Sometimes you have to pick up the slack for a co-worker.

Kansas, you’ll no doubt be shocked to learn, formed in Topeka, Kansas in 1970. Two progressive rock bands joined forces to create the first version of the group, but like that couple who are always breaking up and getting back together again, these two bands kept splitting up and reforming in different iterations. By 1973, Kansas finally solidified into a stable lineup and scored a record deal with Don Kirshner, a music mogul known primarily for publishing who had also discovered Neil Diamond, The Archies, and Carole King. Kansas was Kirshner’s first foray into the world of ROCK.

Let’s jump to 1976. The band’s first three albums sold modestly and their singles didn’t exactly light the airwaves on fire, so the pressure was on for album number four. Up until this point, all songwriting duties had been evenly split between vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh and guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren, but on the first day of rehearsals for the new album, Walsh told Livgren he had nothing. Writer’s block. Livgren would need to double his usual number of songs.

So that’s what he did. During the day Kerry would rehearse with the band and then head over to his parents’ house where he was staying and write new songs on the family organ. On the last day of rehearsals he mentioned something he’d been working on but wasn’t ready to present. Once Kansas moved into their usual recording studio in Louisiana to begin proper sessions, Livgren finished “Carry On Wayward Son” and it was the last song the band recorded for their Leftoverture album.

Released as a single in November of 1976, “Carry On Wayward Son” began a slow climb up the charts. The band loved the song but didn’t have high expectations — none of their previous singles had even sniffed the lower reaches of the charts. But radio stations across the country began adding the song and by the spring of 1977 “Carry On Wayward Son” had reached #11 on the US Hot 100, the first of many hits over the next decade.

Luckily for Livgren, he never had to shoulder so much responsibility again. But had necessity called upon him once again, he would have carried on.

So set a course for winds of fortune … with Kansas.