Fifty years ago today, on October 21, 1976, a rock band from Topeka, Kansas, released their fourth studio album, Leftoverture. They'd spent the previous three years recording albums and touring across America, but they still hadn't found that big hit that would put them on the national charts. The band was Kansas, and their breakthrough came from a song that guitarist Kerry Livgren brought to the group near the end of rehearsals for the new album. It was called “Carry On Wayward Son.” Livgren had been doing much of the songwriting for Leftoverture, and this particular song was a personal one. He was searching for answers in his own life, and the lyrics reflected that spiritual journey, with a message about finding peace after years of struggling to find your way. The recording begins with those wonderful four-part vocal harmonies, followed by one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of the 1970s. Steve Walsh delivers a tremendous lead vocal, while Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams provide the powerful guitar work. The keyboards, bass, and Phil Ehart's drums give the song its driving rhythm, with several wonderful changes in tempo along the way. At more than five minutes long, it wasn't exactly the kind of song record companies expected to become a hit single. Radio listeners had other ideas. “Carry On Wayward Son” became Kansas's first Top 40 hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1977. The album climbed to No. 5, eventually selling millions of copies, and Kansas finally had the national recognition they'd been working toward. Half a century later, the song is still a favorite on classic rock radio, and those opening harmonies are enough to tell you exactly what's coming. Here's “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas. Turn it up and enjoy your evening! 🎶