Robby Steinhardt
Encyclopedia
Robert Eugene Steinhardt (born May 25, 1950) is a rock
violin
ist and singer best known for his work with the group Kansas
, for which he was co-lead singer / "frontman" and emcee along with keyboardist Steve Walsh
, from 1973–1982 and 1997–2006. He is the only original member of the band who is not from Topeka.
and was the adopted son of Milton Steinhardt, director of music history at the University of Kansas
. He started violin lessons at age eight and was classically trained. When his family traveled to Europe, the young Steinhardt played with some orchestras there. Steinhardt attended Lawrence High School
and was the concertmaster during his high school years. He has often said that joining a rock band caused him to develop poor playing habits, one of which is awkwardly holding his violin to the side of his head in order to hear himself better through the guitar amps and PA system.
. The two often sang in harmony, with Steinhardt taking the lower voice. He has said that unless he has a writing credit on a song—his credits include about a half dozen songs—the violin (and occasional viola) part was written out for him, usually by Kerry Livgren
.
Steinhardt joined a re-formed White Clover in 1972, with the group adopting the Kansas name before their first album in 1974. In 1983, he failed to show up to record the next Kansas album. His departure from the band after the Vinyl Confessions
tour in 1982 was for personal reasons.
In the interim, he fronted his own band, Steinhardt-Moon and was a member of the Stormbringer Band from 1990 to 1996, recording two CDs with the group during his membership. He also contributed to a Jethro Tull
tribute album, To Cry You a Song: A Collection of Tull Tales on Magna Carta Records
.
Steinhardt was also the victim of a special effect gone wrong during the band's "Point of Know Return" tour. Kerry Livgren describes what happened:
In early 2006, Steinhardt once again left Kansas, due mostly to overtouring and conflict with other band members. Since Steinhardt rejoined the band in 1997, the touring pace had been pretty hectic, averaging almost 100 shows per year. As part of a mutual agreement, he left Kansas once again. Robby served as the emcee for the band's concerts when he was a member, with his fellow band member, Kerry Livgren describing his role like this: "Robby had a totally unique function as a violinist, second vocalist, and MC in a live situation. Robby was the link between the band on the stage and the audience." Violinist David Ragsdale
(Steinhardt's original replacement) quickly replaced him again.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and singer best known for his work with the group Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
, for which he was co-lead singer / "frontman" and emcee along with keyboardist Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh (musician)
Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
, from 1973–1982 and 1997–2006. He is the only original member of the band who is not from Topeka.
Early life
Steinhardt grew up in Lawrence, KansasLawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
and was the adopted son of Milton Steinhardt, director of music history at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He started violin lessons at age eight and was classically trained. When his family traveled to Europe, the young Steinhardt played with some orchestras there. Steinhardt attended Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School (Kansas)
Lawrence High School is a fully accredited public high school located in Lawrence, Kansas, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of the two public high schools located in the city. Lawrence High enrolled 1,260 students in the 2007-2008 school year...
and was the concertmaster during his high school years. He has often said that joining a rock band caused him to develop poor playing habits, one of which is awkwardly holding his violin to the side of his head in order to hear himself better through the guitar amps and PA system.
Work with Kansas
Steinhardt's violin sound, and its interplay with the guitar and keyboards, helped define the Kansas sound. His lead vocals provided a contrast to the high tenor of singer Steve WalshSteve Walsh (musician)
Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
. The two often sang in harmony, with Steinhardt taking the lower voice. He has said that unless he has a writing credit on a song—his credits include about a half dozen songs—the violin (and occasional viola) part was written out for him, usually by Kerry Livgren
Kerry Livgren
Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
.
Steinhardt joined a re-formed White Clover in 1972, with the group adopting the Kansas name before their first album in 1974. In 1983, he failed to show up to record the next Kansas album. His departure from the band after the Vinyl Confessions
Vinyl Confessions
Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album, and ninth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 . The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2011.-Background:...
tour in 1982 was for personal reasons.
In the interim, he fronted his own band, Steinhardt-Moon and was a member of the Stormbringer Band from 1990 to 1996, recording two CDs with the group during his membership. He also contributed to a Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
tribute album, To Cry You a Song: A Collection of Tull Tales on Magna Carta Records
Magna Carta Records
Magna Carta Records is an independent record label located in Rochester, New York. Magna Carta was formed in 1989 and is owned by Peter Morticelli and his partner Mike Varney. The label has a diverse line-up consisting of musicians from many different genres, but is best known for many of its...
.
Steinhardt was also the victim of a special effect gone wrong during the band's "Point of Know Return" tour. Kerry Livgren describes what happened:
Well these people contacted us, and they said "Look you guys - we've got - we think we've got exactly what you need. You got this song - Lightning's Hand. We've invented a lightning machine, that will make bolts of lightning in the concert hall." So we rented this huge warehouse down by the Atlanta airport, and we said "OK, you bring the machine down out there - we'll set up the band - let's try this thing out. The guy came up to Robby, who sang that song - Lightning's Hand, he said "OK. What you do is you hold this sword in your hand, and there's a cord that runs out of the sword down to your foot to ground you", and he says "When you get to that line in the song where you say 'I command the lightning's hand', you hold out the sword, we'll flip the switch, and the bolt of lightning will jump across the stage and hit your sword, and go right out through the cord, and you won't feel anything."All of a sudden the guy turns on the machine, and Robby's mountain of hair starts sticking straight up, moving all over the place, and he looked really bizarre. And he got to that line in the song, and the bolt of lightning jumped out, and bit him right on the neck. Knocked him down on the ground,- he's lying writhing around on the ground, and this thing's going bzzzt, bzzzt, bzzzt - and we're going "SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF!" and scared the devil out of him. We tried it at one concert, the first concert on that tour - on the Point of Know Return tour - we were in Miami, we turn on the lightning machine, and it jumped out and it blew about half the speakers and the PA.
In early 2006, Steinhardt once again left Kansas, due mostly to overtouring and conflict with other band members. Since Steinhardt rejoined the band in 1997, the touring pace had been pretty hectic, averaging almost 100 shows per year. As part of a mutual agreement, he left Kansas once again. Robby served as the emcee for the band's concerts when he was a member, with his fellow band member, Kerry Livgren describing his role like this: "Robby had a totally unique function as a violinist, second vocalist, and MC in a live situation. Robby was the link between the band on the stage and the audience." Violinist David Ragsdale
David Ragsdale
David Ragsdale, violinist for Kansas since 1991, started violin at the age of three. After studies with renowned classical teachers and a stint at the Tulsa Philharmonic, David's violinist duties took him out of the largely classical area and into rock and roll.Through the years he has performed...
(Steinhardt's original replacement) quickly replaced him again.