Terry Kath of Chicago

Brilliant guitarist, bassist {plus other instruments}, and amazing vocalist for Chicago. So gifted a guitarist was Terry Kath, that Jimi Hendrix was a huge fan. With a baritone singing voice and style so bluesy and soulful, Terry was nicknamed "The White Ray Charles".

Terry never had vocal coaching ... eventually he did take lessons to learn jazz chords and structures, but throughout most of his career he composed and played solely by ear. Terry's music college-educated band mates were admittedly always in awe of his natural talent ... and there's no doubt as to why in the minds of anyone who has ever heard him.

January 23, 1978: Through an accidental self-inflicted fatal gunshot wound to the head, it all came to a screeching halt in a fraction of an instant for Terry Kath, 8 days before he was to turn 32 years young. According to official reports and eyewitness accounts:

Terry spent the afternoon at the Woodland Hills, CA home of band crew member Donny Johnson, visiting and drinking with friends. The party broke up and only Kath and Johnson remained. Terry took out two guns he was carrying. First he spun his .38 revolver on his finger like a western gunslinger. He brought the .38 to his temple, and pulled the trigger ... but the gun was not loaded.

Next, Terry picked up his 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Donny Johnson urged Terry to stop playing around and to put the guns away. Kath pulled the magazine out of the gun, placed the gun to his temple, declared the gun was not loaded and pulled the trigger. Due to a safety mechanism on this model, the 9mm did not fire; however, Terry re-inserted the clip, and upon doing so, the round in the chamber re-engaged.

Donny insisted that Terry stop fooling with the gun, to which Terry declared, "Don't worry. It's not loaded! See?" as he raised the pistol to his head. Terry pulled the trigger, and unlike the first time without the clip, the pistol did fire. The re-engaged round fatally wounded him; he died instantly.

Terry left behind a young wife Camellia and a 2 year old daughter Michelle.