# Chicago

> American rock band

**Wikidata**: [Q371938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q371938)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(band))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chicago-q371938

## Summary
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967, known as a musical group that blends rock with jazz fusion, soft rock, pop rock, jazz rock, and adult contemporary music. Originally called The Big Thing, the band features key members like Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm, Bill Champlin, and James Pankow, and is associated with Columbia Records. They have earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Musical group, musical ensemble which performs music
- **Genres**: Jazz (inception 1917), soft rock (inception 1960), pop rock (inception 1965), rock music (inception 1948), jazz fusion (developed late 1960s, inception 1950), adult contemporary music (inception 1960), jazz rock (inception 1960)
- **Origin**: United States (independence declared 1776-07-04, recognized 1784-05-12)
- **Inception**: 1967-01-01
- **Work period start**: 1967
- **Aliases**: Chicago Transit Authority, The Big Thing, Chicago (musical group), Chicago (band)
- **Website**: http://www.chicagotheband.com
- **Sitelink count**: 48
- **Wikipedia title**: Chicago (band)
- **Wikidata description**: American rock band
- **Record label**: Columbia Records (American record label owned by Sony, inception 1889-01-15, headquarters New York City, industry phonographic)
- **Awards**: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (inception 1983-01-01, Cleveland, Ohio), star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- **Members**: Terry Kath (American guitarist and singer 1946–1978, occupations guitarist, singer, songwriter), Peter Cetera (American musician born 1944-09-13, occupations singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, bassist, lead vocalist for Chicago since 1967), Bill Champlin (American singer, musician, arranger, producer, songwriter), Robert Lamm (American musician, occupations singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, pianist, composer, record producer), James Pankow (American musician, member of Chicago, occupations trombonist, singer, songwriter)
- **Related places/entities**: Chicago [Place] (city and county seat of Cook County, largest city in Illinois, United States, sitelink count 276), StarKid Productions (musical theatre company, inception 2009, headquarters Chicago, country United States, industry entertainment, sitelink count 9; listed twice), 35th–Bronzeville–IIT station (rapid transit station on CTA Green Line, country United States, sitelink count 5)

## FAQs
**What genres does the band Chicago perform?**  
Chicago performs jazz (since 1917), soft rock (since 1960), pop rock (since 1965), rock music (since 1948), jazz fusion (late 1960s development combining jazz harmony/improvisation with rock, funk, R&B; inception 1950), adult contemporary (since 1960), and jazz rock (fusion of jazz and rock since 1960).

**Who are the key members of Chicago?**  
Key members include Terry Kath (guitarist, singer, songwriter, 1946–1978), Peter Cetera (bassist, lead vocalist, singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer since 1967), Bill Champlin (singer, musician, arranger, producer, songwriter), Robert Lamm (musician: singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, pianist, composer, record producer), and James Pankow (musician, trombonist, singer, songwriter).

**What awards has Chicago received?**  
Chicago has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (established 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio) and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

**What is the band's history and origin?**  
Formed in 1967 (work period start 1967, inception 1967-01-01) in the United States, Chicago started as The Big Thing or Chicago Transit Authority, with aliases Chicago (musical group) and Chicago (band); it relates to the city of Chicago (largest in Illinois).

**What record label is associated with Chicago?**  
Columbia Records, an American label owned by Sony (founded 1889-01-15, headquarters New York City, phonographic industry, genres including pop, rock, jazz).

**What is Peter Cetera's role in Chicago?**  
Peter Cetera, born September 13, 1944, is a co-founder, bassist, lead vocalist, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer for Chicago since 1967, contributing to hits like "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "Make Me Smile," "Call on Me," "Wishing You Were Here," and producing/arranging tracks.

## Why It Matters
Chicago matters as a pioneering American rock band that fused jazz improvisation and harmony with rock, funk, and R&B starting in the late 1960s, creating jazz fusion and jazz rock styles that influenced rock music's evolution. Their long-standing presence since 1967, with core members like Peter Cetera contributing songwriting, vocals, and production to enduring hits, established them as a commercial force in soft rock, pop rock, and adult contemporary genres. Recognition via the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Hollywood Walk of Fame underscores their cultural impact, while ties to Columbia Records amplified their reach; their origin linked to the U.S. city of Chicago and members' American citizenship highlight their role in shaping domestic music scenes, blending ensemble performance with innovative genre fusion that remains relevant in musical theatre and transit-named locales.

## Notable For
- Blending jazz fusion (late 1960s style combining jazz with rock/funk/R&B) and jazz rock with core rock genres
- Key member Terry Kath as guitarist, singer, songwriter (1946–1978)
- Peter Cetera as bassist, lead vocalist, co-founder since 1967, with hits like "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
- Robert Lamm's multi-instrumental roles (singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, pianist, composer, producer)
- Bill Champlin as singer, musician, arranger, producer, songwriter
- James Pankow as trombonist, singer, songwriter, core member
- Early aliases: Chicago Transit Authority, The Big Thing
- Association with Columbia Records for distribution
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 48 sitelinks indicating broad wiki presence
- Links to Chicago city and U.S. origins
- Inception and work start in 1967

## Body
### History and Formation
Chicago formed on 1967-01-01 with work period starting 1967, initially known as aliases Chicago Transit Authority, The Big Thing, Chicago (musical group), Chicago (band). The band emerged in the United States, relating to the place Chicago (city, county seat of Cook County, largest in Illinois, sitelink count 276). Website at http://www.chicagotheband.com. Wikipedia title: Chicago (band); Wikidata description: American rock band; sitelink count 48.

### Genres and Style
Performs as musical group and musical ensemble. Core genres: jazz (inception +1917-00-00T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 174), soft rock (derived from popular/rock, inception +1960-00-00T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 39), pop rock (inception +1965-01-01T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 60), rock music (inception +1948-00-00T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 149). Fusion styles: jazz fusion (late 1960s, combines jazz harmony/improvisation with rock/funk/R&B, inception +1950-01-01T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 46), jazz rock (fusion of jazz/rock, inception +1960-00-00T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 11), adult contemporary music (radio format/genre, inception +1960-01-01T00:00:00Z, sitelink count 30).

### Members and Personnel
Contains Terry Kath (guitarist, singer, songwriter, 1946–1978, occupations  guitarist,  singer,  songwriter, U.S. citizen, sitelink count 18). Peter Cetera (born 1944-09-13, bassist/lead vocalist since 1967, singer , songwriter , guitarist , record producer ,  songwriter, U.S. citizen, sitelink count 29; co-founded, contributed to "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "Make Me Smile," "Call on Me," "Wishing You Were Here"; produced/arranged tracks). Bill Champlin (singer , musician , arranger , producer/record producer , songwriter, U.S. citizen, sitelink count 15). Robert Lamm (musician: singer , songwriter , singer , keyboardist , guitarist , pianist , composer, record producer , U.S. citizen, sitelink count 15). James Pankow (musician, Chicago member, trombonist , singer , songwriter , U.S. citizen, sitelink count 10).

### Record Label and Associations
Associated with Columbia Records (owned by Sony, inception +1889-01-15T00:00:00Z, country U.S. Q30, headquarters Q60 New York, industry  phonographic, sitelink count 54). Origin/location ties: StarKid Productions (musical theatre company, inception 2009, country U.S., headquarters Chicago, entertainment industry, sitelink count 9; listed twice), 35th–Bronzeville–IIT station (CTA Green Line rapid transit station, country U.S., sitelink count 5).

### Awards and Recognition
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (music museum, inception +1983-01-01T00:00:00Z, country U.S. Q30, sitelink count 63). Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (award in Hollywood, California, U.S. Q30, sitelink count 8).

## References

1. [Source](http://www.karaoke-version.com/custombackingtrack/chicago/hard-to-say-i-m-sorry.html)
2. [Source](http://www.mtv.com/artists/chicago/)
3. [Source](https://myspace.com/chicagotheband/music/album/chicago-vii-8474067)
4. [Source](https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/chicago)
5. MusicBrainz
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. [Trove](http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1060872)
9. [Source](http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/newartist.htm)
10. BBC Things
11. Discogs
12. Library of Congress Name Authority File
13. YouTube Music
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. [Source](https://www.shazam.com/artist/2667/chicago)
16. Genius
17. [Source](https://www.junodownload.com/artists/Chicago/releases/)
18. [Source](https://www.grammy.com/artists/Chicago/8352)
19. [Source](http://www.mtv.de/kuenstler/56sme9/chicago)
20. [Source](https://www.musik-sammler.de/artist/chicago/)
21. [Source](https://www.musik-sammler.de/artist/2934/)