One of America's biggest hit-makers in the '70s and '80s, Chicago started out as a band of hippies with horns and jazz-rock pretensions, and wound up as a band of anonymous power balladeers. Despite a relatively anonymous image (compounded by their maddening habit of giving their albums Roman numerals instead of names) and the loss of several important members along the way, the group remained a regular chart presence thanks to an unerring knack for producing radio-ready singles.

Formed in 1967, Chicago (originally Chicago Transit Authority) was managed and produced by James William Guercio, who had already perfected his horn-oriented pop production technique with the Buckinghams. The group's first album was an immediate hit, thanks in part to Terry Kath's deft guitar leads and keyboardist Robert Lamm's "right-on" lyrics. Chicago's subsequent records stuck to the successful formula of the first album: ace pop songs--often sung by bassist Peter Cetera--sandwiched between Lamm's political sermons, Kath's guitar workouts and extended jazz-rock jams featuring the horn section of Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Walter Parazaider. After Kath's accidental death by a self-inflicted gunshot in 1978, Cetera assumed a greater vocal role; by the early '80s, Cetera was singing lead on every one of Chicago's chart hits. He departed for a solo career in 1985; the band pressed on without him, racking up several generic adult contemporary hits with the help of new bassist Jason Scheff.

Chicago's continues to draw well as a concert attraction. Chicago's phenomenal number of hits will most likely garner the band a spot in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.