Drummer #30 _ Danny Seraphine
I started playing professionally in 1967. In my many decades of time, playing music, it’s been interesting to experience popular music and the effect it has on the gig situation.
The music of the 50s, including Rock N Roll, had the occasional sound of the saxophone. When the British Invasion of The Beatles, Stones, Who and others flooded the American airwaves, popular music was dominated by guitars, portable keyboards and drums. Boogie woogie – honkey tonk saxophone was rare.
I separate the genre of Top 40 from R&B / Rhythm and Blues or Soul Music, which had horns or a horn section. Club bands became larger. ‘Show Bands” in that time period, had horns. Those groups were playing a variety of styles and music, not necessarily commercial dance music.
I was working full time in clubs when Blood Sweat & Tears and Chicago came on the scene. BS&T had their first record in 1968. Chicago (aka) Chicago Transit Authority had their first album in 1969.
Trumpet, Saxophone and Trombone became the 3-piece horn section to play Spinning Wheel, You Made Me So Very Happy, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Beginnings and the crowd pleaser I’m A Man. Band members had the opportunity to join in to play percussion instruments.
When that music became popular, the instrumentation of groups changed. Horn players could get a gig playing Top 40 music. Drummers continued to play always ( do the heavy lifting) , while horn players danced and spun their instruments, band standing for the audience. (In many cases)
I enjoyed playing that material when it came out. I love those first BS&T records. David Clayton Thomas is a great vocalist.
Bobby Colomby is one of my favorite drummers. What he played on those records is fantastic. The group’s second album won the Grammy award for record of the year in 1970. How music has changed.
I followed Chicago through the Terry Kath period. I saw Chicago with drummer Danny Seraphine the first time in the early 70s. I think it was probably 1972. They performed at the Orlando venue called the Tangerine Bowl. Steely Dan was the opening group. By 1972 the group was into their 4th studio album. Called Chicago V.
I remember playing the tune, Saturday In The Park when it became popular. It has a “swing the bridge” section. I’d played shuffles as blues, but this tune was like Jazz, transitioning from straight eighth note to swing.
Seeing and hearing Chicago was an interesting experience. The Tangerine Bowl (now called something else) was not the greatest outdoor arena for music. The band was good, but I don’t remember much about it.
Steely Dan was impressive. This may have been their first tour. Their debut album, Can’t Buy A Thrill was released in 1972, they may have played material from it. Do It Again, may have been on the radio. The group’s band uniform was a baseball outfit, strange.
Several years later, I saw Chicago play in Jacksonville. Their physical appearance had changed and they lacked energy. For me, Terry Kath seemed to be the fire that drove the band. I like that rhythm section.
I’ve seen comments that Chicago was a rock band that played jazz. Blood Sweat & Tears was a jazz band that played rock.
The vocals with Terry Kath and Peter Cetera, augmented by Robert Lamm is a classic sound. Chicago has sold more than 100 million records. That’s vinyl, not Spotify downloads or streams. “Don’t get me started”
There are several Youtube videos of Chicago in their early days performing. With the original group, they were tight. I always liked Danny Seraphine’s playing, tuning and sound. When he and Chicago hit the scene, it was not a good thing to be tagged a “Jazz” drummer.
A few years ago I started buying records again. I’ve revisited and listened to those early Chicago records many times. I have great memories from that music. Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears.
I’ve seen 2022-2023 performance and interviews videos with Danny Seraphine. He’s a class act. He continues to play great, maybe even better. That’s hard to do for all drummers as they age. It’s a physical execution of mind and muscles. (Ringo is 82)
My music mentor and friend Tommy Thomas (1901-1995) was from Chicago. I’ve been there a few times. It was a great city for music and culture.