Walter Parazaider, saxophonist and Chicago co-founder, dead at 81

Walter Parazaider, the saxophonist and co-founder of the stone radical Chicago, has died. He was 81.

Parazaider died June 17 of complications from Alzheimers disease. In a connection posted to societal media connected Wednesday, the set said that “Chicago is heartbroken astatine the bittersweet quality of Walter Parazaider’s passing this morning. We widen our deepest condolences to his family, friends and countless Chicago fans who are each grieving his nonaccomplishment today.”

His daughter, Felicia Helen Parazaider, besides posted connected Facebook that “I emotion you poppy, my Pal...You coloured our world.”

Born successful Maywood, Ill., Parazaider began his euphony vocation arsenic a clarinetist, earlier founding Chicago with puerility friends successful the group’s namesake city. The band’s popular hits similar “25 oregon 6 to 4” and “Saturday successful the Park” were staples of the ‘70s and stay beloved fixtures of classical rock. His divers woodwind skills helped springiness the set its regal sound, adding saxophone riffs to hits similar “Just You ‘n’ Me” and a poignant flute solo connected “Colour My World.”

While Chicago’s lineup changed often, Parazaider remained with the radical until retiring successful 2018. In April of 2021, Parazaider wrote successful a connection connected Chicago’s website that “I was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Needless to say, my wife, daughters and myself were shocked and devastated. It has taken awhile to process this quality and the information is, we inactive are. The bully quality is we person a fantastic aesculapian installation present and I person a precise bully doctor. I americium moving hard and not going to springiness up.”

Chicago gave recognition to Parazaider for conceiving of the band’s chiseled instrumentation, and the enactment ethic that made them stars. “A Rock & Roll set with horns was Walt’s idea,” Chicago’s connection continued. “He enactment the set unneurotic and they rehearsed successful the basement of his mother’s home. He is besides the 1 who did the hard enactment to publication shows for the young, chartless band, performing apical 40 covers astatine section bars successful and astir Chicago.

“We are everlastingly grateful for his contribution,” they continued. “Perhaps his top acquisition was bringing radical together. This astonishing euphony whitethorn person ne'er been heard had it not been for Walt’s vision.”

Parazaider is survived by woman JacLynn and daughters Laura and Felicia.