Craig Allen says: ‘Meet Chicago and Peter Cetera’

Win tickets all weekend to see Peter Cetera, the former lead singer of Chicago, at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, from New Jersey 101.5!

Peter Cetera grew up in the Chicago suburbs...and his interest in music started at the age of 11, when his parents gave him an accordion, instead of the guitar that he wanted!

Eventually, he got the guitar, and started playing in local bands.

He was impressed by the horn section combined with rock sound, of a band called "The Big Thing"....which became "Chicago Transit Authority," and then "Chicago."

By 1984, Cetera was the face of Chicago...the following year, he split with the band to concentrate on a solo career.

"The Glory Of Love" would be the first single off Cetera's "Solitude/Solitaire" album/CD.

Written by Cetera, David Foster and Denise Nini, it was the theme song for the hit movie "The Karate Kid, Part II." Cetera says that it was originally written for "Rocky IV."

Besides rising to #1 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts in 1986, "The Glory Of Love" won an ASCAP award for Cetera for "Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures," and a BMI Film & TV Award for David Foster for "Most Performed Song from a Film." It would be nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for "Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male Artist."

Peter Cetera would go on to have a string of hits (mostly duets) on the Top-40 airwaves through the rest of the 1980's!

"The Next Time I Fall"  with Amy Grant went to #1 in 1986...

"One Good Woman" would land Cetera in the top-5 (#4/1988)...

And, he would team up with Cher, and "After All" would be a #6 record the following year!

Cetera will be singing his solo hits at the Count Basie Theater on October 6th...and LOTS of hits from his Chicago days, too!

Chicago was formed in, where else, Chicago, in 1967.  Originally known as "The Big Thing," the band started out playing top-40 cover songs.

Their first album was released in 1969, under the name "Chicago Transit Authority."

Self-described as a 'rock band with horns,' Chicago began writing music with a political message, and sometimes had an 'experimental' sound. They had a steady string of albums, and hit records through the 70's!

Here are just a few...of Jersey's Favorite Chicago Hits:

"If You Leave Me Now" was Chicago's first #1 hit...in 1976.

"Another Rainy Day In New York City" is a lost Chicago hit, that I have always liked...it was an "adult radio" hit in 1976.

In the "political" realm that I mentioned earlier, is this long-forgotten Chicago song...

"Harry Truman" almost cracked the top-10 (#13/1975).

As I mentioned at the top of this article...by the 1980's, the band had adopted a softer sound...in the Peter Cetera era. And, the hits just kept on coming!

"Hard To Say I'm Sorry" would go to #1 in 1982.

Peter Cetera would leave Chicago in 1985, embarking on a successful solo career!

"Look Away" would be Chicago's third #1 song, in 1988.

"What Kind Of Man Would I Be" would put Chicago on the pop charts (#5) in 1990!

Chicago was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, in 1992.

They were FINALLY inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame earlier this year...amidst some drama, as Cetera decided to skip the Induction Ceremony...

Chicago continues to put out new music to this day ("Chicago XXXVI: Now" was released in 2014)...there have been multiple "Best Of" compilations, and Christmas music albums, through the years.

According to Billboard magazine, Chicago was the leading U.S. singles charting group of the 1970's. Selling over 100 million records worldwide, they have sold over 40 million in the U.S. They have earned 23 gold albums, 18 have gone platinum, 8 double-platinum. Through their career, they have had five #1 albums, and 21 top-10 singles.

The Doobie Brothers, America, and Huey Lewis & The News, are among the bands that Chicago has toured with...other than Earth, Wind & Fire.

Check out Chicago's official website, here!

Check out Peter Cetera's official website, here!

See Peter Cetera at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank on October 6th!!

New Jersey 101.5 is blowing out tickets all weekend!

Good luck...and remember to join "NJ Insiders" here at nj1015.com, to get the list of winning songs, and their times!!