Walter Parazaider, a founding member of the band Chicago, died on Wednesday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81. The group confirmed the news on social media.
Parazaider played sax, flute and clarinet in Chicago from its formation in 1967 until health issues forced him off the road in 2018. He helped create the band in the basement of his mother’s home and booked its early shows.
The band said Parazaider’s idea was to make horns an integral part of a rock group. It added that his vision brought people together and made the band’s music possible.
Chicago was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Parazaider spoke at the ceremony about the group’s early days and the experience of creating music with his bandmates.
