Chicago Founding Member & Saxophonist Walter Parazaider Has Died

: Walter Parazaider of Chicago performs at the 31st Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on April 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

By Nikki

June 17, 2026 at 1:09 pm EDT

Walter Parazaider, a founding member and the saxophonist of the legendary rock band Chicago, died on June 17, 2026, at the age of 81. He passed away in hospice care following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. [1, 2]

Walter Parazaider (1945–2026)

Role: Saxophonist, flautist, and backing vocalist.
Key Legacy: Parazaider is credited with the original idea to form a rock band with a horn section. He put the band together, organized their early rehearsals in his mother’s basement, and booked their first bar gigs in the Chicago area.
Passing: Confirmed by his wife, JacLynn, and announced by his daughter Felicia.

Nikki

If you know me even just a little bit, you know I follow the music…sing it, dance to it and play it on the radio. I hope the music we play makes your workday, or beach day, go by easy breezy.

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