Sad news from the Kansas camp as the band have announced the departure of violinist and long-time member David Ragsdale. The band shared this on the band’s website.
“The band KANSAS would like to thank violinist David Ragsdale for his decades of dedicated musicianship as he departs the band to focus on personal matters.
David first joined KANSAS in 1991, reinstating the iconic violin sound into the band. His first tenure with the band lasted until 1996. During that time, he appeared on live album ‘Live at the Whiskey’ and the studio album ‘Freaks of Nature.’
Ragsdale rejoined KANSAS in 2006 and has been a constant with the band for the past 17 years.
“For 23 years, David Ragsdale has been the best bandmate anyone could ever hope to work with,” comments KANSAS manager and original drummer Phil Ehart. “He reinserted the band’s signature violin after years of its absence. Since then, he’s been a critical member of the KANSAS family. I speak for the entire organization in saying we will miss him and wish him all the best.”
David performed more than 1,600 concerts with KANSAS. He appeared on three studio albums (Freaks of Nature, The Prelude Implicit, and The Absence of Presence) and four live albums (Live at the Whiskey, There’s Know Place Like Home, Leftoverture Live & Beyond, and Point of Know Return Live & Beyond).
Ragsdale’s departure will not impact any KANSAS performance scheduling. A new KANSAS violinist will be announced in the coming days.”
The band has announced that violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon will be succeeding the departing David Ragsdale. Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius, which has just released their 6th album, “Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock).”
The band are set to begin their 50th Anniversary Tour in June.
KANSAS 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR – ANOTHER FORK IN THE ROAD CONFIRMED DATES*:
DATE CITY VENUE
June 2, 2023 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
June 3, 2023 Baltimore, MD The Lyric Baltimore
June 9, 2023 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
June 10, 2023 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
June 16, 2023 Fort Wayne, IN Embassy Theatre
June 17, 2023 Detroit, MI Fisher Theatre
June 29, 2023 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
July 1, 2023 Rochester, NY Kodak Center
July 7, 2023 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
July 8, 2023 Indianapolis, IN Clowes Memorial Hall
July 14, 2023 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
July 15, 2023 Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre
July 21, 2023 Wausau, WI The Grand Theater
July 22, 2023 Milwaukee, WI The Riverside Theater
July 27, 2023 Kansas City, MO The Midland Theatre
July 29, 2023 St. Louis, MO The Fabulous Fox Theatre
August 4, 2023 Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Place
August 5, 2023 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theater
August 18, 2023 Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theatre
August 19, 2023 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
August 25, 2023 Denver, CO The Paramount Theatre
August 26, 2023 Salt Lake City, UT Eccles Theater
September 6, 2023 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
September 8, 2023 Seattle, WA The Paramount Theater
September 9, 2023 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
September 12, 2023 Boise, ID Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
September 14, 2023 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Theatre
September 16, 2023 Los Angeles, CA The Orpheum Theatre
September 17, 2023 San Diego, CA Balboa Theatre
September 20, 2023 To Be Announced
September 22, 2023 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
September 24, 2023 El Paso, TX The Plaza Theatre
October 12, 2023 Worcester, MA The Hanover Theatre
October 13, 2023 Brookville, NY Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
October 20, 2023 San Antonio, TX Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
October 21, 2023 Sugar Land, TX Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
October 26, 2023 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
October 27, 2023 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
November 3, 2023 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
November 4, 2023 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
December 1, 2023 Savannah, GA Johnny Mercer Theatre
December 2, 2023 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
January 12, 2024 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
January 13, 2024 North Charleston, SC North Charleston Performing Arts Center
January 19, 2024 Fort Myers, FL Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
January 20, 2024 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
January 27, 2024 Melbourne, FL Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
January 28, 2024 Fort Lauderdale, FL Broward Center for the Performing Arts
*Two additional dates to be announced
KANSAS CLASSICS TOUR DATES**:
DATE CITY VENUE
March 11, 2023 Tampa, FL Busch Gardens
March 17, 2023 Shawnee, OK Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center
March 23, 2023 Winterhaven, CA Quechan Casino
March 24, 2023 Pala, CA Pala Casino
March 25, 2023 Queen Creek, AZ The Good Life Festival
April 1, 2023 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino Resort with Blue Oyster Cult
April 20, 2023 Marion, IL Marion Cultural & Civic Center
April 22, 2023 Forrest City, AR EACC Fine Arts Center
May 19, 2023 Decatur, IL The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater
May 21, 2023 Louisville, KY Iroquois Amphitheater
** More dates to be announced
