Tenor/flautist for Chicago, founding member. He hasn't been actively playing with them for awhile now, battling illness. Chicago started out as a rock band with horns, drifting into experimental/pop/jazz, then a pop/rock juggernaut, then a more easy-listening band with a durable power-ballad formula, and are still touring the summer concert circuit.
This one hurts, for me. I first really got into music because of a Xmas gift, Chicago IX, Greatest Hits. Then my gradeschool started a band program, I asked my folks for a sax but they talked me into a trombone, a much-less expensive instrument. That horn took me thru Junior year in college jazz band, playing in a Chicago cover band (where I learned to transpose for the trumpet/sax players), and even a two-week tour of Europe before I started college! I continued playing in part-time bands until about 15 years ago. Live playing has been one of the best things in my life.
Thank you, Walter.