Chicago had three original lead singers: Terry Kath, who sings in gruff, Ray Charles-like vocal. He had a great vocal potential. Peter Cetera is a great example for his tenor vocal, which he is known for. Robert Lamm’s vocal is a baritone. He does a few good vocals with Chicago. All three of them have a distinctive style, vocally, which made Chicago so unique!
@@heathermiller5765 Of the three original lead vocalists of Chicago, Peter Cetera was actually the last to join! They already had two baritone voices on board and needed a tenor and they picked the best! All of the singers who had to sing Peter's parts after he left had a tough job, but imho the best was Jeff Coffey who not only had the range to cover PC's material but was a great bass player too. At least after PC's departure the band has been able to hire younger musicians who have a better chance of handling those tricky high tenor parts.
Peter Cetera has such a unique and powerful voice that it would be nearly impossible to replicate. Chicago is such an iconic band with a timeless sound and message. Thank you for reminding me of these classics!
Funny thing, I actually don't think I ever sing along to Peter Cetera, just because he has such an amazingly unique voice, I prefer to listen to it. Though, I still jump in with the rest of the band during the harmonies, lol.
The first singer you play is Robert Lamm, who wrote "Saturday". He is still with the band, still sings some leads, but his voice isn't what it was in the early 70s. Of course, that's true of nearly everyone alive and singing then. Terry Kath, the orignal guitarist, died in an accident while cleaning his gun on coke. He was one of the best around, Hendrix called him his favorite guitarist. The 24/6/4 singer was Jason Scheff, son of Jerry Scheff, Elvis' bassist.
Terry Kath was Chicago’s original guitarist, who accidentally shot himself to death at the age of 31 in January, 1978. He was a brilliant guitarist and his guitar solo on ‘25 or 6 to 4’ was pure epic!
Correct. He sadly challenged his roadie that he could pull the trigger and that it was safe because he emptied the cartridge, but forgot that there was still a bullet in the chamber when he pulled the trigger. It happened just an hour after New Year’s Eve passed.
Chicago💖💖💖 I feel sorry for the youth of today. I have been lucky to have lived through decades of great music. Hurts my heart sometimes when I really stop and think about it. Makes me cry. Sorry for my ramblings .😎
I was fortunate enough to see Chicago with Earth Wind and Fire in concert a few years ago. When they all played together it gave me chills. Yes, Chicago has evolved and changed. And no one will ever replace Peter Cetera but those were big shoes to fill.
I saw a recent interview with Bill Champlin, and one of his comments about his time in the band was that Jason Scheff had a lot of trouble singing Peter's songs, but he could sing his own songs very well because they were written in his range. A few of the Jason songs I personally like are "Will You Still Love Me?", "What Kind of Man Would I Be?", "We Can Last Forever", "The Pull", "Show Me a Sign" and "Now". They might be worth a listen if you haven't heard them yet.
Darth Santa Fe ? I saw that interview Champlin said "Jason had pitch problems " but he also said Jason is a much better singer out of Chicago than he was in Chicago. That would make sense, hes free from the pressure of "sing it this way" or "sing it that way". Replacement singers have to deal with that.
9:10 Jason Scheff was never an outstanding vocalist, but he can play bass. When Chicago didn't have a vocalist, Jason was there to continue the show. Peter is a phenomenal vocalist. Sometimes we take his talent for granted. It becomes obvious when Peter's no longer around, nobody can step in his shoes. Jason Scheff got out of Chicago in 2016
@@PickettMusic He's really good doing many of the Cetera's hits, and he definitely got much better with the years of experience. Singing and playing bass in Chicago, and substituting for Peter and being under his shadow, was not an easy task at all. The clips of Jason singing here don't make him any justice IMHO...There are much better clips over here.
Chicago has become nothing but a touring “Greatest Hits” nostalgia band. Many of their performances are lackluster and I’m sure they do it for the mazola. Cant blame ‘em though, got make a living somehow.
Bill Champlin said that Jason suffered from pitch issues his whole tenure with Chicago, and it shows. Chicago is a big touring act, so they didn't need a phenomenal vocalist after Peters departure, just one to get close enough. That being said, Jason is phenomenal not singing Peters songs.
Okay, I've been kinda just checking your reactions out here and there without actually subscribing, but this is the reaction that made me sub lol. I love that face and the "okay, definitely no Peter Cetera" 😂
Dean Smith a couple years ago REO toured w Chicago. REO would do a set Chicago would do a set then they would do a set together alternating each other’s hits
Unfortunately you had a few facts off on this video. The guy that replaced Peter Cetera is Jason Scheff not Bill Champlin. Champlin was an additional keyboardist and vocalist who sang a lot of their ballads in the 80s. The third singer was actually Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon as well as one of the two guitarists, the guy playing acoustic, one of the keyboardist etc. it was a song that the bands did when they toured together a few years ago.
@@kentamplin also Bil Champlin was a man who took David Foster to the group. Without him maybe there were no Chicago's success on the 80's. Chicago 16 & 17 albums also a very big huge success for David Foster's career as a producer & somgwriter.
When i saw the "third singer" i thought he's the guy from REO Speedwagon, though older, and after seeing recent REO live videos, yes it was Kevin Kronin. Cant fight this Feeling!
Cetera is a tough voice to cover. He recovered from the broken jaw and still kept that rich tenor voice till this day. I think Neil Donnell does a good job as their current lead vocatist.
Cetera was amazing in his prime. For quite a few years now he hasn't been able to sing the famous Chicago hits in the original key. He still sounds good, just not the same as the Peter Cetera we all remember.
He was messing with a loaded gun Terry Kath struggled with health issues and drug abuse towards the end of the 1970s. He died in January 1978 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Jimi Hendrix said he was the best guitar player he ever heard and Terry Kath was shocked when Jimi Hendrix approached him because Jimi Hendrix knew him by name... Watch the documentary about Chicago it is very good and goes into detail about what happened on that tragic day and Terry Kath meeting Jimi Hendrix for the first time. I would also like to hear you and your students sing Jimi Hendrix songs would be interesting. Jimi Hendrix never thought he had a great voice but I beg to differ I think his voice works for the songs he plays. My friend was in Chicago for a short time as a singer and enjoyed playing with them but said it wasn't what he wanted to do. He is more of an ad live singer where you can give him a word and he could make a song out of it. He taught me how to ad live which is cool.
70's Chicago was by far the best iteration of the band. I saw them back in the early 90's, and the biggest difference I noticed even then was that they did not sound cohesive. It was almost like watching a bunch of guys trying to outdo each other, but failing. Fortunately the night was saved by the fact that they were playing with The Moody Blues. I was originally drawn to the band in high school because of the horn section, and the fact that I played trombone at that time. When I switched to guitar they still had plenty to offer. I have almost everything they ever put out, but they will unfortunately never get back to where they once were. Thank you for the review.
David worked on EWF's "I Am". Chicago went on tour EWF very late and even covered "I Can't Let Go" a few years ago. Bill co-wrote "After the Love is Gone" with Foster & Jay Graydon. That's the extent of Chicago's involvement with EWF.
@@Nostaljack I thought that was wild they won an r&b song of the year Grammy for that song. A lot of talented guys coming straight out of DePaul University. Simply amazing.
I have to say Ken i was a big Chicago fan until Peter left as i felt Peter was the voice of Chicago! I am a very huge fan of David Foster as well! I have to agree with you the last video was pretty bad that is not the Chicago i sure know just like yourself my friend!! I had to cover one of my very favorite Chicago songs from 1971 "Colour My World" That is the Chicago i know and love!!
You cracked me up.. when you said "You dirty wabbit" 😂 I loved "Chicago".. before Peter Cetera left. I agree with everything you said. The only two that sounds good on this video... are Peter Cetera and the lead singer of "REO Speedwagon". Two of my favorites are Lou Gramm & Peter Cetera...great voices. Oh..Steve Perry, also!. Would love to see you react to Elvis Presley. His voice was beyond amazing 💙
Chicago started out as students of Jazz and most met at DePaul University so they have that background in Jazz, Blues (for which Chicago is the home to) and funk. They had a such hunger to stand out from the crowd, especially with other horn bands such as Blood, Sweat and Tears. They were all phenomenal musicians, even Peter in his own right, just listen to his improvisation on the bass lines, he really kills it walking his notes up and down the fret board instead of thumping the same 4/4 notes that many bass players do. Rumor has it that when they played the Whiskey opening for Hendrix, Jimi, after Chicago left the state, pointed at Terry Kath, the guitarist and said, “That guy’s better than me!”. So said that their energy died with Kath.
Ken...The 25 or 6 to 4 song was from a concert at Red Rocks...it was a double bill...Chicago and REO Speedwagon. At the end...both bands came out and performed a few of each bands songs together. It's a recorded concert...AXIS shows it all the time....great job as always.
Terry Kath is the Chicago guitarist who accidentally killed himself with a gun he thought wasn't loaded. Alvin Lee was a Chipmunk. LOL Just kidding. Keep up the good work, Ken!
Bill Champlain joined with David Foster before Chicago 16. This is when they released Hard to Say I'm Sorry. Chicago 17 had Stay the Night, Hard Habit to Break, and You're the Inspiration. It was after 17 when Peter left. Jason Scheff took Peter's spot. Peter had released an album during 17. It was after this that he went on to the solo career. His next album had Next Time I Fall in Love and Glory of Love. The second 25 or 6 to 4 sounded like Jason. One of the guys on keyboards is Robert Lamm. That You're the Inspiration is Jason Scheff. I know that 100%. This would have been in the late 1980s to early 1990s. They were more of a rock band. At this time, they had the #1 hits Look Away and What Kind of Man Would I Be? The guy with the headband was a real rocker. I don't remember his name. The guy on keyboards is Bill Champlain. The way everyone was dressed, it looks like it's from the Dave Clark's singers documentary he did once a week. Chicago got two nights. Why? 4 number #1 hits in 3 different decades. 70s had If You Leave Me Now. 80s had Hard to Say I'm Sorry and Look Away. 1990 was What Kind of Man Would I Be? The last song was from the Greatest Hits Album that had Chicago 16-19. By the way, Chicago 19 was their most popular album ever. After that, they kind of faded away, however they still had some really good songs. Chasing the Wing was on 21. Interestingly, their next album was not Chicago 22. They called it Day and Night. I think it had a bit of old songs from others including singing to an instrumental 20s swing song, Sing, Sing, Sing. The actual 22 was released later on when the group produced themselves. They said, "We were turned into a rock band. We wanted to get back to our roots with this album, but the producer wanted us to go with Day and Night." In this album, Jason sings, Biggest Than Elvis. It's about Jason watching his dad on TV. His dad was a guitarist for Elvis Presley.
A late Peter Cetera song he has redone is If You Leave Me Now with Filippa Giordano. Some said his voice sounded taxed. I didn't hear it. I heard it like he was singing the song the way it was played. To me, she sounds like an opera singer and Peter is singing it with her and the music. The original song had more of a smoother ending to each line. The new one is more a crisp drop to each line by both singers. What do you think?
I HAD to listen to this again! Peter Cetera...first older man I've ever fallen in love with 😂 Well, my husband is four years older, but Peter is much older 😊 He's one of my favorites, though! He's 75, now..but looks younger. You had me laughing when you were making a face at Cetera's replacement 😂 I would love to hear you do one of his songs 💙
If no one has mentioned it before, go to the Tanglewood concert of 1970. It had the guitarist, Terry Kath, who died of an accidental gunshot wound, and Peter Cetera singing lead. It is excellent.
You can’t find another voice like Peter Cetera. He’s one of a kind. Absolutely beautiful. Look for the 1970 Tanglewood concert. Peter sings there and Terry Kath was awesome on guitar. I agree with that face. Jason scheff is definitely not Peter. Play more Chicago but only with Peter.
Terry Kath was a phenomenon lost way too early to this beautiful world of rock music. Chicago were a phenomenon that only comes once or twice in a century. RIP Terry...
Love the way you tell it straight and don’t suck up to any singer/band - keep the videos coming. By the way, You’re The Inspiration is one of my favourite Chicago tracks, legendary.
If I'm not mistaking Chicago 17 was the very first album that I ever bought. Awesome band. Thanks a lot Ken. Now I've got to run to the store and buy another Chicago cd lol. If only I still had my record player with cassette player I wouldn't have to go anywhere lol.
Chicago 17 is one of my favorite albums of all time! Amazing songs, amazing singing and amazing musicians! I actually had to purchase another tape because I wore the first one out lol.
Thank you for doing this reaction Ken! Chicago is one of my favorite bands, and Peter Cetera is one of my favorite singers of all time!! He has been a major influence for me with my singing❤
Great clip of recent Chicago. That was actually an encore during the REO Speedwagon / Chicago tour. During 25 or 6 to 4 they traded vocals. The guy with the gray hair is Kevin Cronin, REOs lead singer. Just saw REO in 2021. Kevins voice was pretty darn good. Ken, that might be good before/ after. Kevin Cronin REO. But nobody can replace Peter C!
Summer of 86, that song was on the radio many times, never got tired of it, such a masterpiece. Cetera and Foster for the last time. Second number 1 hit for their collaboration.
Chicago was my favorite band growing up in the 80s. I loved all their songs, but my favorite ones were when Peter Cetera was lead. As an aside, I'm pretty sure the blonde guy singing at 7:08 was Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon!
Great reaction as always i don't have family and i just found out my grandma who raised me who i was very close to passed away a few nights ago and yt videos are the obly thing that's helping me through this rough time. My grandma loved chicago as do i what a great band. Rip grandma i miss you and you'll always be in my heart.
The original Chicago was possibly the most talented musical group ever assembled. Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane, Walter Parazaider, Danny Seraphine & Peter Cetera. Great video, Ken. P.S. Terry Kath accidentally shot himself at a party. He was the heart and soul of Chicago, they were never the same after that. Jimmy Hendrix said that Kath was a better guitar player than he was.
Oh man my favourite band......saw them when I was 19....I was playing trumpet then and the brass section knocked me out ....the whole band did. I’ll never forget it. They were called Chicago Transit Authority in the beginning with The Outstanding Terry Kath on guitar....what a loss. Oh man what a band James Pankow scores a lot of the brass Lee loughane on Trumpet and Walter Parazaider on sax when I saw them. There 2nd lip was classical influenced there 3 was country influenced ( if I Remember rightly) There still fabulous and I’m a fan for life....., but the energy and vibe was not the same after Kaths demise......heartbreaking. And there still going...tough as nails.
Terry Kath, lead guitarist and vocalist for the original Chicago, did not take his own life. He accidentally shot himself while cleaning/ playing with his gun. A roadie who was with him told him to be careful with the gun, and Terry said "Don't worry, it's empty" put the gun to his head, and unfortunately pulled the trigger .He got sloppy and didn't realize there was a bullet in the chamber. Kath had a very unique voice and was an underrated guitarist. His singing us perhaps best showcased in the Chicago hits "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World." Peter Cetera is a unique talent and really became the most recognizable voice if Chicago, although Robert Lamm and Terry Kath also shared vocal duties for the first 11 albums.
That group has been around forever!!!! I remember this song when I was probably around six or seven years old. Mid 70s maybe. I was born in 1967. I just remember when I was in high school and everybody went crazy over Chicago with Peter Cetera as vocalist “ you’re the inspiration” & “ hard to say I’m sorry”. They were really really good all during their career, But vastly different. One of of the time.... It’s about that versatility and not having some music producer trying to put you in a little box to do one or two different things because they like that it’s about that versatility and not having some music producer trying to put you in a little box to do one or two different things because they like that “ safe space” & don’t believe in being bold and making a statement. And “ ohh no” that last guy singing hard to say I’m sorry makes me want to howl. That was bad 😁
I agree with you Mr. Ken Tamplin on your perspective. Chicago had changed a lot after Terry Kath died, and they moved on to make hits in the 1980s up until the present and Peter Cetera left the band in 1985 to pursue his solo career
Man, I think the main reason Chicago was a phenomenal band, was the powerful and unique voice of Peter Cetera + amazing melodies. I enjoyed the other guys singing in this video, but that last one... 😂 Not sure he's aware of how respected and big this band's name is around the world. Or maybe it's just a bad moment of his?
Hey Ken, if you haven't done so already, check out Cetera's performance at the 2017 Festival de Vina del Mar. The clips are all over RU-vid. Even into his mid-70s, he STILL sounds fantastic!!!!
Ken: LOL! I once did that hair thing to Robin Williams and made him lose it! I was an extra on 'What Dreams May Come' back in '97, and we were shooting a funeral scene and were told everyone to not bother Robin or he'd lose focus. I'd been sent to the back pew of the church for sporting a beard (we were asked to be clean shaven), and that's generally where Robin was seated getting made up and combed, etc. we were about 10 feet apart and couldn't help myself and did the hair/scalp thing. He lost it and said "oh, buddy, I can see the Velcro from here!" When they asked who had set him off, I said nothing (I hadn't), and Robin winked and stayed mum! True story!
If you heard the song "LITTLE MISS LOVIN' written and sung by Cetera on the 1978 Chicago album " Hot Streets" the Bee Gees are singing on that song so there is a chance you get to hear them together and this song is not a ballad its a rocker.
Thank you for pointing out that the more important thing is the guitar solo at 8:00 🤘 Man, Chicago is great! The Karate Kid also gave them that extra boost! As far as newer members, that’s a tough one trying fill someone else’s shoes like Peter C. I don’t think I’d ever want to be in that position.
Theres a live original version of 25 or 6 to 4 from the 1970..and peter is singing..and terry kath got some unbelievalble stage presence,vocal and guitar is on point,wow..
Man, it would have been sweet if you could have showed the July 1970 Tanglewood performance of "25 or 6 to 4"... Or even their '77 of "If You Leave Me Now"... That woulda been sweet with, Terry, the original guitar solos, EPIC, SUPER cool stuff! Peter Cetera in chest voice too, except for some, of the latter song I mentioned! The later stuff he uses more mix, and especially head voice... But he's the total package, a master at mixing head/chest tho! Just have to say that! His older stuff in Chicago would have probably been a little better comparison to the other, later solo stuff. Hey Ken, you only got so much to work with "legally", so I totally understand that, no harm, no foul... But I encourage everyone to check out those vids! Awesome stuff! Thanks again Ken for this! God Bless you and yours Brother!!!
Ha, that was Kevin Cronin and REO guest singing on 25 or 6 to 4. 🤘🏽 The Inspiration clip had to be early 90s, and not good. Their more recent live stuff is much better, as evidenced by the 25 clip. Thanks for sharing.
lol.. you are weird.. haha in a good way.I like how you joke around, very amiable personality, someone who can hang out with most people and make them feel comfortable :). Peter cetera damn unique voice.. grew up with Chicago had most all albums.. you mentioned that guys hair same time I was thinking same thing lol..I enjoy your commentary!
Terry spent the afternoon at the Woodland Hills, CA home of band crew member Donny Johnson, visiting and drinking with friends. The party broke up and only Kath and Johnson remained. Terry took out two guns he was carrying. First he spun his .38 revolver on his finger like a western gunslinger. He brought the .38 to his temple, and pulled the trigger ... but the gun was not loaded. Next, Terry picked up his 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Donny Johnson urged Terry to stop playing around and to put the guns away. Kath pulled the magazine out of the gun, placed the gun to his temple, declared the gun was not loaded and pulled the trigger. Due to a safety mechanism on this model, the 9mm did not fire; however, Terry re-inserted the clip, and upon doing so, the round in the chamber re-engaged. Donny insisted that Terry stop fooling with the gun, to which Terry declared, "Don't worry. It's not loaded! See?" as he raised the pistol to his head. Terry pulled the trigger, and unlike the first time without the clip, the pistol did fire. The re-engaged round fatally wounded him; he died instantly.
This is really sad...growing up my favorite bands were Chicago, REO Speedwagon and of course KISS. I had every single original vinyl from ALL of them. Sad part? Between moving around, then the deaths of my parents, ALL of these albums were lost. I have not one left. Oh, how I wish I had them, to be able to put on a record player and take myself to my happy place....music crazy loud and belting out every single word to every single song on every single album! Not that I can sing. I can't hold a note. But singing was my happy place. And Peter Cetera's voice held so much emotion in it! REO was fun, and KISS was just rebellious 😂
Ken, if you watch the video again, the guy singing the song after "Hard to say I'm sorry", not the bass player but the blonde guy; that's the lead singer of REO Speedwagon.
