RESOLUTION
Calls for film on rock band Chicago to be in Chicago International Film Festival
WHEREAS, a documentary movie about the rock bond Chicago has been made entitled "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago"; and
WHEREAS, this esteemed body has been informed about this noteworthy film by the Honorable Michael Zalewski, Alderman of the 23rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, the band, originally known as "The Big Thing" was formed in the City of Chicago in 1967. The original members ofthe band were Walter Parazaider, Terry Kath, Danny Seraphine, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, and Robert Lamm. The following year the band changed its name to the "Chicago Transit Authority", signing with Columbia Records. In 1969 they released their first album; and
WHEREAS, in 1970 the band recorded for the first time as "Chicago" and released Chicago II, a Top 5 album including such memorable Top 10 hits as "Make Me Smile" and "25 or 6 to 4". As a result of the band's success, two songs from their debut albums became Top Ten Hits: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" and "Beginnings"; and
WHEREAS, in their illustrious career spanning six decades the band has record sales of over 100 million becoming the first American band to have a Top 40 album in six decades. Chicago has 5 albums that made it all the way to Number 1, and an incredible 47 gold and platinum awards; and
WHEREAS, Chicago has three number one singles: "If You Leave Me Now", "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "Look Away". Other memorable hits include "Saturday in the Park", "Wishing You Were Here", "Colour My World" and "Feeling Stronger Every Day", and
WHEREAS, the band has remained an important part of the fabric of the City of Chicago. They were the first band to play at Navy Pier and were among the early performers at both "Taste of Chicago" and Northerly Island. Their contributions have been previously recognized by this body in naming a street in the band's honor. Chicago also has appropriately received the keys to the City; and
WHEREAS, the band's long-time manager is Peter Schivarelli, former owner of Demon Dogs and previously 43rd Ward Superintendent for Streets and Sanitation and head of the City's critically vital Snow Command Operations; and
WHEREAS, in Billboard Magazine's recent Hot 200 all-time top artists, Chicago came in at Number 9, the highest charting American band;
WHEREAS, among the honors, the band are Grammy award winners, have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and two American Music Awards as Favorite Rock Group; and
WHEREAS, the original members ofthe band will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April of this year; and
WHEREAS, the band also has been charitable and donates a portion of their ticket sales to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, which seeks a cure of the deadly children's disease, Niemann-Pick Type C, and to Hannah & Friends, which helps individuals with special needs. The band also helped to fund a halfway house for mentally challenged adults in New York ("Chicago"). The band also promoted contributions to World Hunger Year, Inc. and the American Cancer Society, and established "The Terry Kath Scholarship Fund" at DePaul University for music students; and
WHEREAS, the current line-up of the band includes original members Walter Parazaider, Robert Lamm, James Pankow and Lee Loughnane. New members are Tris Imboden, Jason Scheff and Lou Pardini. The band remains popular throughout the world and is touring in 2016 with legends Earth, Wind and Fire; and
WHEREAS, an outstanding two-hour documentary has been made about Chicago entitled "Now More than Ever: The History of Chicago"; and
WHEREAS, the world premiere of the documentary is later this month at the Sedona Film Festival; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is home to one of the top film festivals in the world, the Chicago International Film Festival. The 51st Chicago International Film Festival is scheduled for October 13 - 27, 2016. It is only fitting that an outstanding documentary on the band bearing the name of the City be shown at our Film Festival; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this tenth day of February, 2016, do hereby call upon the Chicago International Film Festival to include the documentary film "Now More than Ever: The History of Chicago" in the 51st Annual Chicago International Film Festival in October of 2016.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be prepared and presented to members of the legendary band Chicago.
