Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967. Self-described as a “rock-and-roll band with horns,” the group is one of the longest-lasting and best-selling bands of all time. The group began playing in Chicago nightclubs covering Top 40 hits (like most other groups at the time), though they soon started to pen original songs.[1] Its debut studio album, Chicago, was released in 1969, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard 200 album chart and giving the band its first Grammy Award nomination.[1] The band has continued to hit the Top 40 charts for six consecutive decades and has released mega-hits such as “25 or 6 to 4” and “Saturday in the Park.”
Since their inception, Chicago has released 26 studio albums, winning ten Grammy Awards and totalling selling more than 100 million individual units.[2] The band’s original lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Chicago made their Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 1998. The band rode aboard the Santaland Express, a recreation of a vintage steam locomotive that featured real steam and a cargo of Christmas cheer. Making sure to put the holiday season on the right track, the group performed “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow” from their first Christmas album, Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album.
In 2003, the band returned on the Marion-Carole Showboat, a turn-of-the-century riverboat recreation with twin smokestacks and an authentic paddlewheel. Chicago cruised into the holidays with a rendition of “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” a track from their reissued holiday album, What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?.
Chicago made their third Parade appearance in 2019. Riding on Hallmark Channel’s Heartwarming Holiday Countdown float—a larger-than-life countdown calendar—the group promoted their fourth Christmas album, Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas. From the album, the band performed “Here We Come a Caroling” for the NBC broadcast.
The band made its fourth appearance in the 2023 Parade, promoting their latest album Greatest Christmas Hits; three tracks from the album played from the band's stage—The Wondership float from Wonder—as it traveled down the route. Their NBC telecast performance featured a 90-second version of their 1984 hit, "You're the Inspiration."
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Chicago Story - Chicago. ChicagotheBand.com.
- ↑ Larsen, Peter. "After 56 years, 100 million in album sales and 21 top 10 singles, Chicago band are still rolling." The San Diego Union-Tribune. August 20, 2023.