James Carter Pankow is an American

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

player, songwriter and brass instrument player, best known as a founding member of the rock band

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Early life, family and education

Born in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

of German and Irish descent, Pankow was one of nine siblings. He is the older brother of actor

John Pankow John Pankow (born April 28, 1954) is an American actor. He began his career on-stage in New York, in numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway plays including Peter Shaffer's ''Amadeus'', John Patrick Shanley's ''Italian American Reconciliation,'' and ...

, who appeared on the TV series ''

Mad About You ''Mad About You'' is an American television sitcom starring Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a married couple in New York City. It initially aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24, 1999, winning numerous awards including four Golden Glob ...

''. The family moved to

Park Ridge, Illinois Park Ridge is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a Chicago suburb. Per the 2020 census, the population was 39,656. It is located northwest of downtown Chicago. It is close to O'Hare International Airport, major expressways, a ...

when he was eight years old. Pankow was influenced by his musician father, Wayne. He started playing the

at St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School. His Notre Dame High School band instructor was Father George Wiskirchen,

CSC CSC, Csc or CSc may refer to: Awards * Conspicuous Service Cross (disambiguation) ** Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) ** Conspicuous Service Cross (New York) ** Conspicuous Service Cross (United Kingdom) Science and industry * Cancer ...

. Pankow earned a full music scholarship to

Quincy College Quincy College (QC) is a public community college in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and certificate programs. It was founded in 1958 and enrolls approximately 4,500 ...

, 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 DePaul University is a private, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th-century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1998, it became the largest Ca ...

. He is a member of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...

, 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.

Career

Chicago

At DePaul, Pankow met

Walter Parazaider Walter Parazaider (born March 14, 1945) is an American woodwind musician best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He plays a wide variety of wind instruments, including saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He also occasionally ...

, 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 (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. 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 "Make Me Smile" is a song written by James Pankow for the rock band Chicago with the band's guitarist, Terry Kath, on lead vocals. Part 1 of Pankow's 7-part "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second albu ...

" and " Colour My World" (both from his suite ''

Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" (sic), also known as "The Ballet" and "Make Me Smile Medley", is a nearly thirteen-minute mini-rock opera/song cycle/suite from Chicago's 1970 album ''Chicago'' (also called ''Chicago II''). It was the group's first ...

''), "

Just You 'N' Me "Just You 'n' Me" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their fifth studio album ''Chicago VI'' (1973). The lead vocals are sung by bassist Peter Cetera. Background The second single released from that album, ...

," " (I've Been) Searchin' So Long," "

Old Days "Old Days" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album '' Chicago VIII'' (1975). It was the second single released from that album with lead vocals by Peter Cetera. Background Pankow has said that the son ...

," " Alive Again," and (with

Peter Cetera Peter Paul Cetera ( ; born September 13, 1944) is an American retired musician best known for being a lead vocalist and the bassist of the rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985, before launching a successful solo career. His c ...

) "

Feelin' Stronger Every Day "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" is a song written by Peter Cetera and James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album ''Chicago VI'' (1973). The first single released from that album, it reached #10 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. ...

." 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 ''Chicago X'' is the eighth studio album, and tenth album overall, by the American band Chicago. It was recorded at Caribou Ranch and it was released by Columbia Records on June 14, 1976. The album made it to number three on the ''Billboard'' ...

'', 1976) and "Till the End of Time" (''

Chicago XI ''Chicago XI'', released in 1977, is the ninth studio album (eleventh overall) by the American band Chicago and marked the end of an era for the band. This would be the last Chicago studio album to feature guitarist Terry Kath prior to his deat ...

'', 1977).

Other

Along with fellow Chicago horns

Lee Loughnane Lee David Loughnane (pronounced LOCK-nain; born October 21, 1946) is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago. Early life and education Lee David Loughna ...

and

, Pankow was featured on

Three Dog Night Three Dog Night is an American rock band formed in 1967, with founding members consisting of vocalists Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron. This lineup was soon augmented by Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Joe Schermie (bass), Michael A ...

's 1969 #15 hit "Celebrate" and on several tracks of the 1979

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in ...

' ''Spirits Having Flown'' album. Pankow has appeared on several albums for the rock band Toto, including the 1982

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

Award-winning ''

Toto IV ''Toto IV'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Toto released in the spring of 1982 by Columbia Records. The lead single, " Rosanna", peaked at number 2 for five weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts, while the album's third s ...

'' and their 2006 album ''

Falling in Between ''Falling in Between'' is the twelfth studio album (though counted as the 13th album overall — see '' Toto XIV'') by American rock band, Toto. The album was released in February 2006 on the Italian label Frontiers Records, the band supporting ...

'', for which he composed the brass arrangements and performed on the song "Dying on My Feet".

Personal life

Pankow and his first wife Karen were married for 18 years. Their children are Jonathan (born 1981) and Sarah (born 1986). Pankow and his second wife Jeanne Pacelli have two children, Carter (born 1999) and Lilli (born 2002).

References

External links

Chicago
official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pankow, James Living people 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century trombonists 20th-century trombonists American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American trombonists Chicago (band) members DePaul University alumni Male trombonists Musicians from St. Louis People from Park Ridge, Illinois Songwriters from Missouri Year of birth missing (living people) American male songwriters