Chicago Band Member Dies After Long Health Struggle

founding member Walter Parazaider has died at the age of 81.

His wife JacLynn Parazaider shared the news with TMZ on Wednesday.

The musician passed just after 2AM on Wednesday morning while in hospice after battling for six years, she shared with the site.

'He had put up a good fight with Alzheimer's and unfortunately it ended tonight,' said his spouse.

'We are going to miss him for sure ... We were married for 59 years and we had 59 wonderful years,' she added.

Walter founded the hit band in 1967 under the original name The Big Thing with bandmates Lee Loughnane and James Pankow. 

Chicago started out with Parazaider on woodwind, Loughnane on trumpet, Pankow on trombone, Robert Lamm on keyboards and Peter Cetera on bass. 

Parazaider's primary musical role in the band has consisted of playing woodwinds on Pankow's horn arrangements.

He could also play the saxophone, flute and clarinet, and, occasionally, the guitar. 

Parazaider might be best known for his popular flute solo in the Chicago hit song Colour My World.

Then there is his solo soprano saxophone work on the 1973 hit song Just You 'n' Me. 

The versatile musician also contributed to the songs 25 or 6 to 4, Saturday In The Park and If You Leave Me Now. 

He retired 10 years ago in 2017 after developing a heart condition. 

He is survived by JacLynn as well as their daughters, Laura and Felicia.