Lee Loughnane
Encyclopedia
Lee Loughnane born 21 October 1946 in Elmwood Park, Illinois
to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpet
er, flugelhorn
player, vocalist, and songwriter
, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago
.
Through his friendship with guitarist Terry Kath
, Loughnane met drummer Danny Seraphine
and saxophone/woodwind player Walter Parazaider
. Parazaider, who was trying to form a rock 'n roll band with horns
, encouraged Loughnane to sit in on rehearsals. At first, the group was known as The Big Thing. Eventually it became The Chicago Transit Authority (later renamed Chicago
) with the addition of members James Pankow
(trombone), Robert Lamm
(keyboards), and Peter Cetera
(bass). Loughnane has continued to be a member of Chicago since its inception.
Loughnane's songwriting contributions for Chicago have included the hit singles "Call on Me
" from Chicago VII
and "No Tell Lover" from Hot Streets
, as well as album cuts such as "Together Again" on Chicago X
and "This Time" on Chicago XI
. Loughnane received his lead vocal debut on the Terry Kath
composition "Song of The Evergreens" on Chicago VII
. He has also provided background vocals on several Chicago songs, and the occasional lead vocal such as on "Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" from Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
.
He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
and was awarded the National Citation as well as being recognized as Signature Sinfonian along with fellow Chicago members and Sinfonians on August 26, 2009.
In recent years, Loughnane has taken on a growing leadership role in the band. He has directed Chicago's remastering effort of its song catalogue, and he provides on-stage leadership during live performances. He is the member of the band who is the most gracious and outwardly friendly during live performances.
Loughnane comes from a large family, which includes a Chicago cop, a church choir leader, a world leader in electronic academic reference suites, a CFO and an Elmwood Park library associate. Loughnane has been married several times: to Susan Marie Steele (1970–1972); to Elizabeth Cunneff (married 1979) and with whom he has a son, Brian Patrick (b. 1976); and to Patricia Leininger, with whom he has a daughter River Brittany (b. 1988) and a son Dylan Lee (b. 1992). Loughnane also adopted Cunneff's daughter Catherine Elizabeth "Cat" (b. 1970) He is currently married to the former Megan Cathleen Brown with whom he has a son Lee II. The couple resides in Branson, MO.
Elmwood Park, Illinois
Elmwood Park is a village bordering the northwest side of the City of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,405 at the 2000 census. The community has long maintained a large Italian-American population, with a more recent influx of Polish-American and Hispanic...
to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er, flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
player, vocalist, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
.
Biography
Loughnane was influenced by his father Philip (also a trumpeter).Through his friendship with guitarist Terry Kath
Terry Kath
Terry Alan Kath , born in Chicago, Illinois, was the original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago...
, Loughnane met drummer Danny Seraphine
Danny Seraphine
Daniel Peter "Danny" Seraphine is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer, best known for being the original drummer and founding member of the rock group Chicago, a tenure which lasted from February 1967 to May 1990.-Early life:Danny Seraphine was born in...
and saxophone/woodwind player Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider is best known for being a founding member and saxophone player for the rock band Chicago. He also plays the flute and other woodwind instruments in the band, including clarinet. On the hit "You're Not Alone," he played backing rhythm guitar.Parazaider began playing the clarinet...
. Parazaider, who was trying to form a rock 'n roll band with horns
Horn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
, encouraged Loughnane to sit in on rehearsals. At first, the group was known as The Big Thing. Eventually it became The Chicago Transit Authority (later renamed Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
) with the addition of members James Pankow
James Pankow
James Carter "Jimmy" Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument arranger best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.-Early life:...
(trombone), Robert Lamm
Robert Lamm
Robert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
(keyboards), and Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
(bass). Loughnane has continued to be a member of Chicago since its inception.
Loughnane's songwriting contributions for Chicago have included the hit singles "Call on Me
Call on Me (Chicago song)
"Call On Me" is a song written by Lee Loughnane for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII , with Peter Cetera singing lead vocals. The second single released from the album, it reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart."Call On Me" was...
" from Chicago VII
Chicago VII
Chicago VII is the seventh album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1974. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III, and remains their final studio release in that format....
and "No Tell Lover" from Hot Streets
Hot Streets
Hot Streets is the 12th album by American rock band Chicago and released in 1978. In many ways, Hot Streets marked the beginning of a new era for the band...
, as well as album cuts such as "Together Again" on Chicago X
Chicago X
Chicago X is the tenth album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1976. The album is notable for its soulfulness, and it ended up being a turning point in the band's career thanks to one song....
and "This Time" on Chicago XI
Chicago XI
Chicago XI is the 11th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1977. As the successor to Chicago X, the album marked the end of an era for Chicago in more ways than one...
. Loughnane received his lead vocal debut on the Terry Kath
Terry Kath
Terry Alan Kath , born in Chicago, Illinois, was the original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago...
composition "Song of The Evergreens" on Chicago VII
Chicago VII
Chicago VII is the seventh album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1974. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III, and remains their final studio release in that format....
. He has also provided background vocals on several Chicago songs, and the occasional lead vocal such as on "Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" from Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album is an album of Christmas songs by American rock band Chicago, released in 1998 on the band's Chicago Records label...
.
He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
and was awarded the National Citation as well as being recognized as Signature Sinfonian along with fellow Chicago members and Sinfonians on August 26, 2009.
In recent years, Loughnane has taken on a growing leadership role in the band. He has directed Chicago's remastering effort of its song catalogue, and he provides on-stage leadership during live performances. He is the member of the band who is the most gracious and outwardly friendly during live performances.
Loughnane comes from a large family, which includes a Chicago cop, a church choir leader, a world leader in electronic academic reference suites, a CFO and an Elmwood Park library associate. Loughnane has been married several times: to Susan Marie Steele (1970–1972); to Elizabeth Cunneff (married 1979) and with whom he has a son, Brian Patrick (b. 1976); and to Patricia Leininger, with whom he has a daughter River Brittany (b. 1988) and a son Dylan Lee (b. 1992). Loughnane also adopted Cunneff's daughter Catherine Elizabeth "Cat" (b. 1970) He is currently married to the former Megan Cathleen Brown with whom he has a son Lee II. The couple resides in Branson, MO.