Violinist David Ragsdale, 65, is leaving the rock band Kansas, which was formed in Topeka

David Ragsdale, violinist for the rock band Kansas, is leaving it to focus on personal matters, the band announced Monday afternoon on its Facebook page.

Ragsdale’s departure won't affect any scheduling of performances by Kansas, and a new violinist will be announced in the coming days, the band said.

“For 23 years, David Ragsdale has been the best bandmate anyone could ever hope to work with,” said Phil Ehart, the band's manager and drummer, in Monday's Facebook post.

Ragsdale 'reinserted the band's signature violin'

The late Robby Steinhardt's violin was a key part of Kansas' sound as it put seven hits on Billboard Magazine's American Top 40 between 1976 and 1986, but the band had spent nine years without a violinist when Ragsdale — a product of the University of Tulsa who had toured four years with country singer Louise Mandrell — joined in 1991.

“He reinserted the band’s signature violin after years of its absence," Ehart said Monday.

Ragsdale left in 1996, then rejoined Kansas in 2006 and had been with the band the past 17 years, Monday's Facebook post said.

More: Kansas to play more of its old songs but none of its new ones

'Critical member of the Kansas family'

"Since then, he’s been a critical member of the Kansas family," Ehart said. " I speak for the entire organization in saying we will miss him and wish him all the best.”

Ragsdale, 65, performed more than 1,600 concerts with Kansas, appearing on three studio albums and four live albums.

"The band Kansas would like to thank violinist David Ragsdale for his decades of dedicated musicianship as he departs the band to focus on personal matters," the band said in Monday's announcement.

The band was founded in Topeka. Its co-founders were Steinhardt, who grew up in Lawrence; Kerry Livgren, a 1967 graduate of Topeka West High School; 1968 Topeka West grads Ehart, Rich Williams and Dave Hope; and Steve Walsh, who grew up in St. Joseph, Mo.

Livgren, Williams, Ehart, Hope and Walsh all survive, though only Williams and Ehart are still with the band. Livgren lives in Berryton in southeast Shawnee County.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas band violinist Ragsdale leaving to focus on personal matters