It’s not often that a top level musical act comes to Western Kansas, but this month one of the biggest will be performing very close to home. Thursday, April 17 at 8 p.m., Rob Thomas will be performing at the historic Steifel Theatre in Salina, Kansas.<\/p>\n
The front man for Matchbox Twenty has pushed out a continuous stream of chart-toppers with his four piece set such as, \u201cPush,\u201d \u201c3AM, \u201c \u201cBright Lights\u201d and, \u201cBent.\u201d After collaboration with Latin guitar legend Carlos Santana in 1999, Rob Thomas hit the big time raking in three Grammys with \u201cSmooth,\u201d the lyrics of which written by Thomas.<\/p>\n
In his solo career, Thomas has managed to remain a consistent voice in the music industry with hits such as \u201cLonely No More\u201d and \u201cThis is How a Heart Breaks,\u201d and \u201cLittle Wonders.\u201d His lyrical workmanship earned him a spot in the Song Writers Hall of Fame in 2004. Broadcast Music Inc and Billboard both awarded Thomas Songwriter of the year two years in a row.<\/p>\n
Thomas dropped out of high school at 17 and got his GED with plans to join the army but instead shifted his focus towards music. A move that paid off for Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would\u2019ve liked to go to college, which I may still do just for the sake of learning. I still regret not taking piano lessons,\u201d Thomas said in a Associated Press interview.<\/p>\n
Matchbox Twenty formed in 1995 with a few members from Thomas\u2019 first band Tabitha\u2019s Secret who gained enough local credit to catch the eye of Atlantic Record representative Matt Serlectic. The band split after two members wanted to sign a deal directly from Atlantic Records thinking it the wiser choice then signing on with Serlectic\u2019s own smaller production company, Melisima. After Matchbox Twenty gained national attention with \u201c3AM, \u201c a song originating in Tabitha\u2019s Secret, former members Jay Stanley and John Goff filed suit over usage of the song on Matchbox Twenty\u2019s debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You. The lawsuit settled out of court after five years of deliberation.<\/p>\n
Matchbox Twenty has recently finished a world tour for their 2012 album, North, the band\u2019s fourth album. Selling over 80 million records, it might be a surprise to local Kansans that such an acclaimed artist fresh off a sold-out world tour would be playing an intimate gig, but that is Thomas\u2019 intention. The Stiefel Theatre\u2019s mission is \u201cto provide quality experiences that enrich educate and entertain.\u201d This will be an all-ages, family friendly show.<\/p>\n