Walter Parazaider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter Parazaider (born March 14, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois) is best known for being a founding member and saxophone player for the rock band Chicago. He also plays the flute and woodwind instruments in the band, including clarinet.
Parazaider began playing the clarinet at the age of 9 years. As a teenager, his growing talent was being groomed for a career as a professional orchestral musician.
Inspired by the Beatles hit "Got To Get You Into My Life", Parazaider became enamored with 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.
The band, at first known as The Big Thing, eventually became Chicago with the addition of members Lee Loughnane (trumpet), James Pankow (trombone), Robert Lamm (keyboards) and Peter Cetera (bass). Parazaider's primary musical role in the band has consisted of playing saxaphone, flute and woodwinds on James Pankow's horn arrangements. Never a prolific writer, Parazaider's compositional contributions have been slight ("Devil's Sweet", "Window Dreamin'").
A member of Chicago since its inception, Parazaider continues to tour extensively with the band (and occasionally is substituted by Larry Klimas).
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| Chicago |
|---|
| Robert Lamm | James Pankow | Lee Loughnane | Walter Parazaider | Bill Champlin Jason Scheff | Tris Imboden | Keith Howland Terry Kath | Peter Cetera | Danny Seraphine | Laudir DeOliveira | Donnie Dacus | Chris Pinnick | Dawayne Bailey |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: The Chicago Transit Authority | Chicago | Chicago III | Chicago V | Chicago VI |Chicago VII | Chicago VIII | Chicago X | Chicago XI | Hot Streets Chicago 13 | Chicago XIV | Chicago 16 | Chicago 17 | Chicago 18 | Chicago 19 | Twenty 1 | Night & Day Big Band | Chicago XXX |
| Live albums: Chicago at Carnegie Hall | Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert |
| Compilations: Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits | Greatest Hits, Volume II | Greatest Hits 1982-1989 The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997 | The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998 Volume II | The Very Best of: Only the Beginning | Love Songs |
| Christmas albums: Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album | What's It Gonna Be, Santa? |
| Unreleased album: Stone of Sisyphus |
| Box sets: The Box |
Note: Chicago musicians, famously private and long content to be the "faceless" band mainly recognizable by their celebrated logo have, since the rise of internet communication, become more and more recognizable as individuals. One result is Parazaider gaining recognition as the band's visionary, and fans are paying attention to his sax, flute and woodwinds contributions to the signature richness of Chicago's horn section. However, of all the band member's, Walt Parazaider tends to be the most elusive and private individual, next to Robert Lamm. The best opportunity for fans to enjoy close up interaction with the band occurs each year at the annual Chicago Convention in Las Vegas, where fans can get autographs and take pictures with their favorite band members, as well as trade memorabilia and enjoy exchanges of information regarding band member solo projects, most notably Robert Lamm and Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin). Long-time Chicago fans consider Parazaider's solo excursions a concert highlight.
