Charlene Tilton
American actress
Terry Kath was a talented American guitarist and singer-songwriter who co-founded the legendary rock band Chicago. Known for his exceptional guitar skills and soulful vocals, Kath was praised by his bandmates and even Jimi Hendrix as one of the greatest guitarists. His tragic passing in 1978 deeply affected the band, but they ultimately decided to continue, paying tribute to his legacy.
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About the Terry Kath
Terry Alan Kathwas an American guitarist and singer-songwriter who is best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He played lead guitar and sang lead vocals on many of the band’s early hit singles alongside Robert Lamm and Peter Cetera. He has been praised by his bandmates and other musicians for his guitar skills and his Ray Charles-influenced vocal style. Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered Kath to be “the best guitarist in the universe”.
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 became Chicago. His guitar playing was an important component of the group’s sound from the start of their career. He used a number of different guitars, but eventually became identified with a Fender Telecaster fitted with a single neck-position humbucker pickup combined with a bridge position angled single-coil pickup and decorated with numerous stickers.
Kath struggled with health problems and drug abuse towards the end of the 1970s. He died in January 1978 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The bereavement tempted Chicago to disband, but they ultimately decided to resume as is signified by their memorial song “Alive Again”. To commemorate his musicianship, they issued the 1997 album The Innovative Guitar of Terry Kath. In 2016, Kath’s daughter Michelle Sinclair released the documentary The Terry Kath Experience, which chronicles his life and Chicago’s early years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Terry Kath was a founding member of the rock band Chicago, known for his exceptional guitar skills and soulful vocals. He played lead guitar and sang lead on many of the band’s early hit singles.
Growing up in a musical family, Terry Kath took up a variety of instruments in his teens, including the drums and banjo, before settling on the guitar when forming the group that became Chicago.
Terry Kath used a Fender Telecaster fitted with a single neck-position humbucker pickup combined with a bridge position angled single-coil pickup, which became an important component of Chicago’s distinctive sound.
Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath as one of his favorite guitarists and considered Kath to be ,the best guitarist in the universe,, praising his exceptional talent.
Sadly, Terry Kath struggled with health problems and drug abuse towards the end of the 1970s, and he died in January 1978 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The bereavement tempted Chicago to disband, but they ultimately decided to resume, signified by their memorial song ,Alive Again,. They also released the 1997 album ,The Innovative Guitar of Terry Kath, to commemorate his musicianship.
In 2016, Terry Kath’s daughter Michelle Sinclair released the documentary ,The Terry Kath Experience,, which chronicles his life and Chicago’s early years.
8 Quotes by Terry Kath
- 1.
Sometimes I’ll be playing along and find I’m missing the strings. I’ll worry about it for days until I notice that the pick has worn down to half its size.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 2.
This guy kept telling us that rock was the big thing, everyone’s talking about the big thing, our band was the big thing. So he made us change our name to The Big Thing. Can you believe that?!
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 3.
Well, first I’d want a better vibrato.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 4.
I’m too busy playing to worry about the movement or the fingerboard.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 5.
After The Ventures I dug Johnny Smith quite a bit.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 6.
But then there was Hendrix, man. Jimi was really the last cat to freak me. Jimi was playing all the stuff I had in my head. I couldn’t believe it, when I first heard him. Man, no one can ever do what he did with a guitar. No one can ever take his place.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 7.
About the only other thing I’d want would be a wider neck. My fingers are so fat that sometimes I deaden the string next to the one I’m fretting.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)
- 8.
I just get all jacked up when we start cooking.
Terry KathAmerican guitarist and singer (1946-1978)