James Pankow
| James Pankow | |
|---|---|
Pankow in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Carter Pankow |
| Born |
August 20, 1947 St. Louis, Missouri United States |
| Genres | Rock, adult contemporary, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, arranger |
| Instruments | Trombone, keyboards, vocals, percussion |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Associated acts | Chicago; Toto; Three Dog Night; Earth, Wind, & Fire; The Doobie Brothers; Bee Gees |
James Carter "Jimmy" Pankow (born August 20, 1947) is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument player, best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri of German and Irish descent, Pankow moved with his family to Park Ridge, Illinois at the age of eight, where he started playing the trombone at St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School.
One of nine siblings, Pankow was influenced by his musician father, Wayne. He is the older brother of veteran actor John Pankow. His Notre Dame High School band instructor was Father George Wiskirchen, CSC
Pankow earned a full music scholarship to Quincy College, where he studied the bass trombone. After completing his first year, he returned home for the summer and formed a band that began to play some live local shows. Not wanting to give up this work, Pankow transferred to DePaul University.
He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and was given the National Citation as well as recognition as Signature Sinfonian along with fellow Chicago members and Sinfonians on August 26, 2009. Chicago
At DePaul, Pankow met Walter Parazaider, who recruited him to join a band named The Big Thing, which would become Chicago Transit Authority. Soon after the first album's release, the band's name was shortened to Chicago. Pankow has remained a member of Chicago since its inception.
In addition to playing the trombone, Pankow has composed many songs for Chicago, including the hits "Make Me Smile" and "Colour My World" (both from his suite Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon), "Just You 'N' Me," "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long," "Old Days," "Alive Again," and (with Peter Cetera) "Feelin' Stronger Every Day."
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