James Pankow

For the American environmental engineer, see James F. Pankow.

James Pankow
Pankow in 2022
Pankow in 2022
Background information
Birth nameJames Carter Pankow
Born (1947-08-20) August 20, 1947 (age 77)[1]
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
GenresRock, adult contemporary, jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, arranger
Instrument(s)Trombone, keyboards, vocals, percussion
Years active1967 (1967)–present
Member ofChicago

James Carter Pankow (born August 20, 1947) is an American trombone player, songwriter, and brass instrument arranger who is a founding member of the rock band Chicago.[2] He is best known for his brass arrangements, and for being one-third of Chicago's brass/woodwind section alongside Lee Loughnane and Walter Parazaider.

Early life, family and education

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Born in St. Louis, Missouri, of German and Irish descent, Pankow was one of nine siblings. He is the older brother of actor John Pankow,[3] who appeared on the TV series Mad About You. The family moved to Park Ridge, Illinois, when he was eight years old.

Pankow was influenced by his musician father, Wayne. He started playing the trombone at St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School. His Notre Dame High School band instructor was Father George Wiskirchen, CSC.[4]

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.[5]

He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he was given the National Citation as well as recognition as Signature Sinfonian along with fellow Chicago members and Sinfonians on August 26, 2009.[6]

Career

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Chicago

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At DePaul, Pankow met Walter Parazaider, who recruited him to join a band, 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.[7]

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."

Pankow has scored most of Chicago's brass arrangements. Although he is not one of the band's principal vocalists, he sang lead vocals for two Chicago songs: "You Are On My Mind" (from Chicago X, 1976) and "Till the End of Time" (Chicago XI, 1977).[2][8]

Other

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Along with fellow Chicago horns Lee Loughnane and Walter Parazaider, Pankow was featured on Three Dog Night's 1969 #15 hit "Celebrate" and on several tracks of the 1979 Bee Gees' Spirits Having Flown album. Pankow has appeared on several albums for the rock band Toto, including the 1982 Grammy Award-winning Toto IV and their 2006 album Falling in Between, for which he composed the brass arrangements and performed on the song "Dying on My Feet".[9]

Personal life

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Pankow and his first wife Karen were married for 18 years. Their children are Jonathan (born 1981) and Sarah (born 1986).[10]

Pankow and his second wife Jeanne Pacelli have two children, Carter (born 1999) and Lilli (born 2002).

References

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  1. ^ "City celebrates 72nd birthday of Chicago's legendary trombonist, Jimmy Pankow". My Buckhannon. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "James Pankow – Chicago". Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "Brother Act". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "James Pankow". trombone.net. International Trombone Association. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Katsilometes, John (July 9, 2016). "'Sewer pipe' virtuosity has made Chicago's Jimmy Pankow a Rock Hall of Famer". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Chicago and Signature Sinfonian Members Recognized in Pre-concert Ceremony". Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Sinfonia News. Sinfonia. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  7. ^ Fleischer, Denise (November 1, 2018). "Pankow Reflects On His Long Career With Chicago". Journal Online. Journal & Topics Media Group. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "Chicago's Jimmy Pankow on Band's 50th Anniversary & What's Next for Them". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  9. ^ James Pankow at AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  10. ^ "James Pankow". songhall.org. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
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