Dakota

In 1979, vocalists and guitarists Jerry Hludzik and Billy Kelly assembled a melodic rock group in Chicago, Illinois. They soon enlisted Lou Crossa and Jeff Mitchell for keyboards, Bill McMale on bass, and John Robinson behind the drums, shaping their approach around the sounds of Styx, Toto, and Kansas. Defined by dense keyboard textures and precise vocal harmonies, the ensemble issued two polished studio albums in the pomp-rock vein before splitting up in 1984.