“Robert Lamm” - “A Cornerstone Of Brilliance”
This seems to be a summation of my perception after fifty-five Chicago performances through the years. From the archetypal moments in time, this band seemed to be a Pre-Raphaelite in defining their chosen musical road.
A musician such as Robert Lamm ( amidst others in this historic ensemble ) creates his own destiny from meager allocations of money until evolving into the idyllic band that featured a horn section augmented with a keyboard player / vocalist who segues from one lyrical masterpiece to the next.
All are venerable based on a crowd who grew to the words of a band who were instrumental in defining an entire generation, “Dionysian Rockers” are epic while Robert, James (Pankow ) and Peter (Cetera) wrote most of the tunes that defined their carpe diem approach on a nightly basis (Songwriters Hall Of Fame). To maintain his lucid demeanor for the throngs that continue to traverse the highways to see Robert and the band, a ritual of practice seems to be a mandate to retain quality.
A tinge of psychedelia, a later inclusion of “pop” and now a chasm that Robert seems to notice with a keen eye for detail. He remains captivating, weathering the silence between documented dates on any tour, lost in dreams of neoteric lyrics for yet another tune that make our hearts smile.
The history for Robert and subsequent band remain an ethos of an entire generation, salient in their normal routine with crowds across the globe. Stage charisma, charm and crowd rapport are a constant, a musician with a touch of thespian in his soul, a paradigm for yesteryear and the next generation. “Rock n’ Roll Royalty” lives on through the efforts of Robert Lamm & Chicago in general……. ( Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame - 2016, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award - 2020 )
