Walter Parazaider
Parazaider in 2008
Parazaider in 2008
Background information
Born (1945-03-14)March 14, 1945
Maywood, Illinois, U.S.
Died June 17, 2026(2026-06-17) (aged 81)
Genres
  • Rock
  • blues
  • R&B
  • jazz fusion
Occupation Musician
Instruments
  • Saxophone
  • flute
  • clarinet
  • guitar
Years active 1966–2017
Formerly of Chicago

Walter Parazaider (March 14, 1945 – June 17, 2026) was an American woodwind musician who was a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He was best known for being one-third of Chicago's brass/woodwind section alongside Lee Loughnane and James Pankow. Parazaider was a multi-instrumentalist. He played a wide variety of wind instruments, including saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He also occasionally played guitar.

Early life

Parazaider was born in Maywood, Illinois, on March 14, 1945, and began playing the clarinet at the age of 9.[1] As a teenager, his growing talent was being groomed for a career as a professional orchestral musician, and he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical clarinet performance from DePaul University.[2]

Career

Inspired by the Beatles hit "Got to Get You Into My Life", Parazaider became enamored of the idea of creating a rock 'n' roll band with horns. Early practice sessions at Parazaider's house included guitarist Terry Kath and drummer Danny Seraphine, who were both friends during his teenage years. Another friend who became involved was future Chicago producer James William Guercio.[3]

Chicago

The band, originally called The Big Thing, eventually became Chicago with the addition of Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone, Robert Lamm on keyboards, and Peter Cetera on bass.[3] Parazaider's primary musical role in the band has consisted of playing woodwinds on James Pankow's horn arrangements. Never a prolific writer, Parazaider's compositional contributions ("It Better End Soon: 2nd Movement", "Free Country", "Aire", "Devil's Sweet", "Window Dreamin'") were few relative to the other members.[4][5][3]

Parazaider performed the highly recognizable flute solo in the Chicago hit "Colour My World", which became a popular 'slow dance' song at high school proms during the 1970s.[6][7][8] The band's 1973 hit "Just You 'n' Me" also features a Parazaider solo, on soprano sax.[4][5]

In 2008, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by DePaul University.[2]

He was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and was given the National Citation, being recognized as Signature Sinfonian along with fellow Chicago members and Sinfonians on August 26, 2009.[9]

A member of Chicago from its inception, Parazaider continued to tour extensively with the band until his retirement from touring in 2017 due to a heart condition.[10][11] He is now included on the band's "Tribute to Founding Members" page alongside Kath, Seraphine, and Cetera (by accounts, Cetera was not a founding member; in fact, he joined the band ~ 8 months after other six).[12]

Personal life and death

Parazaider married JacLynn Bryce Goudie in 1966. They had two daughters.[13]

In April 2021, four years after his retirement from touring with Chicago, Parazaider announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[14] When asked about Parazaider's health in 2026, Lee Loughnane said "I don't think he's doing well".[15]

Parazaider died of complications from Alzheimer's disease under hospice care, on June 17, 2026, at the age of 81.[16][4][5]

References

  1. ^ Nite, Norm N. (1980). Rock on: The modern years : 1964 - present. Crowell. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-690-01196-8. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Walter Parazaider Saxophonist and Founding Member of the Band Chicago Bachelor of Arts, Classical Clarinet Performance". Distinctions – Quick Hits: Honorary Degree Recipients. DePaul University. 2008. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Chicago Saxophonist Walter Parazaider Dead at 81". Rolling Stone. June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Lammers, Tim. "Walter Parazaider, Founding Member Of Chicago, Dies At 81". Forbes. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c Evans, Greg (June 17, 2026). "Walter Parazaider Dead: Founding Member Of Rock Band Chicago Was 81". Deadline. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  6. ^ Huoppi, Peter; Koster, Rick (June 23, 2017). "Slow dance songs for middle school, proms and weddings". The Day. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  7. ^ Shaughnessey, Dennis (January 15, 2010). "You name it, he'll play it". www.lowellsun.com. Lowell, Massachusetts: MediaNews Group. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  8. ^ Staff Report (April 14, 2009). "Memories of prom night". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Sinfonia News". Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  10. ^ "Chicago: Feeling 50 Years Young". New Jersey Herald. September 2, 1995. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "Band Members – Chicago". chicagotheband.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "Tribute to Founding Members – Chicago". chicagotheband.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Walter Parazaider". IMDb.
  14. ^ "Chicago Co-Founder Walt Parazaider Reveals Alzheimer's Battle". Vermilion County First. April 19, 2021. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Greene, Andy (April 18, 2026). "Chicago's Horn Player Never Thought He'd Outlast His Bandmates". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  16. ^ "Chicago Founding Member Walter Parazaider Dead at 81 Following Alzheimer's Diagnosis". TMZ. June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.