Rock group. Chicago was founded in 1967. Musicians in the band include Walter Parazaider (woodwinds), Terry Kath (guitarist), Danny Seraphine (drummer), James Pankow (trombone), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), Robert Lamm (keyboards, vocals) and Peter Cetera (vocalist, bassist), Jason Scheff (bass, vocals), Bill Champlin (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Tris Imboden (drums), Keith Howland (guitar).
Walter Parazaider showed musical promise early on. His father, a working musician, encouraged Parazaider's artistic leanings and, by the age of nine, the young boy was well on his way to mastering the clarinet.
He remained devoted to his classical music pursuits throughout his adolescence, but around this time he began diversifying his musical tastes. As Parazaider studied his instrument and primed himself for his dream — a spot in the Chicago Symphony — he discovered "you could make a buck and get some girls" by playing in a rock band. During this time, he befriended guitarist Terry Kath and drummer Danny Seraphine. The trio formed the band Missing Links, and they began performing at local dance halls.
Parazaider enrolled in Chicago's DePaul University in the early 1960s to study education, but quickly switched his major to music. He began toying with the idea of creating a new, unprecedented kind of rock band — one with a central horn section. It wasn't until Kath introduced trumpeter Lee Loughnane to the group that Parazaider's dream band began to take shape. He then contacted fellow DePaul student and trombonist, James Pankow, as well as keyboardist Robert Lamm, inviting them to hash out plans for a new musical group.
Each member had learned a variety of styles while playing for the many different racial and ethnic groups that populate Chicago. Paramount for this nascent group was creating a rock 'n' roll band with horns. At the time, R&B artists like James Brown were upping the ante for horn sections, but it had not been attempted within the context of a rock band. This musical fusion struck the lovely chord that became Chicago.
Initially called The Big Thing, they hit the Midwest club circuit in 1967. In December of that year, The Big Thing opened for the popular Midwestern band The Exceptions. Deeply impressed with the group's bassist, Peter Cetera, Parazaider lured the musician into their ranks. In 1968, they took the name Chicago Transit Authority (soon simplified to Chicago), moved to Los Angeles and signed to Columbia Records.
The ambitious double-record, Chicago Transit Authority, hit record store shelves in 1969. The album became a college radio darling, and in May of 1969, it peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard charts. Shortly after the release, the band shortened its name to Chicago. After their first release, Chicago began the unique tradition of naming its records with Roman numerals, echoing the practice of classical composers who often organized their works this way. In the rock world, this is forever identified with Chicago.
