Chicago: Charity Work & Causes

Chicago is a classic rock band formed in 1967. As the most continuously touring band in history, Chicago averages more than 100 shows a year and has never missed a concert date since 1967.

Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in five decades. In Billboard Magazine’s list of Top 100 artists of all time, Chicago came in at #9 and has the distinction of being the highest-charting American band on that list.

The current line up includes original band members Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, and James Pankow on trombone. Other band members include Keith Howland on guitar, Lou Pardini on keyboards and vocals, Ray Herrmann on saxophones, Walfredo Reyes, Jr. on drums, Brett Simons on bass and vocals, Ramon Yslas on percussion and Neil Donell on lead vocals and guitar.

Lifetime achievements include two Grammy Awards, multiple American Music Awards, 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, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles, and 5 Gold singles. Their 36 albums have earned an incredible 25 platinum certifications, and the band has a total of 47 gold and platinum awards to date.

Chicago has generously supported many charitable causes since their inception. For more than 20 years, Chicago has donated a portion of ticket sales to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, which seeks a cure to the fatal children’s disease Niemann-Pick Type C. Chicago has also supported WhyHunger providing more than 120,000 meals and raising thousands of dollars for the charity. Other causes include SafeSchools for Alex, the Terry Kath Scholarship at DePaul University, and the American Cancer Society.