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Chicago founding saxophonist Walter Parazaider dies at 81.

6/18/2026

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Summary

Walter Parazaider Dies

Walter Parazaider, saxophonist and founding member of Chicago, died at age 81 on June 17, 2026 in hospice care.
He had fought Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed six years earlier, according to his wife JacLynn Parazaider.
JacLynn Parazaider highlighted their 59-year marriage in her statement.
He co-founded Chicago in 1967, performed saxophone, clarinet and flute in its brass-and-woodwind trio, and retired from touring in 2017 because of health issues.

Summary

Parazaider Passes

He died on June 17 2026 at an undisclosed hospice location.
The band credited him with conceiving the horn-driven rock group and booking its early Chicago-area bar gigs.
In an April 2021 website post, he announced his Alzheimer’s diagnosis five months earlier and expressed optimism about new treatments and his doctors.
He and the original members first rehearsed in his mother’s basement, which the band cites as the group’s launchpad.

History

Historical Context

In 1968 Blood, Sweat & Tears released their self-titled album on Columbia, introducing a brass-rock sound that echoed Al Kooper’s earlier horn-section ideas. The record topped the Billboard album chart for seven weeks in 1969, sold ten million copies worldwide and won the 1970 Grammy for Album of the Year, cementing the horn-driven style later popularized by Chicago.

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Walter Parazaider Dies

Walter Parazaider, saxophonist and founding member of Chicago, died at age 81 on June 17, 2026 in hospice care.
He had fought Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed six years earlier, according to his wife JacLynn Parazaider.
JacLynn Parazaider highlighted their 59-year marriage in her statement.
He co-founded Chicago in 1967, performed saxophone, clarinet and flute in its brass-and-woodwind trio, and retired from touring in 2017 because of health issues.

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