Danny Seraphine in Concert
The backbone of one of the most successful bands in the history of American music, Danny Seraphine is an accomplished and innovative player who is revered by peers and fans alike. "One of the Top 5 living drummers in the world" is how Fender CEO and Guitar Center Music Foundation's Larry Thomas describes the musician who powered Chicago for 23 years. Rolling Stone holds Seraphine in similarly high esteem, listing him in the magazine's Top 100 drummers ever and naming him "the father of jazz rock."
Born and raised in Chicago, Seraphine started playing drums at the age of 9, later studying with such masters of the form as jazz great Chuck Flores. In 1967, Seraphine co-founded Chicago Transit Authority, an ambitious band whose membership drew from the Chicago area's most promising music students.
With the release of their self-titled debut album in 1969, the young band — who soon shortened their name to Chicago — established a powerful and distinctive sound that was equal parts rock, jazz, and R&B. The album's Top 20 success began a run of hits that spanned decades and included five consecutive No. 1 albums, 20 Top 20 singles, and worldwide career sales of more than 100 million records.
After ending his tenure with the band in 1990, Seraphine dedicated the next 15 years to his family and to a wide variety of musical and theatrical projects. A request to play at a benefit show for a fellow musician rekindled his love of live performance.
In 2007, Seraphine became the anchor of a new powerhouse, California Transit Authority (CTA). Working alongside a talented cast of musicians, Seraphine applies all his energy and ability to a repertoire that ranges from hard-hitting versions of Chicago classics like "25 or 6 to 4" and "Make Me Smile" to a jazz-rock rendition of Cannonball Adderley's "Somethin' Different," to originals that showcase CTA's extraordinary level of talent and experience.
For Danny Seraphine's Take Me Back to Chicago tour, the drummer and CTA join forces with a vocalist with his own place in rock history. A singer, musician, producer, and songwriter, Bill Champlin scored hits with his band Sons of Champlin before joining Chicago in 1981. He sang lead vocals on two of the group's most iconic songs of the 1980s: "Hard Habit to Break" and "Look Away."
