Terry Kath

Terry Alan Kath was born on January 31, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for serving as the guitarist for the band Chicago, where he served not only as a guitarist, but also a lead singer and songwriter.

Kath’s best known guitar work is probably his sophisticated soloing throughout 25 or 6 to 4, while his best known songs for lead vocals is probably Make Me Smile and Colour My World.

Kath’s work was very influential; Kath became known as the “white Ray Charles” due to his vocals, and his guitar work has gained respect from many other famous guitarists, even Jimi Hendrix himself, who told Chicago that Kath played guitar better than him.

On January 23, 1978, Kath was at a roadie’s house in Los Angeles. While at the roadie’s residence, Kath was playing around with a gun. When the roadie advised Kath to be careful, Kath told him not to worry, as the gun wasn’t loaded. To prove his point, Kath aimed the gun at his head and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, there was one bullet in the chamber of the gun, and Kath died instantly. While it was rumored that Kath was suicidal, members of Chicago, as well as his daughter, Michelle Kath Sinclair, said that Kath wouldn’t have committed suicide. He was only 31 years old.

On November 7, 2017, Michelle Kath Sinclair released Chicago: The Terry Kath Experience, a documentary made about the life and work of her father.