Three members of the Eastern Kentucky University Omicron Psi chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia were on hand recently for the organization’s tribute to the legendary rock-jazz fusion band Chicago.

Faculty adviser Ken Haddix, chapter president Robert Lawson and EKU alum and fellow Sinfonian Marc Whitt, now associate vice president for public relations and chief communications officer at Eastern, participated in a pre-concert ceremony with members of the band prior to their Aug. 26 performance in Cincinnati. The ceremony included the presentation of a National Citation, given to individuals and groups who have significantly and lastingly contributed to the cause of music in America, and three members of the band were recognized as Signature Sinfonians. Lee Loughnane, Kappa Phi, Depaul University, 1965; James Pankow, Kappa Phi, Depaul, 1966; and Walt Parazaider, Kappa Phi, DePaul, 1964, were inducted as part of the 2009 class of Signature Sinfonians.

Loughnane, Pankow and Parazaider, along with Robert Lamm, are founding members of Chicago, having been with the band for more than 40 years. In that time, the band has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, including 22 Gold, 18 Platinum and 8 Multi-Platinum titles, charted five No. 1 albums and logged 21 top-ten hits.

Chicago performed at the Riverbend Music Center with Earth, Wind and Fire as part of their national tour with their musical compatriots.

PHOTO BY PHI MU ALPHA SINFONIA: Members of the legendary rock-jazz fusion band Chicago were honored by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, including three members from Eastern Kentucky University, before their recent concert in Cincinnati. The band received a National Citation and three members of the band were recognized as Signature Sinfonians. In foreground holding the citation are Lee Loughnane, left, and James Pankow, recognized as Signature Sinfonians along with Walt Parazaider. Other members of the band pictured are Robert Lamm, next to Loughnane, and Keith Howland, Tris Imboden, Jason Scheff and Lou Pardini, all in the back row. At far right are Robert Lawson, president of the EKU chapter, and Ken Haddix, faculty adviser. Also pictured, next to Lamm, is Marc Whitt, an EKU alum and fellow Sinfonian who now serves as associate vice president for public relations and chief communications officer for Eastern.Dan Krueger, from the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia national office, is fourth from right.