Former Kansas member Robby Steinhardt is on the mend after suffering a heart attack on Aug. 9.

Steinhardt, whose violin and vocals were a key component of the band's early success, needed a quadruple bypass after the attack. Despite the serious nature of his condition and the surgery, he appears to be recuperating in stable condition. The news comes courtesy of a Facebook post from Steinhardt's girlfriend, who told followers, "Robby made it through an amazing surgery. He's comfortable and in good hands ... Thank you for all your support and love. Continue sending notes, I'll make sure he gets them."

A longtime fan favorite thanks to his distinctive stage presence and outgoing personality, Steinhardt served two lengthy tenures with Kansas, helping anchor the lineup during the band's most successful period (1973-82) and then returning for a series of tours and albums between 1997-2006.

Even though he hasn't been part of the group for years, he still has a connection with the music: Prior to experiencing his health woes, he'd been planning on taking part in Kansas' 40th anniversary fan-appreciation concert in Pittsburgh on Aug. 17, featuring two sets (one with a 35-piece orchestra) and "all the original members of the band ... on the same stage together in more than 30 years."

Though he won't be with the band at the show, he'll be present in spirit; in a subsequent Facebook post, Steinhardt's girlfriend requested that fans send in their footage. One commenter responded, "We were told no video in Pittsburgh, but I will forget I heard that."

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