Jason Scheff Left Chicago For Very Important Reasons
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Sometimes in life you need a do-over and this video is a bit of repentance on my part if you read this article on Jason's website you'll get what I'm talking about it's really heartbreaking stuff.
I was fortunate to have watched Chicago’s concert in the Philippines with jason. I had no idea he would be leaving the band. Im still a fan. I always listen to his latest album with beautiful songs, here I am
Chicago had sold 6 million copies of their latest album (17) when they looking to hire a tenor vocalist. To say they had their pick of the best was an understatement. In hiring Jason they got a great tenor vocalist, a virtuoso bass player, a song writer, and a really nice guy. (I have met him personally.) He also stuck around for a three decades. As much as I was sad to see him go, he earned his stripes and earned his retirement. I wish Jason nothing but the best :)
Scheff was a poor imitation of Cetera; throaty sounding, and painfully sharp.
@@fretbuzz59 right because anyone could have easily replicated Cetera's voice. What's wrong with that guy?
@@dennismanzardojr9920 Did I say Cetera was easily replicated? No. I don't care for Scheff's voice, but worse is his pitch.
Scheff was in Chicago way longer than Cetera was. I think Cetera is the greatest, but Scheff was a good replacement and another talented musician, he earned his place in Chicago. Scheff just happened to be with Chicago when mainstream music tastes were changing, so Chicago became less productive when it came to cutting new material. Chicago had so much talent, I believe they could've made some great music in the 90s, but their record label didn't support them and their constant touring didn't give them the time to produce new albums. I look at the 1990s and 2000s as their greatest hits album years. They must've had 6 or 7 of them.
Scheff is not a tenor. His range is somewhere in between tenor and baritone. Unfortunately, trying to sing Cetera's songs in the same key was a disaster. I've seen Chicago at least 25 times since Cetera departed and I can't count how many times I winced when Scheff sang. They should have kept him on bass but added a natural tenor soon after.
Jason is beholden to no one. His voice was an Iconic addition to Chicago while he was with them. He has been truly missed but he absolutely deserves kudos for being a Family Man!!!😁👍🏻
Thanks for this. Scheff’s essay is beautifully written, and I had the same reaction as you: he’s the better man.
Agreed. The same can't be said for the band. They should put family ahead of their own petty needs.
@jett woodward The originals, and Champlin, turned on Seraphine. The band was the brainchild of Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine. They all took the pledge in Danny’s basement, save Cetera whom they had yet to meet, and vowed than no member of the band would or could be voted out… fast forward 20 odd years later and they turned on Danny, at the advice of Champlin, of all people.
Decades later, after his own departure from Chicago, Champlin apologized to Seraphine to make amends for his behavior in the ouster.
I love Jason and wish him well will miss his unique voice,
I met him once after the 50 years anniversary Beatles thing. We got to hang out and speak with him after the show and he could not have been nicer. I felt like I was talking to a guy I knew for 20 years.
Regardless of why he left, which is completely understandable, I still feel that he was snubbed, not being inducted in the HOF with the band, and so should have Bill Champlin. Its was very admirable that he played with them at the HOF. Yes, some things are much more important that playing with a band.. Family is always first..!
Jason filled some of the biggest shoes in music. Peter was and is an icon. Jason did a fantastic job with what he had and grew from the experience. Jeff Coffey was also a phenomenal pick for the group. His pitch is dead on and bass playing is stellar. People don’t really know much about Neil Donel. He was the singer for the premiere Chicago cover group, Brass Transit. Neil has a softer approach to his singing than the previous two. That being said he is a great singer and is a good pick for the group.
Jason is a good man, stand up guy.
It takes a big man to admit when he commits an error. I am sure that Jason didn't hold it against you--trust me, other people said much worse things about his leaving. He chose family over fame; Peter did the same thing; Bill did the same thing (his son Brad had been battling cancer for a while and passed away a couple of years ago). I chose family over a career in the Navy. Sometimes you have to do the right thing--even if people hate you for it; when you do, the blessings are too many to count.
@jett woodward Peter wanted to spend more time raising his daughter, so he moved to Idaho to get as far away as he could from the music business. And when he helped revived Chicago, he felt it was a good time to leave the band and go solo. Chicago's constant touring schedule was also a reason why he left as it was with Tris, Jason and Jeff.
I never knew why Bill left.
Great that you set the record straight.
It’s still a shame that there weren’t compromises to keep the key departed contributors/players. First Peter, then Danny, then Bill, then Tris, then Jason, then Jeff and more recently Keith and Lou. It’s obvious the power brokers in that band don’t value balance between band life and the members personal lives. I saw them live recently and it was definitely a nostalgic facsimile of a once great band. Let’s face it that most casual fans don’t really care about the members they just want to hear the songs they know. Their set was mainly 70’s material with a nod to the early 80’s hits comeback. The late 80’s was omitted completely. I’m happy for Jason Scheff. He more than paid his dues and deserves to be happy and content.
Well done. And thank you for not adding needless background music to your video.
Jason will always be my favorite vocalist in Chicago. However time had taken its toll on his voice. What is really a shame is that the band did not lower the key of the 80s cetera songs to accommodate Jason. But he soldiered on and never missed a show. Never had a sub and is an exceptional bassist. Jason and Tris were a freight train of a rhythm section and that is missed in the bands live performance. What is truly low class was the back handed comments that Rober Lamm made about Jason after hadn't left. Kudos for your apology but some of your criticism about his vocals was on point. However any performers pipes would suffer with age and the number of shows that he sang every year for 30 years. I miss Jason and havent been able to bring myself to buy a chicago ticket since his departure.
I Read the Article. It Makes Perfect Sense now. Glad I saw him Several Times with Chicago. Including A Holiday Show, At Hollywood's House Of Blues.
You’re kinda right I know him personally!! So ya but Jason knows how to deal with people !! It was family he left he had to be there for his wife! I know this for sure. I know his brothers and mom.
For me, Scheff is Chicago. Yes, you have Cetera and the other originals...who are awesome. But Scheff’s voice has been driving this band for the last 30 years. Yeah, after 21, their albums started to fizzle, but they are one of the best live bands ever. Scheffy, Champlin, Bailey...these guys put on quite the show. Saw Peter Cetera recently, and he is still amazing, but when I think Chicago, it’s Jason Scheffs voice I hear. I hope he tours and comes to Philly! Oh yeah, Jeff Coffey is pretty awesome too. Not a fan of the new singer...yawn
Their albums fizzled after VII. As for Scheff, he was like a bad imitation of Cetera. He sounded like he had tonsillitis, and his pitch was dreadfully sharp. Pete's voice is pretty tight these days.
StudentofStudy I like Jason but when I hear Chicago for me I only hear PETER he was the voice of Chicago and he always will be , and it's funny how everyone hated PETER when he left to be with his family but you never heard a word about Jason and Jeff when they left to be with
Their family .
So if wanting to be with family is the reason, I can accept that. Not none of the backstabbing, creative differences excuses they use for other past members.
Why was it ok for Jason to leave to be w/ his family ,but everyone hated Peter cetera for leaving to be w/ his family
Peter wanted to be with his family besides going solo and there was nothing wrong with that , Peter could do no wrong , he was the best of the best!!!!!!
Scheff should have left Chicago after their album "Twenty One" was released in 1991. The band hasn't done anything relevant since and typically has only replayed songs that the band recorded before Scheff joined them in 1985.
Imboden took over for Saraphine on that record
I wish Jason had left the band many years ago..so he could have had a Nice sólo career if he should had that in mind and could have worked for that...something similar to Richard Marx. But I love many songs he did with Chicago , 21 and after...I love many of his songs on the HOC albums, Xmas albums, Chicago live '99, XXX...
@@aarontrainor9918 Tris is barely on Chicago Twenty 1 - in spite of his picture being on the package. John Keane plays drums on most of the album.
@@JasonicaPR Yes, Jason Scheff did very well with Chicago and I think that the 21 album was their best. It was poorly promoted and they did not sing songs from it on their 21 tour. There is an interview with them from Mexico on the 21 Tour from 1991 that is on RUclips, in which one of the Chicago band members specifically stated that they were not doing one song from that 21 album. I believe there were a lot of good songs on that album, from slow ballads to fast rock ballads that was some of their best work in the Jason Scheff era.
They might be able to re-issue the album Chicago 21-The 21st Century Edition, remastered, which it was in 2009, and I think that it would sell well and give it another chance. That is just my opinion, though. Had the album been originally promoted well, it might have kept the hits rolling in through the 90s and 2000s to currently, and that would have changed how it went.
@Steve Klemetti U2 is!
Jason left Chicago before his stepson (son from wife’s former marriage) died. I’m pretty sure of that because I remember him stating that his son died and that was quite a bit after he left Chicago. He has not been posting on his FB lately.
Yes, he was a grandson of the famous actor Clark Gable and was in his late 20s from what I recall.
Thank you JASON for sharing your voice to the whole world for me it was JASON the num 1 vocalist of CHICAGO ever... we miss you so much
Chicago in the 80s was great
Dave TRMO: Cool that you wanted to clarify and repent about the Chicago and Jason Scheff issues. You said, "Some things are bigger than touring with a big rock band." Well you did not think that regarding your "Pink Floyd's Wasted Years" video. Are you going to repent about that too, in a Christian way, and acknowledge that Pink Floyd members spending time with family and respectfully ending the band after Rick Wright died, did not amount to wasted years?
Chicago did Jason wrong. They do a LOT of shows in the course of a year. How hard would it have been to give Jason or even themselves a break? The have lost some really good players recently because of their schedule and possibly just for being assholes. I personally can't stand the current vocalist and think they should bring Scheff back. On the other hand check out The Rise Above featuring former members of Rascall Flatts, Journey and Chicago.
I had no idea!! I lost my daughter Jessica to drugs! She died from an overdose as well Dec 23 2017
Jason's last song on the NOW ALBUM says it all. LOVE LIVES ON....A REAL TEAR JERKER. IT'S BEEN TRANSITION AFTER TRANSACTION. LOVE CHICAGO. SINCE 1968 at Barnaby's in Chicago and Arie Crown to 1975 at the corner of Stadium with the Beach Boys to the Colorado Rockies ,& Electric Glide in Blue.... the death of Terry the rebirth with STREET PLAYER AT NAVY PIER TASTE OF CHICAGO TO DAVID FOSTER DAYS TO CHICAGO PETE DEMON DOGS SCHIVERELLI, TO CETERA DEPARTURE WELCOME JASON & BILL, BYE WALTER PARAZAIDER, BYE TRISH OH AND I FORGOT BYE DANNY BEST ROCK & JAZZ DRUMMER AND NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BRAZILIAN CONGA PLAYER ??? And Terry's Daughter's Tribute Movie. We are LOYAL CHICAGO FANS.... WHEN IS THE NEXT CD ??? NOW WAS GREAT !!! 😍
They did a Christmas album in 2019 and Jason Scheff was featured with Dionne Warwick on her "Voices of Christmas" album on a duet of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," which was a 2019 release as well.
Thanks
I miss being able to comment on these.
So, comment already!
Interesting video. Are you really just sitting there talking to your closet? Really?! Interesting concept. lol
Watch the Live in la 1993 show with Jason vocals/bass, and Dwayne Bailey on guitar, they were really good then, Jason is very close to Peter Cetera in vocal range, and a better bass player than Peter. Peter all he does these days is 97% ballads, wnat to see ballads go see Air Supply, or Peter Cetera in Concert.
In the 1970's Peter Cetera was one of the best bass players in the world. In truth, Jason is nowhere near Peter as a bass player. Listen to all of the Chicago albums up until Chicago 13 and you will see what I mean. I rate Peter Cetera as the 2nd greatest bass player of all time right behind Paul McCartney.
john elton Well after PETER left all Chicago did was play love ballads and they didn't sound anywhere near PETER , don't talk about greatness , PETER is a legend !!!!!!!!
People are really mad at me for asking if you have glaucoma ,which somebody told me it's pink eye, I'm just curious why the sunglasses