Kansas has announced that violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon has joined the band. Deninzon is replacing the departing David Ragsdale, who was with Kansas from 1991 to 1997 and from 2006 to 2023.
Deninzon has been dubbed by some as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin” because of his innovative style on the “Viper” seven-string electric violin. He also is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band Stratospheerius, which has just released its sixth album “Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock).”
“We are extremely excited for Joe Deninzon to be the newest member of Kansas. We believe fans will enjoy what Joe will bring to the band,” said Phil Ehart, Kansas’ drummer and an original member of the band, which scored huge hits with “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”
Deninzon has performed and/or recorded with such notable legends as the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson among others.
A BMI Composer’s Grant recipient and winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Deninzon has written solo works for violinist Rachel Barton Pine, and in 2015, premiered his Electric Violin Concerto with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University and a Master’s in Jazz Violin from Manhattan School of music.
“As a lifelong fan of Kansas, I am overwhelmed and humbled to have been invited to join this legendary band,” Deninzon said.
Deninzon joins Kansas as the band is preparing to kick off a 50th-anniversary tour dubbed “Another Fork in the Road.” His first performance with the band will be in Pittsburgh on June 2.
Here’s a full list of the Kansas tour dates, which wraps up in January with five performances in Florida:
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 Theatre
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 19, 2023: Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre
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
November 16, 2023: Dallas, TX – Winspear Opera House
November 17, 2023: Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
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
