Terry Kath
| Terry Kath | |
|---|---|
Kath in 1969
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Terry Alan Kath |
| Born |
January 31, 1946 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | January 23, 1978 (aged 31) Woodland Hills, California |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, blues rock, jazz rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1963–1978 |
| Associated acts | Chicago |
| Website | Official website |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Fender Telecaster Gibson SG Gibson Les Paul Professional |
|
Terry Alan Kath (January 31, 1946 – January 23, 1978) was an American musician and songwriter, best known as the original guitarist, one of the lead singers and founding members of the rock band Chicago. He has been praised by the band for his guitar skills and Ray Charles-influenced vocal style.
Growing up in a musical family, Kath took up a variety of instruments in his teens, including the drums and banjo. He played bass in a number of bands in the mid-1960s, before settling on the guitar when forming the group that would become Chicago. His guitar playing was an important component of the group's sound from the start of their career, and he sang lead on several of the group's singles. He used a number of different guitars, but eventually became identified with the Fender Telecaster fitted with a humbucker pickup and decorated with numerous stickers. Kath was also said to be Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitarist.
Kath struggled with health issues and drug abuse toward the end of the 1970s. He died in January 1978 from an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The bereavement triggered Chicago to consider disbanding, but they ultimately decided to resume as is signified by their memorial song "Alive Again." To commemorate his musicianship, they later issued the 1997 album, The Innovative Guitar of Terry Kath.
Kath was born to Raymond Elmer "Ray" (1912-2003) and Evelyn Meline Haugen Kath (1916-1982) on January 31, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois. He has an older brother, Rod Kath. He was raised in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Taft High School and DePaul University. He was of German, English, and Scandinavian ancestry.
His brother played the drums and his mother played the banjo, and Kath attempted to learn these instruments too. He acquired a guitar and amplifier when he was in the ninth grade, and his early influences included The Ventures, Johnny Smith,Dick Dale, and Howard Roberts. He later became influenced by George Benson, Kenny Burrell,Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix.
...
Wikipedia