The Rainmakers
August 27, 2021 | Nerman Museum Lawn
Past Event
The Rainmakers combine the guitar power of Chuck Berry with the social wit of Mark Twain into a unique brand of Missouri rock ‘n’ roll.
Formed in 1983 as the three-piece bar band Steve, Bob & Rich, these Kansas City rockers became an instant favorite throughout the Midwest. After their breakout, they signed a multi-album contract with Mercury/Polygram Records, added a fourth member and changed their name to The Rainmakers.
Since then, they’ve been widely praised as a hard-working Midwest band that’s provided new life to the traditional rock format. Critics and fans have particularly enjoyed the unique writing style of Bob Walkenhorst, who chooses unusual and sometimes controversial subjects that provide an eye-opening perspective of life that’s sprinkled with sarcastic humor.
The band received Music Connection’s award for Lyric Line of the Year: “The generation that would change the world is still looking for its car keys.” Author Stephen King twice quoted lyrics from The Rainmakers songs in his best seller “The Tommyknockers” and his 1991 novel “Gerald’s Game.”
Success has not stopped at the U.S. borders as Europe has increasingly supported the band with each new release. “Let My People Go-Go” gave The Rainmakers their first top-20 single on the British charts. They could frequently be spotted on European television with live appearances on “Top of the Pops,” “The Tube” and video play on “MTV Europe.”
In 1990, after four albums, five videos, more than 500,000 records sold and concert dates too numerous to count, The Rainmakers put band business on hold for their personal lives and agendas. In 1994, the band returned to the studio to record “Flirting with the Universe,” which achieved gold certification in Norway within two months of release.
After six successful albums, members then went their own way in 1998. In March 2011, The Rainmakers were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. The next year, the band reunited for fans who had made The Rainmakers’ music part of the soundtrack of their life.
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