Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera first gained widespread recognition as the longtime lead vocalist of Chicago while also carving out a notable career on his own. Born on September 13, 1944, in Chicago, which locals call the Windy City, he was performing with the Exceptions when another up-and-coming outfit, originally named Chicago Transit Authority, invited him to join on bass in late 1967. By the early 1970s the group ranked among America’s leading acts, its robust jazz-rock sound producing major successes such as “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Saturday in the Park,” many of which showcased Cetera’s vocals. He wrote the delicate ballad “If You Leave Me Now” in 1976; its ascent to number one steered much of the band’s later output toward a softer rock approach. Though Chicago’s popularity faded through the rest of the decade, the group reclaimed the top of the charts in 1982 with “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” paving the way for further hits including “Hard Habit to Break” and “You’re the Inspiration.”

Cetera had already cut his self-titled solo debut in 1981 yet stayed with Chicago until 1985. After departing the band he quickly returned to number one with “The Glory of Love,” the lead single from Solitude/Solitaire that also served as the theme for the film The Karate Kid, Part II. That same year he reached the summit again via the duet “The Next Time I Fall” alongside Amy Grant. In 1986 he produced I Stand Alone for Agnetha Fältskog, and after reemerging in 1988 with One More Story he scored another hit collaboration, “After All,” this time with Cher. Following a four-year break he delivered World Falling Down, his last album for Warner Bros. One Clear Voice appeared in 1995, and two years later he issued You’re the Inspiration, a set blending earlier successes with fresh songs. Cetera withdrew from the spotlight for several years to spend time with his family before returning in 2001 with Another Perfect World. The seasonal release You Just Gotta Love Christmas arrived in 2004.