Who is Terry Kath?

Simply, he was an original member of the pioneering rock group Chicago. He played guitar, sang and wrote songs.

That's the simple version.

He was a lead guitarist in a league with Jimi Hendrix - this according to no less an authority than Hendrix. After hearing the band in 1968 at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los

Angeles, Hendrix told Chicago saxophone player Walter Parazaider "Your guitar player is better than me."

That may be the highest praise Kath received. Unfortunately, rock critics didn't offer much for Kath. Pop music critics seemed to lambast Chicago with regularity during the band's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. Nowadays, they just seem to ignore the band.

But Kath deserved recognition, even if he didn't seek it. He was an integral part of a seven and eight-person band. While even four-piece rock bands often use two guitarists, Kath held down both rhythm and lead guitar parts by himself. On top of this, he sang lead vocals on many of the band's songs, and did backing vocals on most of the others. He also was the band's on-stage leader.

Born Jan. 31, 1946, his all-too short life ended Jan. 23, 1978 in a freak accident involving a hand gun. His death ended one chapter of the long-running Chicago saga. Chicago keyboardist-vocalist-songwriter Robert Lamm has said that Kath's death shifted the balance of power within the band. Chicago was already headed toward its "ballad" phase at the time of Kath's death, soaring on the success of "If You Leave Me Now" from the tenth album and "Baby What a Big Surprise" from Chicago 11.

The ballads returned in force on Chicago 16 and 17.

The band's hit songs of the 1980s and 1990s are a sharp contrast from the aggressive sound featured on its debut album Chicago Transit Authority. Think Chicago is just a pop ballad band? Check out this album.

Kath's blazing guitar work is featured throughout. He mixes blues, jazz and rock riffs throughout the double-album set. Also present are his soulful vocals.

Running a Stratocaster and an SG through a Bogen pre-amp and into a dual showman, Kath produced an array of crunchy, tube amp sounds that most of today's guitar players would die for. The tour de force was "Free Form Guitar," which grew out of Kath playing around during a lunch break. Engineer Fred Catero decided to roll tape, and the result is perhaps the wildest seven minutes of music Chicago ever put out.

The band's second album featured more innovative Kath songwriting, ranging from the rocking "In the Country" to the classically-influenced "Prelude," "AM Mourning," "PM Mournng" and "Memories of Love."

But the highlight of the album was Kath's solo on the Lamm-penned "25 or 6 to 4," which ranks as one of the best guitar solos ever recorded. This song would become Chicago's main concert closer, often featuring 10-minute Kath solos that kept the audience on its feet.

Kath did not read music. He played and composed totally by ear. Being an "untrained" musician in a group of college-trained musicians was not a handicap. If anything, his bandmates were in awe of him.

His education was playing. In his early teen years, he played in a "fun" group which did covers of Ventures songs and those of others. In 1961, he joined Jimmy Rice and the Gentlemen, a band which also included Parazaider. In 1965, both joined Jimmy Ford and the Executives. This group was the back-up band on Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars. Kath also was an accomplished bass player, and that was his instrument in many of his early groups.

While Kath seldom rates mention in guitar magazines, a couple of books have at least ranked him in the best 1,000 guitar players of all time - not a bad accomplishment. But in this fan's eyes, Kath is easily in the top 10 of guitar players - if not at the top.

The records Kath played on still sell hundreds of thousands of copies a year. Knowledgeable musicians nod knowingly at the mention of Kath.

Kath was born Jan. 31, 1946 in Chicago to Ray and Evelyn Kath. He died Jan. 23, 1978

He left this world 20 years ago, but his music lives on.