Danny Seraphine

Daniel Peter Seraphine (born August 28, 1948) is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer, and film producer. He is best known as the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, a tenure which lasted from February 1967 to May 1990.

Seraphine co-wrote several charting singles for the band, including "Lowdown", "Little One", "Take Me Back to Chicago", "No Tell Lover", and "Thunder and Lightning". His song "Street Player", which was also used as the title of his 2011 autobiography, was also sampled by Kenny Dope on "The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind)" and later incorporated into "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" by Pitbull via a sample from the song "75, Brazil Street".

Seraphine was born in Chicago to John and Mary Seraphine.: 6f The family lived in the Dunning neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side. He started playing drums at the age of nine while attending St. Priscilla Catholic grade school. When he was 15 years old, Seraphine withdrew from Steinmetz High School. Outside of school he joined a local gang called the JPs.: 20–26

In December 1965, after deciding to quit as a professional drummer, he was invited to join Jimmy Ford and the Executives, Dick Clark's road band. Already in the band were Terry Kath on bass and Walter Parazaider on saxophone. After being let go from Jimmy Ford and the Executives when it merged with another local band, Little Artie and the Pharaohs (under the new name the Mob) the three of them were invited to join a cover band named the Missing Links.: 38–39

He studied privately with percussionist Bob Tilles at DePaul University, where future members of the band Chicago were also studying. Seraphine cites his influences as Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Grady Tate, Max Roach, Ringo Starr, Mitch Mitchell, Ginger Baker, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, John Robinson, and Hal Blaine.: 44

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.