Walter Parazaider, a co-founding member and saxophonist for pop- and jazz-infused rock band Chicago, has died. He was 81.The band confirmed Mr. Parazaider's death in a social media post on Wednesday."Chicago is heartbroken to share the sad news of Walter Parazaider's passing this morning," the band wrote, alongside an early-career photo of the woodwind musician."A Rock Roll band with horns was Walt's idea. He put the band together and they rehearsed in the basement of his mother's home," the post continued. "He is also the one who did the hard work to book shows for the young, unknown band, performing top 40 covers at local bars in and around Chicago. We are forever grateful for his contributions."The band was formed in the late 1960s originally as the Big Thing in its namesake city, formed out of several local bands. One of the bestselling bands in the world, Mr. Parazaider's solos can be heard on the hit tracks "Just You 'n' Me" and "Colour My World." The musician also helped write the occasional album cut, including "Free Country."The Grammy-winning band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. A year later, Parazaider retired from performing and eventually left the band, leaving three remaining cofounders — keyboardist Robert Lamm, trumpet player Lee Loughnane and trombone player James Pankow. The band was named an honoree of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.Mr. Parazaider was born in Maywood, went to Proviso West High School and graduated from DePaul University.In 2021, Mr. Parazaider revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In a statement shared on Chicago's website, the musician said while his family was "shocked and devastated," they were feeling "very positive about the future.""Perhaps his greatest gift was bringing people together. This amazing music may have never been heard had it not been for Walt's vision," the band ended their post. "Rest in Peace Walt."Read more at USA Today. ...read more read less