A founding member of Chicago, the iconic horn-driven rock band that redefined the sound of the 1970s, has passed away at 81.
Walter Parazaider died on June 17, 2026, at 2:10 a.m. while under hospice care, his wife, JacLynn Parazaider, confirmed. The woodwind player had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for six years following his diagnosis.
“He had put up a good fight with Alzheimer’s and unfortunately it ended tonight. We were married for 59 years and we had 59 wonderful years,” JacLynn Parazaider said.
His daughter, Felicia Helen Parazaider, posted on social media that her father passed peacefully with “no more pain” and “no more struggle.” Walter Parazaider had made his Alzheimer’s diagnosis public in a 2021 statement posted to the band’s website, revealing that he and his family had been “shocked and devastated” by the news but that he was “working hard and not going to give up.”
Pioneering a Brass-and-Reed Sound
Born in Maywood, Illinois, Walter Parazaider started his musical journey on the clarinet before co-founding Chicago in its namesake city in 1967 alongside Peter Cetera, Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Danny Seraphine. The ensemble initially called itself The Big Thing, later adopted the name Chicago Transit Authority, and eventually shortened it to Chicago.
At the time, placing a full horn section at the heart of a rock group was an audacious and unconventional move that would become the band’s trademark sound. Parazaider’s woodwind contributions helped craft some of classic rock’s most memorable tracks, including his saxophone work on “Just You ‘n’ Me” and his delicate flute solo on “Colour My World,” which stands as one of the band’s most beloved moments. Chicago produced enduring favorites like “25 or 6 to 4” and “Saturday in the Park” that dominated 1970s airwaves and beyond.
The band’s impressive commercial success included three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles: “If You Leave Me Now” in 1976, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” in 1982 and “Look Away” in 1988. Chicago also topped the Billboard 200 albums chart five times during their career. The group’s enduring impact was celebrated with their 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, where Parazaider performed at the ceremony. Despite numerous lineup changes over the years, he remained with the band until medical concerns sidelined him from touring in 2017.
Tributes Pour In
Chicago honored its co-founder in a statement posted to the band’s social media channels, expressing that the group was “heartbroken at the sad news.” The band added, “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and countless Chicago fans who are all grieving his loss today.”
Tris Imboden, who drummed for Chicago from the 1990s until 2018, paid tribute to Parazaider on Facebook. “My dear friend and brother Walt Parazaider passed last night. To say he will be sorely missed is a huge understatement,” he wrote. “He along with Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine formed the nucleus of what later became the band Chicago.”
Walter Parazaider is survived by JacLynn, his wife of 59 years, and his family. His legacy endures as both a talented woodwind musician and the visionary who conceived a new breed of rock band whose brass-and-reed sound continues to resonate with generations of music lovers.
