Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967. Built around a prominent horn section and a large ensemble format, the group developed a distinctive blend of rock, jazz, soul, pop and classical influences. Its music ranged from extended, politically charged pieces to polished ballads, giving Chicago one of the broadest and most commercially durable careers in popular music.
The band was founded by saxophonist Walter Parazaider, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow, guitarist and vocalist Terry Kath, keyboardist and vocalist Robert Lamm, and drummer Danny Seraphine. Bassist and vocalist Peter Cetera joined soon afterward. Initially known as The Big Thing, the group moved to Los Angeles in 1968 under the management of producer James William Guercio and adopted the name Chicago Transit Authority. After the release of its debut double album, The Chicago Transit Authority, in 1969, the name was shortened to Chicago following objections from the city's public transportation authority.
Chicago's early records established the band's defining sound: forceful brass arrangements integrated into a rock rhythm section, with multiple singers and songwriters contributing to the material. The second album, commonly known as Chicago II, expanded that approach through ambitious suites such as "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon," which included the hit "Make Me Smile." Other early successes included "25 or 6 to 4," "Beginnings," "Saturday in the Park," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" and "Old Days." Albums such as Chicago III, Chicago V, Chicago VII and Chicago VIII confirmed the group's status as a major album act during the 1970s.
The band also became known for its unusual visual identity. For many years, its album covers used a variation of the Chicago logo rather than photographs of the musicians, reinforcing the idea of the group as a collective. Despite its instrumental complexity, Chicago maintained a steady presence on radio and in concert, balancing extended arrangements with accessible melodies.
A major turning point came in January 1978, when Terry Kath died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot. Kath had been one of the band's central musical forces, contributing powerful guitar work and lead vocals. Chicago continued with Hot Streets, its first album to feature a photograph of the group on the cover, and gradually moved toward a more streamlined pop-rock sound. The change became especially pronounced in the 1980s, when producer David Foster and vocalist-keyboardist Bill Champlin became important contributors.
The album Chicago 16 produced "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," while Chicago 17 yielded "You're the Inspiration," "Stay the Night" and "Along Comes a Woman." Chicago 17 became the band's best-selling album, but Cetera left in 1985 to pursue a solo career. Chicago continued with new singers and musicians, scoring another major success with "Look Away" from Chicago 19 in 1988.
Although its commercial profile declined after the 1980s, Chicago remained an active touring and recording band. Later releases included Stone of Sisyphus, Chicago XXX, Chicago XXXVI: Now and Born for This Moment in 2022. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, received a Grammy Hall of Fame honor for The Chicago Transit Authority in 2014, and was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. Its longevity, horn-led arrangements and ability to move between progressive rock, jazz-rock and soft pop have made Chicago one of America's most enduring music groups.