Chicago (the band) Founding Member, James Pankow Interview

James Pankow (Jimmy Pankow), trombonist and founding member of the band, Chicago, shares his story and his advice to gig seeking musicians and artists.
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That’s My Gig does not own the copyrighted songs within this interview. This video is intended for educational purposes, solely. This production was created and published with the explicit permission of James Pankow.
"Chicago-Does Anybody Really Know” (Written by: Robert Lamm)
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"Chicago-25 Or 6 To 4” (Written by: Robert Lamm)
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"Chicago-Colour My World” (Written by: James Pankow)
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[@bethmcavoy8062]

That's nice of Jimmy to talk about being " different" when he was a student learning & concentrating on his art, while the "normal " kids were out drinking beer......3 cheers for the guys who are DIFFERENT!

[@lamarravery4094]

But after he and his band succeeded, it was cocaine and marijuana time, lol.

[@davemiller3345]

Being a trombone player myself, have always had a lot of respect for james pankow . His writing and playing are outstanding. Truely has been blessed with the gift of music.

[@lamarravery4094]

Pankow is a genius, the Girl from Buchanon is a masterpiece, put Chicago on the map on the top 40s charts. But all were gifted, every player in the band. They all composed and were masters in their instruments. What a band! And Cetera and Kath, beautiful vocals.

[@davemiller3345]

@@lamarravery4094 couldnt agree more my friend.

[@conniec3085]

SO happy for Robert Lamm, Jimmy Pankow and Peter Cetera on being inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

[@marleenking965]

James Pankow my favorite Trambonist of all Time.. So humble, so amazing Chicago The Best, I love you guys!🙏💖❤️😘

[@v.german11b]

Love them all. Terry Kath (RIP), Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine fired later on, along with the original members that continued, kept going with the band, that is: Walther Parazaider, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane and Robert Lamm. All of them outstanding talented musicians. I am a diehard Chicago fan 💪🏼😎🇺🇲

[@user-gn9vu7wn7t]

A great insight from Mr. Pankow. Learning an instrument can be difficult and it takes stick-to-it-iveness, a passion to master those and in this case a wind instrument you need powerful lungs and a great ear and enormous talent as Chicago members all had. Chicago, legends!

[@pete9688]

One of my favorite members. Here is a guy ( if you watch older vids ) who played his trombone... danced ... was so into the song when he wasn’t playing.... [ just see a live archived video of 25 or 6 to 4 ] what a guy!!! Love this man!!!!

[@danielweeks3723]

What an excellent player and person. When I'm working on Beginnings I do it to the live version played in Tanglewood. Jimmy is having such a good time on stage. You can see it in his face, see it in the way he grooves. Watching/listening to him make me smile even when I play a wrong note(or a bunch of wrong notes. Danny(Southern Sierra)

[@lamarravery4094]

Artists are probably picked on a lot because they aren't different, but special. They have the God given gift to create art and they are focused, while the average guy is going through the same boring day to day motions.

[@alexandrashepard4145]

Great interview! I especially love Jimmy Pankow!

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

That was fun. Thank you Mr. Pankow. I have been a fan since I was in jr. high school and the band teacher Mr. Roper, brought in Chicago Transit Authority. This was in September of 1969. He was very hip for that time. He wanted to show us that 'band music' could be just as popular as rock music. This was in Wichita, Kansas and I finally got to see you in March of 1975. And thank you Mr. Vandiver. I really enjoyed the lessons from the pros. You may be the one person I would let help with my hair and beard..... Please tell the band that I really enjoyed the last album. I only wish the horns had been a little more up in the mix. It was your best and most original album since SOS and maybe since Chicago eleven. When you play Tulalip again, let me know... I want to be there... #WarrenProject #DrMorq #NowMorethanEver

[@tshawtcog]

That was exactly my introduction to Chicago. My band teacher was Jerry Liles, who was also a trombone player, as I was. Love James Pankow.

[@lamarravery4094]

You mean Mr. Roper from Three's Company? Lol.

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

@@lamarravery4094 nope... this was 5 or 6 years before that show...

[@lamarravery4094]

@@drmorqWarrenProject I was kidding. When people hear Mr. Roper they think of Three's Company.

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

@@lamarravery4094 I know... I was just telling you that I am that old... lol

[@chrischandonnet4277]

love ths band!!

[@lamarravery4094]

Our best American band. The most all around talented and successful, the American Beatles.

[@nickf9392]

Chicago has always been the greatest from day one, what a life they must have lived. I always pictured them going back to teach in their later years. Could you imagine having Robert Lamm or Jimmy Pankow teach music theory or song writing. Not too late guys??

[@lamarravery4094]

I'd sign up for that class.

[@JesusRamos-wm7hg]

Just saying I played trombone iny school dazes.you are the best instrumentalist, inspired me to play the Best each time I played.

[@lamarravery4094]

Interesting story about Pankow's getting harassed and bullied because he was different. I understand. I went through that too as I'm sure many have and still do. It makes you stronger, but it can end up hurting the more fragile ones to the point of suicide. Why is there a human need to scapegoat and pick on people different? Because we are sheep always finding a leader to follow. It's easy when you don't need to make the decisions.

[@BofusTeefus]

Huh. I've been doing kind of a musical deep dive on Chicago, and have found JP to be quite the interesting character. Apparently he's an overall good guy, too. Aweosome!

[@jeffrobertson527]

I miss Terry Kath. If he were alive and still with Chicago I would still be buying their albums. As is, I think 7 was my last one

[@lamarravery4094]

But Kath's last Chicago album was 11.

[@jamescpotter]

No one scored and voiced horns like Jimmy!

[@lamarravery4094]

There are ways you can tell a song is by Chicago. 1) you hear Cetera's soaring vocals 2) you hear the horns. Well, Cetera's gone, and about 3 or 4 yrs ago I hear a new Christmas song on the local radio station and I didn't recognize the vocals, but then I heard that horn arrangement and it sounded like it was Chicago and it was. I couldn't believe I heard a new Chicago song on the radio, I was so excited.

[@frankwagner2161]

Wish the backtrack wasn't add for mood...The guy has important things to say...

[@ginagraham8616]

HI Bill! I think you may be may the man I'm looking for ... well at least on my way to the man you are interviewing here! No I'm not just a fan, in fact I don't know much about Mr Pankow, save what I've learnt here and a little snippet I heard in a doco on Chicago. Jimmy Pankow, in this documentary, related how he had saved a day and fixed a broken heart with a song that he wrote in one take while his girlfriend was being super sad and had locked herself in a room....

[@ginagraham8616]

Wow as I was watching the interview while writing this I lost my nerve. I have a song wrote in response to what James did and I want him to hear it... perhaps I'll just put it up :)

[@lamarravery4094]

Lol, I thought this was Eric Clapton interviewing James Pankow.

[@Roostermania2010]

JUST - TELL - US - WHO - YOU - ARE - LISTENING - TO - MAN!!! **LoL** No need to go on & on & on about being in a classical mood one day & a jazz mood the next.... we get that... lots of us do the same thing... so just tell us... lay it all out there, the whole spectrum.... OR is it that you DON'T listen to music anymore?? Burnt out on the mainstream junk? Can't say I blame him, if that's the case.... Maybe that's why Satellite Radio & Pandora & Spotify & making your own personal playlists is where it's at... NOBODY wants corporate programming!!!! **ugh**

[@maxti6]

The joint didn't help either of them on this day. Try not smoking until you've finished taping. . . you might surprise yourself!

[@mitchcoop1]

A so so horn player that got famous via CHICAGO. The original drummer has / had serious talent

[@PhillyGirl-pt3vq]

He resembles his goofy looking brother with the huge forehand and receding hairline! 😂 He’s really nothing notable anyway. Can’t sing either. This is how he continues to make his living . Squandering off of the bands past. Chicago became a lounge act after the devastating death of gifted guitarist, Terry Kath. 😔💔🙏🏻💐🕊️

[@RG-hf4et]

Ugh, Pankow beats around the bush so much. ANNOYING INTERVIEW.

[@jtshrigley6162]

He was direct about, well...” being on the spectrum” a bit. Pankow is one of the more notable composer-arrangers in 2nd half of 20th century.

[@JesusRamos-wm7hg]

MoST of us musicians are the same as the next one, brutally fickle and precise

[@JesusRamos-wm7hg]

Your not a musician, it's to sophisticated for some people

[@raymondtovey3722]

Sadly This Guy Is Boring .Next ?

[@Yausbro]

crawl away Raymond