Tribute
The band formed in Parazaider’s basement in 1967, and he remained a pivotal part of their sound until he was forced to step aside in 2018 to battle Alzheimer’s
Walter Parazaider, a founding member of Chicago who played several wind instruments in the band, including sax, flute, and clarinet, died June 17 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81. Rolling Stone has confirmed his death.
Parazaider’s long tenure in Chicago stretched from their earliest incarnation in 1967 until 2018, when he stepped off the road due to health issues. Along the way, he played thousands of concerts, appeared on nearly all of the group’s albums, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
“He had put up a good fight with Alzheimer’s, and unfortunately it ended tonight,” his wife JacLynn told TMZ. “We are going to miss him.”
