IN MEMORY OF ROBBY STEINHARDT
As one of the original members of Kansas, Robby Steinhardt helped craft the band’s distinctive sound from their 1974 debut onwards. Also known for his work with Stormbringer and Jon Anderson, the violinist and singer was working on a new solo album before his untimely death in July 2021. Prog remembers the virtuoso musician.
Words: Malcolm Dome
Robby Steinhardt once blamed being a member of Kansas for encouraging bad habits in his violin playing. “It wasn’t the band’s fault,” he insisted in 1981. “But I naturally tended to hold my violin onstage so I could hear what the rest of the boys were doing. That meant I was touching the instrument in a way that meant I couldn’t be anywhere near my best.”
Steinhardt was a virtuoso musician. Born in Chicago on May 25, 1950, he was classically trained and began violin lessons when he was eight.
“I was lucky that my adopted dad, Milton, was a significant musical figure at the University Of Kansas [he was the head of the music history department]. And he encouraged me to play with the best musicians around, including orchestras.”