Today is the birthday of the late Terry Kath, who was a founding member the jazzy pop-rock group Chicago, and whose guitar style and penchant for songwriting and arrangements helped propel that band into becoming one of the biggest acts of the 1970s. Kath died in tragic circumstances when he fired a pistol into his head which had one bullet in the chamber, thinking it was unloaded and just simply fooling around in front of a roadie/band technician who worked for Chicago, on January 23, 1978.

All but pretty much forgotten about in today’s climate by name, the sounds and songs and distinctive vocals of Terry Kath live on. Fans of the band may remember hearing the man’s strong presence, albeit in snippets and quick flashes, like his vocal on “Make Me Smile,” or the high school prom staple ballad of the early 1970s, “Colour My World.” They may remember his tightly played, colorfully and highly memorable solo on “25 or 6 to 4″ or a myriad of songs showcased on Chicago’s first self-titled album, (released in 1969 and when they had the stretched out band moniker as “Chicago Transit Authority”) like “Introduction” and his well known jangly acoustic guitar on the track “Beginnings.”

Continue reading for much more and to check out some of Kath’s work.