OBITUARY: Following a battle of sepsis and severe pancreatitis, progressive rock legend passed away.

According to his wife, the musician passed away following a battle of sepsis and severe pancreatitis.

Robby Steinhardt, a co-lead vocalist and violinist for the rock group Kansas, passed away on Saturday, July 17. He was seventy-one. Cindy Steinhardt, Steinhardt’s wife, posted a Facebook confirmation of his passing. According to Cindy, Steinhardt had severe pancreatitis in May, which led to his hospitalization. He was put on life support shortly after going into acute septic shock, and despite the “very grave” prognosis at the time, he recovered. However, Steinhardt experienced another sepsis a few months later, right before he was about to be discharged from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility. “We are completely devastated because we were about to embark on a new journey in our lives,” Cindy added.

Robby recently worked with the gifted music producer Michael Franklin at Solar Studios to create his debut solo album. Robby was eager to get back on stage and do what he loved, and a tour was scheduled to begin in August. Although I’ve always attempted to share our life with you, I kindly ask that you show some consideration during this difficult time of loss. I invite you to post your Robby-related photos and tales on his page. The only thing I regret is that I can’t show him how much I love him by sharing them with him. “The members of the band Kansas, past and present, wish to express our deepest sorrow over the death of our bandmate and friend, Robby Steinhardt,” said a statement released by the band.

Robby will always be a part of our music, our thoughts, and our spirits. We will always be grateful for everything he gave to our band, the Kansas sound, and the people that came to our shows. Born in Chicago on May 25, 1950, Steinhardt was adopted at the age of four days by his parents, Ilsa and Milton Steinhardt. The family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where Milton taught music and later rose to the position of Chairman of the Music History and Literature Department at Kansas University, according to a biography on Steinhardt’s website. Steinhardt studied and played classical violin as a child, but in 1972 he joined White Clover, a new rock band from Topeka.