Top Ten Songs by Chicago

One of the Best-loved and Most Successful Bands in Rock History

The dream of seven guys began on February 15, 1967. Thirty-nine years later, they’ve come to enjoy 20 Top Ten singles, 12 Top Ten albums (five were #1), and record sales of more than 120 million.

The original Chicago musicians were Peter Cetera (bass, guitar, vocals), Terry Kath (guitar, vocals), Robert Lamm (pianos, keyboards, percussion, vocals), Lee Loughnane (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, guitar, percussion, vocals), James Pankow (trombone, percussion, vocals), Walter Parazaider (saxophones, flute, clarinet) and Danny Seraphim (drums, percussion).

Through their creative talents, one of the best-loved and most successful bands in rock history has brought diversity into the musical world and we love them for it. They are known for being one of the first rock bands to make extensive use of horns in their music, as part of their diversity. All together they’ve put out 29 albums, 2 boxed sets and 7 imports.

The group now consists of eight members, of which only four are of the original band: Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walt Parazaider, Tris Imboden, Jason Scheff, Keith Howland and Bill Champlin. (Terry Kath met with accidental death in 1978 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 31. Peter Cetera left the band in 1985. Danny Seraphim left the band in 1991.)

The rock ‘n’ roll hits and beautiful love songs captured the hearts of millions and still have us in their grip today. My top ten songs are from the classics Chicago songs. Album names are in parenthesis.

1. You’re the Inspiration (Chicago 17) was arranged by Peter Cetera and David Foster. It’s a beautiful evergreen song that has stood the test of time and remains #1 to many Chicago fans, such as myself. “You're the meaning in my life. You're the inspiration. You bring feeling to my life. You're the inspiration”