Soft Rock Music
The song was written by Kansas member, musician, and songwriter Kerry Livgren. It was a last-minute addition to their 1977 album Point of Know Reutrn. Livgren had been reading Native American poetry and was taken with the idea that we are just dust in the wind. Kansas was successful as a band and they had a hit in 1976 with “Wayward Son.” Livgren philosophized that they couldn’t take all that materialistic glory with them when they died. Hence, the song. Its slow, thoughtful, acoustic nature made it seem not like a Kansas song to Livgren, but the group loved it. As did the public. It turned out to Kansas’ only Top Ten Bilboard Hot 100 charting single. In 1978, “Dust in the Wind” went to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It went to #1 on the Canadian Top Adult Contemporary Chart and #3 on the Canadian Top 100. The single earned RIAA Gold certification and twenty-five years later earned RIAA gold for digital download format of the song.
On the track were Kerry Livgren (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Phil Ehart (percussion), Robby Steinhardt (harmony vocals, viola, violin), Steve Walsh (lead and harmony vocals), and Rich Williams (acoustic guitar). Kansas continues to tour and perform.
