The band Kansas stays connected to its Kansas roots

The crux of “Miracles Out of Nowhere,” the revealing and entertaining documentary on the band Kansas that hit festival screens earlier this year, is a 2014 reunion concert that was filmed in Topeka. All of the original members of the band shared a stage for the first time in more than 30 years.

“That was just great,” guitarist Richard Williams said while calling from his Atlanta home recently. “I can’t tell you how much fun that was.”

The laid-back Williams is one of two original members – drummer Phil Ehart is the other – remaining in the band Kansas, which plays the Orpheum on Thursday. He is pleased with the current configuration of the band, and he also enjoys the company of his former mates.

“I really love everyone that’s been in this band,” Williams said. “All is good, especially when it comes to the reunion, which wasn’t difficult to pull off. We’re all still friends. There aren’t any feuds. When we play in Biloxi, (violinist) Robby (Steinhardt) will get up on stage with us. (Keyboardist-songwriter) Kerry (Livgren) will play with us when we’re performing in Kansas. We’re all still connected even though we’re in different parts of the country. The common denominator is that it all started in Kansas.”

The band, which formed in Topeka 41 years ago, never envisioned recording three platinum-plus albums (“Leftoverture,” “Point of Know Return” and “The Best of Kansas”), a platinum live album (“Two for the Show”) and a million-selling single (“Dust in the Wind.”)

“We never dreamed that there was anything more than something regional for us,” Williams said. “I never thought about branching out behind the Midwest. I’ve loved music since I saw the Beatles on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.’ It was a hobby that turned into a career, and it’s been my life. You see that in the movie.”

The film, directed by Charley Randazzo, wisely focuses on Kansas’ salad days. The baroque act enjoyed a great deal of success during the ’70s. The band sold out arenas throughout the country, including Madison Square Garden, and occasionally headlined stadiums.

“It was surreal,” Williams said. “I’m glad the movie covers those days so well. I’m just glad we have this documentary. I was told, before you’re dead and gone, you do something to document all that you’ve done. I was in Topeka three years ago with my wife and we were sitting in a park and I said, ‘maybe I should write a book.’ But the book went to a documentary instead. Sony got involved, and it picked up steam. The period of the first couple of albums are covered, and it details the hurdles we had to climb to get to the top of the mountain. I’m proud of what was created.” The documentary is available on DVD.

Kansas, which also includes bassist Billy Greer, violinist David Ragsdale, vocalist Ronnie Platt and keyboardist David Manion, isn’t finished creating despite what Williams declared during a 2010 interview – that Kansas would never release another album.

“What’s the point of us making another album?” Williams said in 2010. “All our fans want to hear is the classic material.”

Williams laughed when reminded of the chat since Kansas is planning to record its first album in 15 years. “The lineup is different since we had that conversation,” Williams said. “I didn’t foresee change but it’s happening. Everybody is on board to make a new album. We’re starting to write now. We’re getting ideas together. I’m really enjoying this.”

The band is also playing deep album cuts for the first time in years. “It’s a refreshing change,” Williams said. “It’s amazing. We’ve been revitalized coming up with new material and unearthing material we haven’t touched in years.”

But count on Kansas, when it performs Thursday, to render the familiar as well. “People ask me if I’m tired of playing ‘Dust in the Wind.’ That’s like asking me if I’m tired of eating hamburgers,” Williams said. “I love playing ‘Dust in the Wind.’ It’s cool when I play the very beginning of that song and you hear the crowd reacting.”

Going back to Wichita causes Williams to travel down memory lane. “I love returning to Wichita,” he said. “I think back to when we were just starting out. I remember going to Wichita and going to this clothing shop and buying these goofy outfits. I bought an orange shirt with this crazy collar and puffy sleeves”

Williams is proud of his Kansas roots but he’s happy to live in Atlanta. “That’s where I reside at this point in my life,” he said. “Kansas is a place I’m happy to visit. It brings back childhood memories. I love it there, and when we play Wichita, it’ll be a special evening. It always is that way because that’s my home state, and there’s no fans like the people in Kansas.”

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 9:50 AM with the headline "The band Kansas stays connected to its Kansas roots."