazzy album that

reflected a lot of the band's early material, while still

being influenced by the sound that made Kansas popular.

Its most

recent album is 1998's "Always Never The Same."

Near constant touring and recording has kept the band

going as one of the most influential and popular classic

rock acts.

Kansas will

play at the Frederick Brown Amphitheater Friday and

Saturday, April 21 and 22 at 8 p.m.

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