Walter Parazaider, the Maywood-born saxophonist who helped launch Chicago and gave the band its unmistakable horn sound, died Wednesday at 81. The founding member's saxophone, flute and clarinet lines became part of rock radio's permanent soundtrack, from the floating flute in "Colour My World" to the soprano sax on "Just You 'n' Me." Even after he retired from touring, Parazaider remained a touchstone for the group's early jazz-rock era.
According to CBS News Chicago, Parazaider died Wednesday. WHSV reports he died of complications from Alzheimer's disease while in hospice care. Family tributes and memories are already circulating online as fans and fellow musicians absorb the news.
A founding sound
Parazaider was one of seven students who formed the band in 1967, and his classical training helped push the group toward a bold, horn-first approach, according to Chicago's official site. His woodwinds are all over the band's landmark albums, and he was inducted with the original lineup into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Critics and band historians have long pointed to his airy flute lines and punchy sax solos as central to Chicago's mix of rock, jazz and soul.
Family and reaction
Parazaider's daughter wrote on Facebook that "My father, my hero, is gone... This was the worst six years. The hardest season of my life," as reported by WHSV. KIRO 7 says his wife, JacLynn, was at his side and told TMZ, "He had put up a good fight with Alzheimer's." Fans and fellow musicians have been posting tributes and stories online since word of his death began to spread.
His local legacy
For Chicagoans, Parazaider's arc from DePaul music student to global hitmaker helped tie the band directly to the city's musical story. Chicago's catalog includes dozens of Top 40 hits and has sold more than 100 million records, a run the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame cites as part of the group's case for enshrinement. Although he stepped back from touring in 2017 because of health issues, Parazaider's tone and solos remain a blueprint for horn players and a defining piece of the band's identity.
