Chicago
Get ready to rock-and-roll with Chicago, the band that exploded the conventions of rock music with a groundbreaking new form that took them to the top and continues to resonate through music today. They hit the Midwest club circuit as the Big Thing, took the name Chicago Transit Authority (soon simplified to Chicago), moved to Los Angeles, and signed with Columbia Records in the late 1960s. Each member had learned a variety of styles, leading to an original musical fusion powered by horns. "Make Me Smile"; "25, or 6 to 4"; "If You Leave Me Now," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" - the lyrics and the sound are as moving now as when these iconic works first hit the charts, and newer works only extend the brand.
Chicago nearly broke up after the death of Terry Kath in 1978 but reformed and now has a multi-generation audience, remaining true to rock while expanding their appeal by "Chicago-izing" classic Swing Era standards with the "Night & Day (Big Band)" album.
There has always been more to Chicago than the music. The band registered voters at their concerts and included voter information in an album. They headlined the 2002 National Memorial Day Concert; raised awareness to keep the Lincoln Park Zoo free; endowed a Music Department chair and scholarship at DePaul; performed with Notre Dame's marching band; had a special exhibit at the Chicago History Museum and part of Chicago Avenue named for them; and support charities through ticket sales.
