Pretty, melancholy, and true, the Kansas classic ‘Dust in the Wind’ gets an a cappella makeover is this stunning performance by Jared Halley. The 34-year-old Columbus, Ohio native sings the beautiful, solemn Kansas Classic, recorded in 1977, with splendid skill and emotion. He needs no flashy wardrobe and background. His basic t-shirt and bare walls only allow us to appreciate his incredible talent more completely!

Jared is a “one-man-band,” using his voice and mouth to create all the parts for the songs he records. A solo artist, he learns and performs all the individual singing parts and adds the percussive pieces (stomps, claps, beats, etc.) before combining them to create a cappella perfection! There are 810,000 subscribers to Jared’s YouTube channel!

Here, Jared, exhibiting his amazing range, sings a Kansas ballad that, while very different from the songs the group typically recorded, became one of their greatest hits—rivaling ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ recorded in 1976. Written by band member Kerry Livgren, ‘Dust in the Wind’ was conceived when the musician came across the line “All we are is dust in the wind” while reading a book of American Indian poetry.  

The message in the music is that we all have limited time, and we ought to make the most of the days we’ve been given. Here are four lines from ‘Dust in the Wind;’

‘Same old song

Just a drop of water in an endless sea

All we do

Crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see’

When God blesses us with gifts and talents, we are wise to use them. The Topeka, Kansas, band is still performing, though several of the current band members are no longer with the group. Jared Halley is creating new music every day. Like every single one of us, both the band Kansas and Jared have limited time, but they’re making the most of it by bringing the world entertaining, uplifting, and inspiring music. 

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17