Danny Seraphine: How the Band Chicago was Started. Part One 

Most bands would be happy just to have one hit. Chicago had countless hits. We're so fortunate to have had them for so long.

Danny Seraphine seems to be very genuine, candid and honest about his memory recollection. Very interesting and enlightening stuff. What an amazing drummer!

I was a roadie in '69 for Chicago Transit Authority and The Illinois Speed Press, both bands managed by James Guercio. At the time they had just gotten to L.A. and we were doing short tour hops up and down the west coast. There were THREE of us schlepping all the equipment in two semi's! A whole lot of work for $50.00 a week and $7.50 per diem expenses while we bunked four to a room! I got the floor most of the time!

I’m 58 and pretty much alone. I grew up playing drums to rock music and my mom and grandmother had a piano and one of the first song I learned on piano was color my world. Chicago was and is one of my favorite bands and music of all time. I grew up listening to Saturday in the park! Legendary songs after another. Much love to all members and deepest condolences to all. We will love and always miss you. Thank you for your musical genius. R.I.P.

Danny in my opinion just a fantastic drummer and an important part on Chicago’s style and greatness. He has an incredible smoothness and technique on the drums. Chicago could not have been Chicago without his polished and unique drumming style. Obviously Terry Kath was a one of a kind pool God as everyone agrees on that. Robert Lamm is another tremendous presence and a hell of a musician. Peter Cetera am incredible bass player and fantastic singer and them that phenomenal horn section.! What a band !! One for the ages. To this day still my favorite band all time

I watched Danny play with Chicago Transit Authority as the opening group for Jimi Hendrix and later as Chicago (all founding members including Terry Kath) a total of 3 times in 1969 and 1970 in West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, in that order. There are no words to describe the sound. At the concert with Jimi Hendrix, when it was time for CTA to leave and Jimi to start, the crowd started chanting, "No, not yet! We want more of these guys, whoever they are!" They hadn't released their first album and the MC had slurred their name. None of us knew who they were, but we knew that we liked them more than Hendrix already. Two weeks later, their first album, Chicago Transit Authority was released and they had played every single song on it. Best concert, ever! I'm a drummer and I started out playing rock. After listening to Danny's jazz licks, I started learning jazz and I've been playing jazz drums ever since. I'm not as good as Danny but he has always been my favorite rock drummer. Without Danny and Terry, Chicago was never the same.

So much in that interview. You let the person talk with only minimal prompts to direct the speaker. Well done Joe.

Very inspirating. I never knew Danny, Terry and Walther were the founders. Danny doesn't get old. He still looks like a young guy. That's how your life should be: forever young

Joe, thanks for yet another great interview! The original Chicago lineup is my favorite band ever and this was a real thrill. I know people who have met or are friends with Danny and he is as he appears, a regular, down to earth, all around nice gentleman.

Really love these interviews. Chicago doesn’t get enough recognition for how amazingly great they were 🎸

You won’t find musicians speaking more honestly anywhere. Thank You Joe for providing this for us. 🎶👍🏻🎶

Their first album "Chicago Transit Authority" is a classic masterpiece. Every member of that band had a important part in the music. When I heard Terry Kath sing I first thought that he was a black guy because of his deep voice but that's one of the reasons I liked them so much was their harmonies from all the people who sing lead & backup vocals. You had Terry's deep voice, Robert Lamms great voice and Peter Cetera's high cool voice. Listen to those guys sing together as they do an awesome version of Steve Winwood's "I'm A Man" and Terry's guitar isn't that bad either. Bands who have multiple singers and add harmonies to their songs add an extra element to their music and their band. I really enjoy groups with three or more singers and how they find ways to get everyone involved is nothing but a bonus. Chicago's first couple of albums were amazing in my opinion, they were awesome ! 🇺🇸

Love Danny Seraphine and Chicago, especially the earlier stuff. Great, great American band. Too bad they had to part ways, Danny was as much a part of their original sound as was the horn section, Terry Kath, the great vocal work by the singers, etc. etc. Was never quite the same after he left. Thanks for the interview and thanks for posting.

They were all meant to play together,and I’m really happy they did.The rest was magic.👍👍

Great interview. It's sad the band eventually broke their rule and fired Danny. To me he was an integral part of their sound.

Absolutely love this interview with Danny Seraphine! One correction to Danny's comment about nothing written by Terry on the first album is that Terry Kath was the songwriter credited for "Introduction" and "Free Form Guitar" as shown on the record label.

One of the greatest drummers ever. Such a down to earth guy. Chicago has always been among my top 2 favorite bands ever!

Love these historical retrospectives on the great music and musicians of our lifetimes. Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Earth Wind and Fire, set the standard for killer horn bands in the late 60s and 70s. Being a trombone player as a kid, I really dug the full rich sound of horn sections in R&B, Funk, Soul, and later Rock music. Keep 'em comin' man!!👍

Excellent interview. If you haven't read Danny's autobiography Street Player, find it and prepare for a great read. At times, he sounds arrogant, but it was due to the period of time and the attitudes of the band at that time. Overall, Danny, you are a 100% gem!

live 30 miles from Chicago in Indiana....Loved the band! Barnaby's is still there last I knew. Danny was one of my inspirations to play the drums, and I still do! Thanks Danny and Thank You Joe! Another Gem from the vault.......

Another great interview.Danny phenomenal drimin for his time and forward.Too bad he got kicked out of his own band.I loved hearing him tell his story.The band was never tje same after Terry Kath' s passing a real tragedy, real loss all around !!!!

Hey Joe.... this was an absolutely fantastic interview, what a relatable person Danny is and what an incredible band it was too.

Thanks for posting this! Chicago's one of my all-time favorite bands. It's 45 years ago today that Terry left us, and there will NEVER be another Terry Kath.

I haven't thought about Chicago in awhile, but this fascinating interview brought back the memory of what a great band Chicago was. I had their first couple of LPs back in the day, but they went waywardly astray over the years. So I just ordered a copy of the original Chicago Transit Authority. Can't wait to hear it again. All thanks to this inspiring interview. Thanks.

Danny floors me every time I listen to him. Had no idea he was such a chill guy! Criminally underrated.

Well done, I was 12 -13 years old when CTA came out. I was a young guitarist, listening to everyone from BS&T to Frank Zappa. I was overwhelmed buy the balance of sound from CTA ... I would get to hear them live in Albuquerque three times. They weren't quite the same after Terry passed away. My Favorite albums are the first three, but I have all of them. There is a comment below about Leonid and Friends. This cover band from Russia is as close as it gets to hearing the original sound of CTA. I am a huge follower of Leonid and Friends. One thing I have never heard anyone try to replicate was Free Form Guitar off the first album, Terry was the best!

Danny is friends with a band called (Leonid and Friends) They are from Russia, and cover Chicago songs. Check them out!😎✌❤

I played to Chicago's records growing up in high school. Such a great inspiration.

Ringo who? Danny yes. My favorite drummer of allllll time. Thank you Danny! 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

What a great story. I was a teenager in the 70s and boy I loved Chicago. They were the ultimate in cool. Now I need to listen to some of their songs on RU-vid.

Danny is a HUGE influence on my drumming!

Danny and I took lessons from the great West Coast Jazz drummer Chuck Flores. He had played with Charly "Bird" Parker.

Thank you for sharing this interview, I love this historical perspective! I used to play my trumpet along with the Chicago tracks on their debut album, playing it on an old budget phonograph when I was just 11 or 12 years old and a music student in the early 1970s. I still have that album today and it never gets old !! Thanks again Joe Chambers 😎😀

Pure gold once again Joe! Talk about the "Beginnings" of one of the greatest bands of all time! I remember first hearing them on the radio & being blown away by that Chicago sound! Great interview & looking forward to the next session.......... 👍👍😉😉

It’s so cool to hear the stories from the musicians and discover why the bands took such and such direction. Two elements are always present: talent and perseverance. Great video.

A great interview about one of my absolute favourite bands growing up! (Those three first Chicago albums are monsters!) Very interesting details I never knew before. Thank you once more, Joe!

Danny has been my favorite drummer since I first heard their first album in band class at Roosevelt Jr. High in 7th grade in 1969... the band teacher brought the album to class... I finally got to see the band in March of 75... and so many memories from that I can tell.. He did a great solo at the show..

I'm so glad to hear this interview (and Part 2 as well) with Danny. Hearing his thoughts and observations gives a wonderful, added human dimension to the band and to his drumming. Chicago for me-as a kid growing up in upstate New York who was in high school from 1971-74-was a force of nature; my sister had their first two early albums and I listened to them even more than she; our high school band director was a recent grad of the SUNY Fredonia Jazz Ensemble and began our school's very first counterpart, called "Stage Band" back then, and we played several of Chicago's songs ("Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Color My World" and "Make Me Smile" in Jazz Ensemble arrangements that were fresh from the publisher); and I have to credit Chicago, along with The Beatles, for being a significant part of what led me to become a music major myself at Ithaca College's School of Music (1974-78; 1980-81) and at Cornell (1981-84). For me Chicago was not only a great band to listen to but they were a happy learning experience as well-e.g., their first two albums taught me by ear-before I ever learned them by name in my college music theory classes-what harmonic sequences and 4-3 suspensions were. I FINALLY got to hear the then-current incarnation of Chicago play live in South Bend, IN at our local performing arts center in 2005, which completed the circle for me, except of course that I missed hearing Terry, Peter, and my favorite powerhouse drummer, Danny. However, a friend of mine from my hometown area had seen Chicago with the original members play (at either the State University College at Oneonta, NY or in Binghamton, NY-I can't be sure now) sometime during the early 1970s and I still remember her telling me how that the band was not given to playing encores in those years but that the kids in her audience were so insistent in their standing ovation that the band finally gave in and played extra for them. (Isn't there something wonderful and 'old school' about that kind of responsiveness to an audience?) Musically, I'd never heard anything like Chicago before, and it wasn't just the instrumentation-which, if you think about it, IS a scaled-down version of a Jazz Ensemble-a generous-sized rhythm section plus 1 each of Trumpet, Trombone, and Saxophone, the instruments that as fuller sections comprise the wind (horn) sections of a Big Band. The band also singing their own vocals made Chicago a true fusion of a rock band and of a 'representative' jazz ensemble. I loved everything about all that they did on their early albums, especially musically, and I think their strength as an ensemble derived from their individual strengths synergizing; these included fantastic musicianship on instruments and singing, fantastic arranging for the instrumentation they used, solidity of classical training married to self-taught rock and roll and jazz-derived elements, the sheer vigor of youth, and a truly unbelievable PRECISION of execution. You can tell Chicago's members were either classically trained and/or had otherwise honed their craft in performance from, again, their incredible PRECISION, which I'd never heard the likes of before on any other record, and rarely since. Theirs is a kind of happy-and-confident precision, and you can hear it in Danny's drumming to a degree that Buddy Rich's band held forth with similarly, but in Buddy's case it happens under a kind of tension that's less easygoing. Chicago's precision was more 'comfortable,' and seemed to derive more from an earnest love and understanding of their art than from the pressure of playing tight in order to not displease-and then perhaps be chewed out afterward by-Mr. Rich. Chicago's professionalism in their musicianship was more 'inviting,' I think, and of course it was wonderfully captured and rendered by the recording studio people who put them onto records for the rest of us to hear. Those early recordings just have the best sort of acoustic vitality and clarity to them that I'd ever heard up to that point, and I think that quality remains unequalled to this day, in that digital technology just sounds different and a little less warm to my ears. If I could say something personally to Danny it would be "Thank you!," most importantly, for showing me what a drummer could do and how MUCH a drummer could do, and with such fierce but controlled energy. I took the standard Percussion minor course as a music education major in college but we were never given Set Drumming-a real loss to me now, I think!-and of course world-class Set Drummers learn the bulk of what they do by listening and performing, and not merely through practicing of rudiments. Danny and Ringo Starr, who I know admire each other's talent, both have something else that great Set Drummers always have: an ARRANGER'S sense and sensibility for what a song/recording needs from them; they know when to do less and when to do more, and when they do more they know (or can figure out fairly quickly) what best to contribute to the arrangement of the song. A great arranging drummer always adds to the effectiveness of the SONG, first and foremost. For sheer inventiveness and comprehensive command of every element of the Set Drums, Buddy Rich is pretty much unparalleled, but Danny is very comparable in terms of overall skill and range of capability. Where I would say they differ is that Buddy sounds like he's always living in the moment, always improvising as he goes, and as wonderful as that turns out and as high the level of his technique is, you still get the feeling that it's all always unique and just for THAT moment. Danny, on the other hand, plays in a way that seems more organically integrated with the rest of the band; the difference is that his powerful and wide-ranging drumming is less about him as an individual and as a personality than as the heart of the integrated whole. Buddy always seems to stand out from his band, as though the band were there to be his accompaniment; Danny always seems to be part of an 'army of generals' who are on a more equal footing and who are all striving together for a common goal. Most home-grown drummers have nothing approaching the skill and complexity/precision of technique that Danny displays in his drumming. In his fill right before the start of the first Verse of "Make Me Smile" (just before the words "Children play in the park…") Danny incorporates the most exquisite 16th note sextuplets I've ever heard-to this day-and he arrives at the Verse so fluidly and smartly that it still takes my breath away to hear it. There are dozens and dozens of similar moments in his drumming on just the first two albums as well, and while Danny's drumming is denser and more complex than the 'average' it's always FLUID and NATURAL-it's HUMAN and SOULFUL. Ringo was perfect for The Beatles, and kept perfect and solid time as a fantastic 'arranging' drummer, but was reluctant to ever perform a drum solo per se; Danny could do everything, including incredible solos, and with an equally facile arranger's ear guiding him. I don't know if Danny ever got kidded about this in his youth, but I always thought there was something 'angelic' looking about his appearance (perhaps appropriate to his surname "Seraphine"?). He had-and still has-a sort of 'fresh-faced innocence' to his demeanor that belies the power he actually has under his fingers and feet. He's intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, well-informed, and surprisingly soft-spoken, rather the opposite of what you'd expect from just hearing his tornado-in-a-bottle musical chops. In my own music-making I'm a composer, arranger, and songwriter, and when I write for Jazz Ensemble or for a rock demo with-I'm ashamed to say-canned synthesizer drumming in it, I always bear in mind what I know is possible on the Set Drums as the result of having heard Danny do it so, so, SO very well. So: THANK YOU, Danny, for being such an important part of my youth, for showing me 'how it's done,' and for contributing so productively to one of the world's finest bands ever. I feel like I know America and the city of Chicago a little better as well because of you.

Love Danny and Chicago. Love Terry’s singing almost more than his guitar playing. It’s amazing how great those old records sound. So many British bands could barely get things recorded decently. It’s impossible to imagine the chaos that Danny witnessed back then. The only one who was straight and they were all such great players you have to laugh if you think about it. Number 1 drummer.

The Best interview I’ve seen, in regards to the origins of this awesome band, all the questions were on point, and left nothing out. I’ve been a fan since 1972. Danny is my sole inspiration for taking up drumming.

I grew up in Chicago and near Elmwood Park where they used to practice. I met Danny once in downtown Chicago in the 70’s and I remember he was a nice guy. Also read his book about the group. Thank you for another great interview. One of my favorite groups too.

The high the night his skill was elevated by the others, what a feeling that must have been as they came together and made the 'Chicago' sound.

Damn I respect this channel so much. It gives those of us whom have a deep knowledge of Rock n’ Roll somewhere to go.

Great insight to the band! Thank God for Robert! Thanks Joe! ✌

Thanks for giving us Chicago!

So many great memories around Chicago music back in the 70's. I was a teenager & loved their music always.

Introduction sums up early Chicago perfectly, six minutes of mood changes and showcasing their musical chops.

Thanks Danny, I think you named my next band "Free Chicken". Love it! Saw Danny absolutely destroy the Spectrum in Philly every time I saw him, just mind blowing power and skill on drums! Was totally bummed how his time with the band ended....that just wasn't right. He defined what I consider the best in music of our time!!

Chicago was amazing originally line up that what happens when you have the best playing in all instruments they were a level or two above everyone for sure

Was so happy to see them twice with Terry Kath in Montreal and Toronto back in the 1970s. Just starting to learn the trumpet in 1970 I was mesmerized by their horn section.

This is just a great interview. Really captures the dynamics of band life

Bill Graham's favorite drummer. And Bill Graham had seen more than a few in his day & from many genres of music, too...😎🇺🇸

Danny, I’ve said this before, I’ve said it to your face, I’ve told you on messenger - ... and, I don’t know - maybe you’ve known this and to hear it again and again and again and again and again from we plebes out here, has it taking on a dulled patina...and I don’t know any other way, other than words on a post to say it to you but, that shit you were slinging live on those early 70s dates - Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Jersey City was some of the most genius innovative playing I’ve ever seen. The V album stuff, “A Hit by Varese”, “State of the Union” proved to be your shiningest moment. You fucking gave me chills, sitting in the stands. You were so far ahead of the curve. Man. Thanks.

Early Chicago is one of my favorite bands of all time. Difficult to choose a favorite song because there are so many hits, but for me, it's Beginnings, which I think is a masterpiece. This is an interesting interview.

Can't wait to hear Part II. I fell in love w/CTA and bought their first 5 albums which included their first Live box set. South California Purples was probably my favorite song out of all their songs of those albums. Thanks Joe.

Love this and a great story of a great drummer and band is amazing today with LNF from Russia!

Danny is my inspiration and one of the real men!!! Thanks for sharing your interview w/ Danny - I’m going to see him play on Waikiki, 8 October- so stoked!!!

Love listening to the history of this! Danny Seraphine does such a great job telling the story!

I saw Chicago twice in memphis in the early 70s. My favorite band. I was in University of Memphis in '77 when a friend of mine came into class to tell us that Terry Kath was deceased. We all had our on little rock bands and followed Chicago more than other bands and we were shocked....Chicago was really never the same after that

I played guitar in a bar cover band on Rush Street in Chicago in March 1968 and had heard about this band called Chicago Transit Authority who were playing at Barnabys. We had a couple of days off and I went to see them with a couple of friends on March 16, 1968 - I remember the date because it was my 21st birthday. They were playing on sort of a balcony so you could see all of them. I stayed there the whole night enjoying the whole band but especially Terry's amazing guitar and voice. What a night that was. I also played some gigs with Jim Guercio before he went to California. Jim was also a very fine bass player and musician.

I love this guy. Had the opportunity to talk with him at some of the drum shows. Despite all his success, he never got a big head.

Baby what a big surprise I'm like who is this band whenever I hear one of their songs I can literally picture the Chicago skyline these guys epitomized that sound they were great...if you leave me now...hard to say I'm sorry...saturday in the park...excelence

i came along when Chicago was in the "16" era, and they'd lost their rep as a rock w horns band. i loved their old stuff, but like many, regretted the loss. after Pete left the band, i went to see them with my gf, cuz she wanted to go, and i was not expecting what i got. they were just amazing. they were the old band again, and they blew us both away. saw them 3 times over the next couple of tours. Unforgettable. very cool to hear this founding member's stories.

And the rest history... Thank God for putting all those men together ❤️

When Danny speaks of his own performance being elevated by being with other excellent musicians... It carries through to other skills/talents, as well. I immediately identified with that. No matter what you do, working with other excellent people makes you better. This is a great interview with a great musician and a very cool guy!

Thank you Joe. Fantastic interview. Danny and Buddy Rich are my favorite drummers. I have seen both of them play up close. Buddy in 1971 and Danny in 1973. I will never forget that Chicago concert of June 3rd, 1973 in Syracuse , N.Y. from a front row seat. Watching Danny drumming, and my hands on the edge of the stage keeping time. Peter Cetera made a sudden forward move and very nearly stepped on my hand ! Great concert, and the opening act was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Bruce only had the one album out at the time, and Vinnie " Mad Dog " Lopez was the drummer. Good times indeed. Danny, i hope that you are doing well my friend. Stay safe. , Dean

Thank you!

Thanks for posting, Joe. It is only recently I learned Danny Seraphine parted ways with Chicago 30 years ago!

One of my all time favorite rock drummers

Good storys,from the best band, the unique guys,best feelings.

Joe, you are the greatest! I love your interviews!

Almost missed this one Joe. Many thanks for your sharing.

Great interview, growing up in Chicago....this band was Chicago

Awesome, thank you :)

Awesome interview!

What a great interview. Love Danny's openness and vulnerability.

Most excellent interview.

Nice interview.

Great!!!

theeey were a great band

What a treat Joe! Chicago, especially the original lineup is such a monster aggregation. Also one of my favorites. Definitely a gift from God to Humankind. Thanks for this great interview!

You are my first drummer I learned from Danny, Thank you for CTA!

Excellent Joe “

Thank you Joe for another great interview--I love listening to Danny Seraphine talk about music and the band!

what a great interview, ive learn so much, thank you! 6 days until Dannys birthday!

Saw Chicago summer of 2019 & they rocked. Wish Danny never left the group. Thanks Joe for providing these gems to us rock fans.

Fascinating interview! I met Danny back in 2016, during a drum seminar, here in Vancouver. Looking forward to part 2 of this...

Amazing history!

Loved this interview. Danny is probably the best orator and always gives great interviews so thank you for bringing this to us. I did have a hard time hearing your questions, although I could sometimes figure out the question by his answer. Can't wait to see the next installment......

Great! One of our first bands was a horn band ("The Crowd" 😊 Conroe, Texas) pre Chicago and, of course, pre BST. CTA hit (double album?) when I was in the 9th AF Band mid '66-mid '70. So neat back then to hear a tight pop band with great horns and vocals.

Great History! Thank you.

I don't like being this early. Make me remember all those too soon times

My favorite song by Chicago is "Street Player". I believe that Danny wrote it.

Danny Seraphine is one of the best drummers in the world and the best drummer Chicago ever had.

I love his honesty! What an articulate man. Great drummer also...I hope you are feeling well after your surgery Danny! 😀

Interesting thank you

Joe, your rare photos that you show during the interviews are NEXT LEVEL.

This is maybe the best interview I have heard. I just learned a lot, very revealing of what is necessary and good for a group and what a group is. It reveals a lot you know that saying that a group is the sum of it's parts. If I was to think deeply about this group the question would be how did they do that? It's the blend and outcome from it. Compare to other groups and they are outstanding with the dynamics they merged together. Danny just explained that in full. Establishing is difficult, collecting the elements not any easy task but what he said "no weak links." No weak links it the key.

Glad to finally hear an honest voice.

I remember watching them nail down his drums before a concert at Virginia Tech in 1971.