Chicago

(past Isthmus pick) 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago also enjoyed Songwriters Hall of Fame honors in 2017 for founders James Pankow and Robert Lamm. In 2019, they and another co-founder, Lee Loughnane, mark an incredible 52nd consecutive year of touring the world, and a busy May includes a return trip to the Overture Center. Set air horns for “25 or 6 to 4.”

media release:

Multi-Grammy award winning band and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago announced today that they will be performing in Madison at Overture Center on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. at overture.org.

ABOUT CHICAGO

Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era,” the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, came in as the highest-charting American band in Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists of All Time. And Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.

Chicago released their 38^th studio album, “Born for this Moment” in 2022, which included the hit single “If This is Goodbye.”

Featuring the signature sounds Chicago fans have come to love, “Born for this Moment” captures the true heart of this legendary band. Over the entire course of 14 vibrant new songs, “Born for this Moment” encapsulates the unique blend of award-winning and personal songwriting, multilayered harmonic vocalizations and world-class arrangements that have been electrifying audiences across the globe for decades.

In fall of 2022, Gravitas Ventures released Chicago’s documentary “The Last Band on Stage,” directed by Peter Curtis Pardini and narrated by the band’s longtime friend and actor Joe Mantegna. On March 14, 2020, Chicago was the last band playing in the U.S. as COVID lockdowns began, and “The Last Band on Stage” tells the incredible story of how the 55-year-old band survived a pandemic that stopped the world in its tracks.

“Chicago has faced many obstacles in 55 years, but the pandemic was possibly their greatest challenge. I’m excited for people to see the story of how they got back to the stage to continue performing,” said director Peter Curtis Pardini.

“We’re excited to be bringing ‘The Last Band on Stage’ to audiences worldwide. This funny and informative documentary offers an inside look at how the legendary band Chicago were able to produce content even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gravitas Ventures’ Acquisition Coordinator, Mackenzie Maguire.

Chicago received The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the GRAMMYS. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. A special award ceremony and tribute concert celebrating the honorees was held in 2020.

Chicago was inducted into the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Chicago's first album, “Chicago Transit Authority,” was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2014.  Chicago managed to fuse pop, rock and jazz together perfectly in this double album.

Robert Lamm and James Pankow have become inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017. These legendary songwriters wrote mega-hits such as, "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," "Make Me Smile" and many others.

The International Trombone Association presented its 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award to James Pankow. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes people who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the trombone profession over a long career.

Chicago’s lifetime achievements include two Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, Founding Artists of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of US cities. Record sales top the 100,000,000 mark and include 21 Top 10 singles, five consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles and five Gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 38 albums have been certified platinum, and the band has a total of 48 gold and platinum awards.

Chicago has toured every year since the beginning—they’ve never missed a year. The original three band members are Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet and vocals, and James Pankow on trombone. The band line-up also includes Wally Reyes, Jr. on drums, Tony Obrohta on guitar, Loren Gold on keyboards and vocals, Ray Herrmann on sax and flute, Neil Donell on vocals, Eric Baines on bass, and Ramon "Ray" Yslas on percussion.

From the signature sound of the Chicago horns, their iconic vocalists and a few dozen ever-classic songs, this band’s concerts are celebrations. 2023 marks the band’s 56th consecutive year of touring!

Chicago continues to be true ambassadors for their beloved hometown, carrying the city's name with pride and dignity around the world.