Chicago are an American band formed in 1967; noted as one of the first rock acts with an integrated three-piece brass section. Between 1969 and 1980, they released twelve studio albums on Columbia, followed by five albums on Warner. For eleven years, they maintained the same seven members: keyboardist–singer Robert Lamm, guitarist–singer Terry Kath, bassist–singer […]
Heaven & Earth were an American soul group from Chicago that released the album I Can’t Seem to Forget You on GEC in 1976, followed by two albums on Mercury in 1978/79 and a fourth on WMOT in 1981. Members: Keith Steward, Michael Brown (vocals, 1974-77), Dwight Dukes, James Dukes, Dean Williams (vocals, 1978), Greg […]
The Pharaohs were an American jazz-funk band from Chicago that released the album Awakening on self-press Scarab Records in 1971. They were a conglomeration of local ’60s acts The Jazzmen and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Future Earth Wind and Fire mastermind Maurice White was an early member. Members: Charles Handy (trumpet), Louis Satterfield (trombone), Don […]
White Summer were a Chicago-area rock trio that was active during the mid-1970s. Members: Jimmy Watkins (lead vocals, guitar, drums, percussion), Rick Lowe (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals), David Wheeler (bass, backing vocals) In 1976, the band self-released a homonymous longplayer. Recorded on a shoestring at Uncle Dirty’s Sound Machine Studio in Kalamazoo, Mich., […]
Vic Caesar — aka Victor Louis Cesario (born May 27, 1931) — is an American composer and producer who scored the jazz-funk soundtrack to the 1977 action-drama Bare Knuckles. Discography: Nixon’s the One (1968) Bare Knuckles (OST, 1977)
The Staple Singers were an American soul group from Chicago, formed in 1948 and active for the entire second half of the 20th century. The group released a series of gospel recordings on Riverside and Epic during the 1960s. In 1968, the group signed to Stax and issued a string of soul-funk recordings on the […]
The Impressions were an American soul group from Chicago, formed in 1958 and initially a singles act for Abner. Between 1963 and 1968, the band released a string of albums on ABC-Paramount, followed by a run of titles on Curtom over the subsequent eight-year period. Members: Sam Gooden (vocals), Jerry Butler (vocals, 1958-60), Curtis Mayfield […]
The Emotions were an American soul group from Chicago, formed in 1965 and initially a singles act on Brainstorm and Twin Stacks Records. The group released a pair of albums on Volt between 1970 and 1972, followed by five albums on Columbia between 1976 and 1981. Two further albums appeared on Red Label and Motown […]
The Chi-Lites were an American soul group from Chicago, formed in 1959. After a string of 1965–68 singles on Blue Rock and Revue, the group released eight albums on Brunswick between 1969 and 1975. Members: Marshall Thompson (baritone vocals, lead vocals), Robert Lester (tenor vocals, 1959-2010), Eugene Record (lead vocals, 1959-76, 1980-88), Clarence Johnson (vocals, […]
Terry Callier (May 24, 1945 — Oct. 27, 2012) was an American singer/songwriter from Chicago whose songs appear on 1970s albums by Jerry Butler, Dee Dee Sharp, and The Dells. Singed to Cadet as a solo artist, he released three well-regarded albums: Occasional Rain and What Color Is Love (both 1972) and I Just Can’t […]
Minnie Riperton (Nov. 8, 1947 — July 12, 1979) was an American soul singer from Chicago who first recorded with Chess singles act The Gems during the mid-1960s. In 1967, she joined the soul-psych band Rotary Connection, which released six albums over a four-year period on Cadet Concept. She debuted as a solo singer with […]
Lou Rawls (Dec. 1, 1933 — Jan. 6, 2006) was an American soul singer from Chicago who began in gospel groups in the early 1950s. He released numerous albums on Capitol during the 1960s, scoring hits with “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” “Dead End Street,” “Show Business,” and “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).” […]
Lou Bond — aka Ronald Edward Lewis (1945 — Feb. 1, 2013) — was an American soul singer/songwriter from Chicago who released a self-titled album on Stax-subsidiary We Produce Records in 1974. Discography: “Ooh, You Cheater” / “What Have I Done” (1966) “You Shake Me Up” / “Don’t Start Me Crying” (1967) Lou Bond (1974)
Loleatta Holloway (Nov. 5, 1946 — March 21, 2011) was an American soul singer from Chicago who released two albums on GRC-division Aware between 1973 and 1975, followed by four albums on Salsoul-subsidiary Gold Mine Records between 1976 and 1980. Loleatta Holloway was born on November 5, 1946, in Chicago, where she started singing with […]
Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American soul singer who first emerged as the featured vocalist of Chicago funksters Rufus during the mid-1970s. Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, the oldest of five children in a bohemian household. Her sister, Yvonne Stevens (b. 1954), also had […]
Julian Priester — aka Pepo Mtoto (June 29, 1935) — is an American trombonist from Chicago, Ill. Discography: Keep Swingin’ (1960) Spiritsville (1960) Love, Love (1974 • Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto) Polarization (1977 • Julian Priester and Marine Intrusion) Koputai (1990 • Ralph Towner, Charlie Haden, Jerry Granelli, Julian Priester, Robben Ford, Denny Goodhew & […]
The Second Coming were an American brass-rock band that released a self-titled album on Mercury in 1970. Members: Jack Kramer (trumpet, bugle, trombone, background vocals), Buddy Stephens (trumpet, lead vocals), Bill Dinwiddie (trombone, percussion, background vocals), Rick Rudolph (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto flute, trombone), Les King (drums, congas, percussion, timpani), Dave Miller (Hammond organ, […]
Ramsey Lewis (born May 27, 1935) is an American jazz pianist from Chicago. Discography: Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-Men of Jazz – Volume 2 (1958 • Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-Men of Jazz) Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-Men of Swing (1958 • Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-Men of Swing) An Hour With the Ramsey Lewis […]
Madura were an American jazz-rock trio from Chicago that released a self-titled double album on Columbia in 1971, followed by a numerically eponymous second in 1973. Bassist/keyboardist David “Hawk” Wolinski subsequently joined Rufus and became a songwriting collaborator with Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine. Members: David “Hawk” Wolinski (bass, keyboards, vocals), Alan De Carlo (guitar, vocals), […]
Joe Farrell — aka Joseph Carl Firrantello (Dec. 16, 1937 — Jan. 10, 1986) — was an American woodwind player from Chicago Heights, Ill., who was a founding member of Return to Forever, playing on the band’s 1972 albums Return to Forever and Light as a Feather and returning for 1977’s Musicmagic. Discography: Joe Farrell […]
Herbie Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz keyboardist who has been musically active since the late 1950s. Hancock was born in Chicago on April 12, 1940, the middle child of government meat inspector Wayman Edward Hancock and secretary Winnie Belle. Herbie was named after singer and actor Herb Jeffries. At age seven, […]
Eric Tagg (born Jan. 8 1953) is an American vocalist and songwriter from Illinois. Discography: Smilin’ Memories (1975) Rendez-Vous (1977) Dreamwalkin’ (1982)
Bangor Flying Circus were an American psych-rock trio from Chicago that released a self-titled album on Dunhill in 1969. The band morphed into the jazz-rock trio Madura for two further albums during the early 1970s. Members: David “Hawk” Wolinski (bass, keyboards, vocals), Alan De Carlo (guitar, vocals), Tom Schiffour (drums, 1967-68), Michael Tegza (drums, percussion, […]
H.P. Lovecraft were an American psych-rock band from Chicago that released two albums with accompanying singles on Philips in 1967/68. The lineup underwent numerous changes and disbanded in San Francisco in 1968. The following year, guitarist/frontman George Edwards and drummer Michael Tegza assembled a new lineup under the abbreviated name Lovecraft, which issued the album […]
Universe were an American space-rock/psych duo that released a self-titled album on PBR International in 1977. Members: Gary Paul Van (vocals, keyboards), Dennis Lee Askew (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, programming) Discography: Universe (1977)
Trillion were an American symphonic/hard-rock band that released two albums on Epic/Sony between 1978 and 1980. Members: Fergie Frederiksen (vocals, 1978-79), Thom Griffin (vocals, guitar), Frank Barbalace (guitar), Ron Anaman (bass), Patrick Leonard (keyboards), Bill Wilkins (drums) Discography: Trillion (1979) Clear Approach (1980)
Survivor were an American hard-rock band that released seven albums on Atlantic/CBS-subsidiary Scotti Bros. Records between 1979 and 1988. Members: Frankie Sullivan (lead guitar, vocals), Jim Peterik (keyboards, guitar, vocals, 1978-88, 1993-96), Dave Bickler (lead vocals, synthesizer, 1978-83), Dennis Johnson (bass, 1978-80), Gary Smith (drums, 1978-80), Marc Droubay (drums, 1981-87, 1996-2014), Stephan Ellis (bass, 1981-87, […]
Styx are an American symphonic/hard-rock band that released four albums on Wooden Nickel between 1972 and 1974, followed by seven albums and a live double-LP on A&M between 1975 and 1984. Members: Dennis DeYoung (vocals, keyboards, accordion, 1961-99), Chuck Panozzo (bass, guitar, vocals, 1961-63, 1964-present), John Panozzo (drums, percussion, vocals, 1961-96), Tom Nardin (guitar, 1963-69), […]
Skafish were an American New Wave/art-rock band from Chicago. Members: Jim Skafish (vocals), Lawrence Mazalan (guitar, bass, vocals, 1976-80), Greg Sarchet (bass, vocals, 1976-79), Roger Jones (drums, 1976), Larry Mysliwiec (drums, percussion, 1976-85), David Prochazka (keyboards, vocals, 1976-78), Karen Winner (guitar, vocals, slide guitar, 1977-79), Mark Winner (keyboards, vocals, 1978-79), Javier Cruz (synthesizers, keyboards, vocals, […]
Wazmo Nariz were an American New Wave band from Chicago. Members: Wazmo Nariz [Larry Grennan] (vocals), Jeff Hill (guitar), James E. McGreevey III (bass), Jeff Boynton (keyboards), Bruce Zelesnik (drums) Discography: “Tele-Tele-Telephone” / “Gadabout” (1978) The E.P. (1979) Things Aren’t Right (1979) Tell Me How to Live (1981)
George Freeman (born April 10, 1927) is an American jazz-funk guitarist from Chicago. Discography: Birth Sign (1969) Franticdiagnosis (1972) New Improved Funk (1973) Man & Woman (1974) All In the Game (1977)
Shadowfax were an American jazz-rock band from Chicago that debuted with the album Watercourse Way in 1976. Members: Chuck Greenberg (Lyricon, saxophone, flute, oboe, recorder, 1972-95), Phil Maggini (bass, 1972-95), Stuart Nevitt (drums, tabla, percussion, 1972-95), Greg Stinson (guitar, sitar, vocals, 1972-90), Doug Maluchnik (keyboards), Jamii Szmadzinski (violin), Jared Stewart (keyboards), Emil Richards (percussion), David […]
Jerry Goodman (born March 16, 1949) is an American violinist from Chicago who played in jazz-psych pioneers The Flock during the late 1960s. Between 1971 and 1973, he played in the first lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, appearing on the albums The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire. Discography: Like Children (1974 • Jerry […]
Scarlet Rivera — aka Donna Shea (born 1950) — is an American violinist from Chicago who first emerged in the mid-1970s as part of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. Discography: Scarlet Rivera (1977) Scarlet Fever (1978) Journey With An Angel (1988) Behind the Crimson Veil (OST, 1994) Celtic Carols (1997 • Eric Rigler & Scarlet […]
Proteus were an American jazz-rock band from Chicago that was active from 1978 to 1985. In 1981, the band released the album Infinite Change on self-press Proteus International Records Inc. Members: Sergio Nespola (drums), Grant Austin (bass), Brian Zercher (keyboards), Ole Riise (guitar), Rob Williams (guitar), Tim Tobias (keyboards), Bill Dickens (bass) Discography: Infinite Change […]
Streetdancer were an American jazz-rock band that released two albums between 1974 and 1976. Members: – Discography: Streetdancer (1974) Rising (1976) Steps (EP, 1980)
Judy Roberts is an American jazz vocalist from Chicago. Discography: Judy Roberts (1979 • The Judy Roberts Band) The Other World (1980) Nights in Brazil (1981) You Are There (1985)
John Thomas & Lifeforce were an American jazz-rock band that released two albums in 1980/81. Members: Gunnar Plümer (bass), Stefan Kremer (drums), Ponda O’Bryan (percussion), Andy Lumpp (piano), Monika Linges (vocals), Garcia Morales (drums), Eddy Veldman (percussion) Discography: Devil Dance (1980 • John Thomas & Lifeforce) 3000 Worlds (1981 • John Thomas & Lifeforce)
James Vincent (born Feb. 8, 1943) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and composer from Chicago who released the album Culmination on CBS in 1974, followed by two albums on Caribou and a fourth on Sparrow between 1976 and 1980. Discography: Culmination (1974) Space Traveler (1976) Waiting for the Rain (1978) Enter In (1980)
John Valenti is an American vocalist and drummer from Chicago who played in the Motown brass-rock act Puzzle during the early 1970s. As a solo artist, he released the soul-pop album Anything You Want on Ariola America in 1976. Discography: Anything You Want (1976) I Won’t Change (1981)
Frannie Golde — aka Francine Vicki Golde — is an American songwriter from Chicago. Discography: Frannie Golde (1976) Frannie (1979) Restless (1980)
Ben Sidran (born August 14, 1943) is an American vocalist, musician, and composer from Chicago. Discography: Feel Your Groove (1971) I Lead a Life (1972) Puttin’ in Time on Planet Earth (1973) Don’t Let Go (1974) Free in America (1976) That’s Life I Guess (1976) The Doctor Is In (1977) A Little Kiss in the […]
Boscoe were an American soul-funk band from Chicago that released a self-titled album on one-press Kingdom of Chad Records in 1973. Members: Darryl Johnson, Harold Warner, James Rice, Reg Holden, Ron Harris, Steve Cobb Discography: Boscoe (1973)
The Troll were an American pop-psych band from Chicago that released a string of 1966/67 singles as The Trolls on ABC, followed by the album Animated Music on Smash Records in 1968. Members: Richard Clark (vocals, keyboards), Richard Gallagher (vocals, guitar), Kenneth Cortese [Ken Apples] (drums), Max Jordan Jr. (vocals, bass) Discography: Animated Music (1968)
Rotary Connection were an American pop-psych/soul band from Chicago that released six albums on Cadet Concept between 1967 and 1971. Members: Mitch Aliotta (vocals, bass), Sidney Barnes (vocals), Judy Hauff (vocals), Minnie Riperton (vocals), Bobby Simms (vocals, guitar), Charles Stepney (piano, vibraphone), Phil Upchurch (guitar, bass), Ken Venegas (drums) Discography: Rotary Connection (1967) Aladdin (1968) […]
Of Wondrous Legends, also known by the acronym O.W.L. , were an American folk-psych band from Chicago that recorded an album’s worth of material in 1971. Nearly four decades later, the music was released on an eponymous CD by archivists Locust Music. Members: John Knudson (flute), Al Keeler (vibraphone, marimba, bells, percussion), Sam Larderuccio (electric […]
Aorta was an American psych-rock band from Chicago that released a self-titled album on Columbia in 1969, followed by a second on Happy Tiger Records in 1970. Between 1964 and 1967, the band recorded several local-press singles as The Exceptions, adopting the name Aorta after bassist Peter Cetera left to join Chicago Transit Authority. Members: […]
Midnight were an American hard-rock band from Chicago that self-released the album Into the Night in 1977. The album was recorded at A-K Sound studio and engineered by Al Kitlica, who concurrently mastered the album It’s For You by Missouri Dirt. Into the Night was reissued on vinyl for its 38th anniversary by archivists Drag […]
Coven were an American hard-rock band from Chicago that released the albums Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls on Mercury in 1969, followed by two further albums on MGM and Buddah between 1971 and 1974. Members: Jinx Dawson (vocals), Mike “Oz” Osborne (bass), Jim Nyeholt (organ, piano), Jim Donlinger (guitar), Chris Nielsen (guitar, vocals), Rick […]
The Ides of March were an American brass-rock band from Berwyn, Ill., that released two albums on Warner Bros. in 1970/71, followed by a second pair of titles on RCA Victor in 1972/73. Members: Jim Peterik (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, saxophone), Larry Millas (keyboards, guitar, bass, organ, flute, vocals), Bob Bergland (bass, saxophone, vocals), Michael […]
The Flock were an American jazz-rock/psych band from Chicago that released two albums on CBS/Columbia during 1969 and 1970. Members: Fred Glickstein (guitar, vocals), Ron Karpman (drums, vocals), Jerry Smith (bass, vocals), Rick Canoff (saxophone, vocals, 1966-70), Rick Mann (guitar, vocals, 1966-68), Frank Posa (trumpet, 1967-70), Tom Webb (saxophone, flute, harmonica, vocals, 1967-70), Jerry Goodman […]
Fat Water were an American soul-rock band from Chicago that released a self-titled album on MGM in 1969. Members: Vicki (vocals), Lance (guitar, vocals), Boris (bass, vocals), Eve (keyboards), Pete (drums, vocals) Discography: Fat Water (1969)
The Electric Flag was an American brass-rock band that debuted with a soundtrack recording for the 1967 counterculture film The Trip, followed by two albums on Columbia in 1968 and a third studio release on Atlantic in 1974. Members: Nick Gravenites (vocals, guitar), Buddy Miles (drums, percussion), Mike Bloomfield (guitar, percussion, 1967-68, 1974), Barry Goldberg […]
