Walter Parazaider (1945 – 2026)
Written and published by the SouleMap editorial team. Published June 18, 2026. Updated June 19, 2026. This tribute was not created by the family. Are you a family member? Claim this memorial.
In loving memory of Walter Parazaider. Born March 12, 1945. Passed away June 15, 2026. Final resting place: Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60601, United States.
Their Story
Walter Parazaider was an American woodwind musician who was a founding member of the rock band Chicago, best known for being one-third of Chicago's brass/woodwind section alongside Lee Loughnane and James Pankow. Born in Maywood, Illinois on March 14, 1945, he began playing the clarinet at age 9 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical clarinet performance from DePaul University. Inspired by the Beatles hit "Got to Get You Into My Life", Parazaider became enamored of the idea of creating a rock 'n' roll band with horns. A rock and roll band with horns was Walt's idea, and he put the band together and they rehearsed in the basement of his mother's home. Parazaider performed the highly recognizable flute solo in the Chicago hit "Colour My World", which became a popular 'slow dance' song at high school proms during the 1970s. A member of Chicago from its inception, Parazaider continued to tour extensively with the band until his retirement from touring in 2017 due to a heart condition. Parazaider married JacLynn Bryce Goudie in 1966, and they had two daughters. In April 2021, four years after his retirement from touring with Chicago, Parazaider announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Sources
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