Robby Steinhardt
Robert Eugene "Robby" Steinhardt (born May 25, 1950) is a rock violinist 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 and Steve Walsh are the only original members of the band who are not from Topeka.
Early life
Steinhardt grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and was the adopted son of Ilse and Milton Steinhardt. Milton Steinhardt was the director of music history at the University of Kansas. Robby 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 holding his violin to the side of his head in order to hear himself better through the guitar amps and PA system.