Kansas on Former Lead Singer Steve Walsh, "We Didn't know What We Had" 

Steve's voice was golden. I became a fan when Masque came out. That album is still a fave for me. Rich is right, Steve was perfect at singing Kerry's songs.

In his prime. He was the best ever IMO.

Steve is still my favorite singer. I discovered Kansas when I first heard Carry On back in high school. The man gave 100% all the time. Ann Wilson is the female version of Steve. I never get tired of hearing their voices.

Listen to the end of the pinnacle off of Masque. Steve’s range is unmatched. Hearing him live before his voice was damaged was such a treat.

I saw Steve Walsh in the 70's when he and Kansas were in their prime and these guys were high energy, especially Steve he was all over this guy was just a ball of energy. Kerry Livgren is also a great part of Kansas.

I was a huge Kansas fan, back in the day and as a musician, their songs were fun to play.

Many people don't remember the band he fronted when he left in 81, Streets. A great underrated album. Power was also a great return from Kansas.

My band opened for Kansas in the early 90s in Wildwood NJ and while we were all setting up the stage a fire broke out in the club’s AC unit and we had to vacate to the parking lot and get clearance from the FD before entering back in. While we were waiting we hung with the guys from Kansas and had great conversations especially their advice on owning publishing rights and worrying about our gear. 😂. Fun times. It was nice meeting them in odd circumstances.

Tommy Shaw during a Styx live album and video talked about Styx opening for Kansas in 1976 and said, “Leftoverture, that music was so…POWERFUL! It helped shape the writing of (The Grand Illusion)”. I saw Kansas open for Styx reunion “Return To Paradise” and will NEVER forget when it came to the instrumental part of Carry On Wayward Son Steve ran over, did a handstand ON the keyboard and played “upside down”! 😮 Are you freaking kidding me???!!! Maybe there were wires but truthfully I don’t know how he did that and I don’t want to know! It’s like learning the secret of a magic trick. I prefer to scratch my head and be mystified by that incredible and special memory!

A friend GAVE me their first, self titled, LP. I went outside, and smoked a doobie that night, went inside put the headphones, dropped the needle - and proceeded to be BLOWN AWAY. 'Journey From Marriabron'? HOLY SHIT. Walsh was one of the most amazing rock singers in the middle 70s. Absolutely amazing.

The most energetic lead singer ever handstands on the keyboard

I grew up listening to Kansas. Always loved their music and was disappointed when Steve Walsh left the band. He had to do what was right for him.

Great singer!

I saw Steve in his band Streets in 1983.

STEVE IS ONE OF THE BEST SINGERS IN THE LAST 55 YEARS

Insane how good he is!!!! And almost by mistake. They didn’t realize what they had til the studio… ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️🤘🤘🤘🤘

Don't forget Phil Ehart's contributions. He made prog drum tracks with lightning-quick grooves and shifts endless time changes seem effortless. Can't overlook Rich, either. Another master at his craft. Both of them contributed to the mysterious chemistry that kept the band going and out-doing themselves time and again.

Kansas should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Boston as well.

Steve Walsh - one of the great rock vocalists, absolutely!!!

I still love early Kansas, Steve was the voice, Kansas was the sound, but it was Kerry's song craft that was the heart. I can't imagine what sane person wouldn't want to sing Kerry's songs after the magical success with him and the failures without. Not knocking the rest of the band or the other singers, but it's like a gumbo without the right roux, Steve and Kerry not working together brought Kansas out of the stratosphere, down many levels. Imagine if David Gilmore had become a plumber instead of picking up a guitar, or Stevie Ray just built houses? Sad how people can be so stubborn in their own blindness.

He had an AMAZING voice!!!!!

Steve Walsh was so phenomenal and had some much energy in his performance’s. I say them a couple of times in Kansas City. Kansas was so good!

Wonderful to pay homage to this virtuoso level vocalist. Absolutely incredible skill, tone, soul, range, and style. A huge influence on me. His voice was like a trumpet, times when you thought his voice was another instrument until you heard his vibrato. BTW, The new book is great.

We were in 9th grade when we started playing the Hollywood clubs like Gazzarri's and other fire traps, and we were on Sunset more than in school. We saw the "next big thing" shows, which were industry shows, usually The Whiskey or The Starwood, where fresh, new bands were being showcased to record company and tour execs (We saw Rush play to 20 people at The Whisky; Neal Peart's first live gig with them). Kansas had just released their first album and KMET played a track at 2:00am that we loved (Jean Luc Ponty had softened up the R&R crowd to accepting a violin as a legitimate instrument). I forget the venue but we saw Kansas for their "industry show"; to a nearly empty venue. We were blown away, especially by Steve Walsh. We were teenagers but he was maybe 21 or 22? and he was cool to us, thanking us for liking the music (I'm pretty sure they played Song For America long before the album was released). We saw them at The Shrine, then the Santa Monica Civic, and we worshiped those guys. But by the time Point of No Return came out we were out of high school and our band scattered off to college, jail, and one to the morgue. But listening to that stuff nowadys nearly all the music really holds up, as eveidenced by my 30 year old guitar/bass player son owning all their ... um... downloads lol

Big Kansas fan!! I was going to Topeka High School when their first album came out, EVERBODY was listening to that cassette at school. We were so happy that some fellow Topeka guys had made it! Angels Have Fallen is one of my favorite Kansas songs, and I have to admit I'm probably one of the few who thinks that Monolith was a great album. On that song though, Steve really shows his range. My daughter, who is a fantastic singer in her own right, was wowed by how effortlessly he hit the high notes on that song.

I saw Kansas first time Point of Know Return tour. Steve was vocally flawless. A concert experience unmatched. I agree with Rich--one of my top 3 faves as well. I love watching video song reactions of people who've never heard them. They're always blown away by not only the band, but Steve. And sometimes they even drop a tear...which I completely understand.

STEVE PUT HIS.FULL HEART AND PASSIONATE.SOUL IN EVERY NOTE.

I have been a huge fan of Kansas since I was in my early teens, I've seen them live 3 times and loved every show. Kerry Livgren wrote their most memorable songs. Steve was the voice behind those great songs.

Masque was the crowning accomplishment of the early band. Mysteries and Mayhem with The Pinnacle is probably still their tonal peak. Steve and Robby both sang their hearts onto that vinyl.

I was and have always been a huge fan!!! Always will be. Great interviews, as always!

I bought Left Overture when it came out. Being a long haired guitarist Carry On Wayward Son was a must to learn how to play. I learned to play it but didn't like the rest of the songs. I gave that album to a good friend. Fast forward to 2001 and I was in Walmart and I saw the CD . I bought it to hear Carry On again and started listening to the music and I finally got it !!!!! It took me fifteen years to realize that Kansas was the greatest band l had ever heard!!!! My favorite music till this day.

Lonely Street might be my favorite Walsh vocal track. But everything he did was absolutely killer.

Not Kansas without Steve walsh

Can I tell you was the first Kansas song I heard on FM radio. Then I bought the Song for America album which I loved.

agreement with ronnie in the dust fadeout…its hauntingly good

I knew Steve was phenomenal from first listen.. probably the most overlooked singer of the 70's maybe all time.. what a beautiful voice and talented at musical instruments as well !

Kansas's drummer was phenomenal.

Great interview. I've never really heard much from Rich, and he has so much to say. I was 13 when "Leftoverture" was released in 1976. Then, "Point Of Know Return" and "Monolith." To this day all those songs still hit hard! Steve Walsh was mesmerizing! A voice from heaven!

Great video! I love these guys.

Nice interview. Wasn’t a big Kansas fan but did appreciate their songs

Steve was a fantastic singer, and his keys were awesome as well. Thanks for this video John

Good stuff, Thanks!

Awesome Steve Walsh was on some Prog Rock Steve Hackett and Robert Fripp tracks.

Love your channel John. Big Kansas Fan

I remember buying Leftoverture back in 1976. I bought it from Korvette’s Department Store on Central Avenue in Yonkers, NY. I remember it like it was yesterday. I wish it was still 1976.

Saw em' 75' in Indy, warmed up for Yes.

In addition to Kansas, he had some incredibly good solo albums. I’ve always stuck with Steve Walsh AND with Kansas. I found the John Elefante era exceptional as well.

I was at a Kansas concert and I turned around to talk to someone. I heard a loud thud and when I looked back at the stage, the singer (Walsh) was gone. After a few seconds, he rose from behind the barricade holding his head in his hands. He stumbled back on stage and continued the show. One of my favorite concert memories.

Heard Kansas back in the days, opening for Kiss or some group like that. Kansas kinda blew us all away. Their performance, including ALL of Steve's singing, sounded as good as their studio albums.

My favorite lead vocalist!

The two Steve's are the best singers in rock. Walsh and Perry!

Thank you!

What an interesting video! While I’ve known Kansas all my life, this piece made me appreciate Kansas and Steve Walsh all the more. It may have taken 50 years for the world to really understand how much Kansas / Steve were able to accomplish, it is never too late to finally acknowledge how good this band really was.

I had the awesome opportunity to see Kansas in 1977 from 2nd row, and this show was freaking awesome. They were all original and put on one great show as expected, Steve Walsh was on fire also. Great Singer. Take Care

Kansas has been my favorite band since the late 70’s…their first 3 albums were the best. Walsh was the best! 😊

Steve Walsh is the best ever! And it's all cause the emotion put to each and every note. What a voice!

I've always held Steve Walsh in highest regard as a singer, though I was but a part-time Kansas fan. Amazing voice.

My first concert. I was in 9 th grade. Seattle center Louisiana Laruex opened. Amazing show. 1979 or 80 I believe.

Yeah, he was. Oh my he was really really awesome. Really good singer

It really is that hard to be in the right place at the right time and have the right people sitting in a row ready to do it. You have to be a team driven with the same directive. The first time I had seen Kansas was an accident. I didn't even know who they were. I went to Pittsburgh to see Queen. WE get the the Stanley Theatre very early and way before doors. there is a sign in the box office window that says Queen has cancelled due to Freddie Mercury suffering with throat problems. Styx was on the bill. We were already in Pittsburgh and we liked Styx so we stayed. Kansas was the fill in act to headline and not a one us had heard of them but when we got home we all went out and bought their first album. You see they were in the right place at the right time because they got that last minute fill in for Queen and to headline!! WE were blown away by the fiddle / violin in rock music. I preferred Kansas and still do over Rush as the best prog rock band. Masque is incredible. Steve Walsh has some of the best pipes I have ever heard and have seen them plenty since then. that was in 76 I think. Yea, 1976. I was 18.

It's interesting that the (2) songs for which KANSAS is most "well known" aren't close to representing the writing/performances that best demonstrate their output. Take a listener familiar with "Dust In The Wind" and play for them most any track from the MASQUE LP and watch their heads explode. I am grateful for "Carry On" and "Dust In The Wind" in providing resources for the band to continue making music and LPs. As for a track that exemplifies "the real KANSAS", I'd point a listener to the "Mysteries and Mayhem/The Pinnacle" mashup that's posted to RU-vid. Great band and in it's original form, a fantastic LIVE band.

I completely agree that Steve was an integral part of Kansas' success. But no piece about Kansas' vocals is complete without mentioning Robby Steinhardt (RIP). To me, Steve was able to do what he did because there was a second, very able vocalist belt it out with the best of them and give Steve a rest. Long instrumental passages also helped, so credit has to be given to the writers -- Kerry, in particular -- for such innovative material. Can't underestimate this band's chemistry. I'm sure there were the inevitable creative differences, but they figured out a way to make it work. Steve (vocals and keys), Kerry (guitars and keys), Robby (violin and vocals), and Rich (rhythm and lead) all assumed these dual roles with finesse and grace. Each of them had ample opportunity to shine as individual virtuosos contributors to Kansas' unique sound, but all forged an outstanding ensemble, with any issue with egos left offstage. To say nothing of their rhythm section, who were/are able to negotiate treacherous groove shifts and meter changes as if it were a walk in the woods . . .

Steve's vocals on Every Step of the Way still gives me goosebumps. What an amazing talent 🎉

Saw Kansas in denver during the Point of Know Return , McNichols stadium. Was a blizzard outside. One of the top concerts I ever saw. Steve was magnificent.

I also agree Steve was one of the best ever!! He made me want to sing...

Saw them.right after "Point.of Know Return". He was.running all around the stage singing and playing the keyboards with his FEET IN THE AIR! I thought i'd seeen some everything with Ian Andersoñ singing and playing the flute!

I remember seeing Steve Walsh in White Clover. Blew me out the door!

I saw Kansas with Steve. They were really good!

One of my neighbors and I saw Kansas in concert several years back, with Mr. Walsh handling his usual duties. I could swear that was sometime between 2016 and 2018. Mr. Walsh was straining to sing with the same vigor from his heyday, and he barely pulled it off. 👏🏻👍🏻

Steve is from my hometown. he's an amazing musician. Kansas song "Lonely Street" killer tune! i'm a drummer and many of my friends played with him locally. When they were "White Clover" they played at my high school homecoming.

Mr. Williams talked about small clubs. I got to drink a beer at the bar with him when they played the Peppermint Beach club in Virginia beach.

Saw em twice in the 70s,they were very good,,great shows

The music of the 70s was so great that none of us knew what we had. It just happened organically, in the third decade of rock, bouncing off of all the greatness of the 1960s, but in the 1970s, the production values got so much better, and all the musicians launched upwards along with it. Then, at the end of the decade, an underground of rock started up as well, and both the underground and the mainstream continued apace into the fourth great decade of rock, the 80s. Video games were just a distraction, Daltrey said it best, 'All we had was cinema, music and sex'. Life was a blast and the music reflected it.

I’ve seen the original Kansas probably seven or eight times. Steve was a ball of energy. I can remember the shows he would have a keyboard on each side of the stage and he would run back-and-forth and play each one and it was like he would do a handstand on the keyboard while he was playing. And if I remember correctly, I saw them when they backed up Bad Company and when Bad Company got on stage people yelling for Kansas. But one of the best bands that I came across that actually backed Kansas up was The Alex Harvey Band

Steve sand and put on a great show! running around with gym short's and sock's.. doing hand stand's on the key's. Doing the song Down the Road. was so awesome!

I've always thought Steve Walsh was just a fantastic singer. Kansas will always be one of my top five all-time favorite bans; still listen to them.

Steve's voice was shot a long time before he finally retired. I was fortunate to see Kansas at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall during the Monolith tour. I really only knew the Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, and Monolith stuff at the time. One of the high points of the concert was when they did Child of Innocence from Masque. I always liked the songs where both Steve Walsh and Robby Steinhardt sand lead parts like in Child of Innocence and Closet Chronicles.

My very 1st concert of my life, Cheap Trick opened, I believe it was 1977 or 1978. I remember him doing hand stands on his keyboard.

"Can't Cry Anymore" is so powerful.

First thing I ever heard from Kansas was " Journey To Maribonne" and then I saw them on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and had to have that first album.

I named my dog Kansas in 1977. Saw them in a small music hall in 76 and they blew the roof off.

I saw the power tour Kansas was fantastic

There is much more to the Steve Walsh leaving Kansas story than "He wanted to be a rock star."". He has some personal problems that had to be overcome as well. He did overcome them but it wan't quick and it it wasn't easy. Love Kansas.

I worked with a guy who went to high school with Steve Walsh in St. Joseph Mo. He was a great singer and keyboardist.

Many of the Kansas members will remember the little basement Church in North Atlanta. Pastor Lavern Campbell at a small Calvary Chapel church. Babble Mason was the music leader. I remember going to lunch after church with Kerry and Dave and families. There was a bunch of us at the buffet 😃

There just aren’t that many pure “double threats” out there who are both virtuous instrumentalists as well as astounding vocalists. Steve was unequivocally one of those unicorns.

All I am, and all that I was ever meant to be, in harmony!!

I didn't know Steve Morse had played with Kansas. But I can imagine it was a good fit. I saw Steve Morse (I know this video was about the other Steve) twice in the 1990s with his band - just a trio. All instrumental set both times. He was just amazing back then. On his electric guitar he had a piezo strip pickup mounted under (or on) the bridge, and he could make it sound EXACTLY like a classical acoustic guitar.

I saw him with Streets; I think they opened for Loverboy. Very good live!

I remember the day, the place, and almost the hour I first heard Carry on Wayward Son. My bandmate and I flipped out!

I know exactly what they mean about Dust in the wind and the fade away at the end,I actually did adjust the volume at the end to hear everything!

i like steve walsh cool guy. i love journey from mariabronn my favourite kansas song. kansas is still good.

Icarus/Borne on the Wings of Steel, Song for America, Closet Chronicles, The Wall, People of the South Wind, Curtain of Iron all songs I still have on rotation

Yeah, he had the pipes. He also had the chops and stage presence. He could bang on the keys and vibes.

He's the reason I took voice class in high-school.

I thought They were Really Cheesy , I was a Prog Snob , But Then a Friend took me to See the Monolith Tour and They Completely Kicked my ass .And Yeah Steve was Killer . I went out and Bought Monolith and the Live LP the Next Day.

Love those guys. I absolutely ate up the first four albums before Leftoverture hit. I actually made a video as a school project long before MTV that melded "Child of Innocence" with "Mysteries and Mayhem" - actually bookended by BOC's "Don't Fear the Reaper." It was basically a chase scene "runnin' from a figure that's dressed in black." I think it was on 16mm. God I wish I still had the film, especially with the companies that digitize all that stuff these days. .....sigh.

One band I never had the opportunity to see.

The best Kansas album is "Masque". Blows away all the other albums, including the later ones which become radio hits. The entire album was classic.

The Wall is my favorite Kansas song.