James Carter Pankow, widely known as Jimmy Pankow, is an American trombonist, songwriter, and arranger. A founding member of Chicago since 1967, he shaped the band's horn-centered sound and wrote songs including “Make Me Smile,” “Colour My World,” “Old Days,” and “Just You ’N’ Me.”
Background
James Carter Pankow was born on August 20, 1947, in Saint Louis, Missouri. His family moved to Park Ridge, Illinois, when he was eight years old, and he began playing trombone at St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School. He was one of nine siblings and was influenced by his father, Wayne, who was a musician.
Pankow attended Notre Dame High School, where his band instructor was Father George Wiskirchen, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. After high school he received a full music scholarship to Quincy College and studied bass trombone. During his first year he returned home for the summer and formed a band that played local engagements; he subsequently transferred to DePaul University rather than abandoning that work.
Education
Pankow attended Notre Dame High School before receiving a full music scholarship to Quincy College, where he studied bass trombone. Quincy College, founded in 1860 as a Catholic college in Illinois, provided the setting for his early formal musical training.
He later transferred to DePaul University in Chicago. DePaul's School of Music is part of a major urban university founded by the Vincentians in 1898, and its Chicago setting connected Pankow with musicians who were developing new combinations of rock, jazz, and orchestral horn writing. At DePaul he met saxophonist Walter Parazaider, who invited him to join the band that became Chicago.
Pankow joined Walter Parazaider, Terry Kath, Lee Loughnane, Robert Lamm, and Danny Seraphine in The Big Thing in 1967. The group added Peter Cetera, became Chicago Transit Authority, and shortened its name to Chicago after the first album. Pankow has remained a founding member of Chicago, serving as trombonist, composer, and principal horn arranger.
His compositions for Chicago include the seven-part suite “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon,” recorded on the 1970 album Chicago, also known as Chicago II. The suite produced “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World.” Other Pankow compositions include “Just You ’N’ Me,” “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long,” “Old Days,” “Alive Again,” and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” the latter co-written with Peter Cetera. He also sang lead vocals on “You Are on My Mind” and “Till the End of Time.”
Pankow's horn arrangements became a defining part of Chicago's sound. His work extended beyond Chicago: he appeared with Three Dog Night on “Celebrate,” contributed to the Bee Gees album Spirits Having Flown, and performed and arranged brass parts for Toto, including Toto IV and Falling in Between. On Falling in Between, he performed on “Dying on My Feet” and composed the brass arrangements.
Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, with Pankow included among the band's founding-era inductees. The band's long recording and touring career placed his trombone playing and arrangements within one of the most durable horn-led traditions in American rock music.
Achievements
Pankow co-founded Chicago in 1967 and remained a continuing member of the band through its long recording and touring career.
He composed the seven-part suite “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon,” whose sections “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World” became enduring Chicago recordings.
He wrote and arranged major Chicago songs including “Just You ’N’ Me,” “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long,” “Old Days,” and “Alive Again,” helping establish the band's distinctive horn-centered sound.
He performed and created brass arrangements for Toto's albums Toto IV and Falling in Between, including the song “Dying on My Feet.”
(Chicago's second album, commonly called Chicago II, inclu...)
1970
Falling in Between
(Toto album featuring Pankow's brass arrangements and trom...)
2006
Toto IV
(Grammy Award-winning Toto album on which Pankow appeared ...)
1982
song
Make Me Smile
(Song written by Pankow as part of “Ballet for a Girl in B...)
1970
Colour My World
(Song written by Pankow as part of “Ballet for a Girl in B...)
1970
You Are on My Mind
(Chicago song written by Pankow; he also sang lead vocals ...)
1976
Till the End of Time
(Chicago song written by Pankow; he sang lead vocals on th...)
1977
Old Days
(Chicago song written by Pankow and recorded on Chicago VIII.)
1975
Alive Again
(Chicago song written by Pankow and recorded on Hot Streets.)
1978
Feelin’ Stronger Every Day
(Chicago song co-written by Pankow and Peter Cetera.)
1973
Just You ’N’ Me
(Chicago song written by Pankow.)
1973
(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long
(Chicago song written by Pankow.)
1974
Membership
Pankow has been a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national fraternity devoted to the advancement of music and the development of musicians. He was associated with the fraternity's Kappa Phi chapter at Quincy College in 1966 and later received national recognition through the organization.
Member of the Kappa Phi chapter at Quincy College; later recognized as a Signature Sinfonian.
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
,
United States
1966 - present
Connections
Pankow is the older brother of actor John Pankow, known for television and film roles including Ira Buchman on Mad About You. He was first married to Karen Pankow for eighteen years; they had two children, Jonathan and Sarah. He later married Jeanne Pacelli, with whom he has two children, Carter and Lilli.
Brother:
John Pankow
Actor known for television and film roles, including Ira Buchman on Mad About You.
Wife:
Karen Pankow
Pankow's first wife; their eighteen-year marriage produced two children.
Wife:
Jeanne Pacelli
Pankow's second wife and the mother of Carter and Lilli.
Son:
Jonathan Pankow
Child of James and Karen Pankow.
Daughter:
Sarah Pankow
Child of James and Karen Pankow.
Son:
Carter Pankow
Child of James Pankow and Jeanne Pacelli.
Daughter:
Lilli Pankow
Child of James Pankow and Jeanne Pacelli.
References
Chicago official biography of James Pankow
Documents Pankow's early musical training, Quincy College scholarship, transfer to DePaul University, recruitment into The Big Thing, and continuing roles with Chicago.
Famous Sinfonians: James Pankow
Documents Pankow's Kappa Phi membership, founding role in Chicago, songwriting credits, and recognition within Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
As a member of Chicago, Pankow shared the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “If You Leave Me Now.”
As a member of Chicago, Pankow shared the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “If You Leave Me Now.”
Signature Sinfonian,
United States
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia recognized Pankow as a Signature Sinfonian in 2009 for his professional accomplishments as a musician and arranger.
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia recognized Pankow as a Signature Sinfonian in 2009 for his professional accomplishments as a musician and arranger.
Lifetime Achievement Award,
United States
The International Trombone Association presented Pankow with its 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for his long contribution to trombone performance, composition, and arranging.
The International Trombone Association presented Pankow with its 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for his long contribution to trombone performance, composition, and arranging.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction,
United States
Pankow was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a founding member of Chicago.
Pankow was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 as a founding member of Chicago.
