Parents and students get the chance to spend time together and listen to music on Saturday.

Chicago, a classic rock band who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 70s, will be performing for Eastern’s Family Weekend.

Ceci Brinker, the director of Student Life, said Chicago is a multi-generational band. She said she is happy to have them come to Eastern.

Chicago was formed in the city of Chicago in March 1967 and the members consisted of a group of DePaul University music students.

Chicago’s members include founding members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Walt Parazaider, as well as Jason Scheff, Tris Imboden, Keith Howland and Lou Pardinini.

“Chicago has countless hits that continue to stand the test of time,” Brinker said.

The song “If You Leave Me Now” became their first No. 1 hit. The songs “25 or 6 to 4” (1970), “Saturday in The Park” (1972), and “Just You ‘n’ me” (1973) followed as chart-topping hits.

Chicago has won many awards including American Music Awards, Grammy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Chicago has also had 21 top 10 singles, 11 No.1 singles, five gold singles, five consecutive No. 1 albums, and 47 gold and platinum awards.

While Chicago is widely known among the older generation, some Eastern students have heard of the band, but do not know much about them.

Brianna Harden, a senior health studies major, said she has never heard of Chicago before hearing about their concerts during Family Weekend.

“It’s a generation thing,” Harden said. “They are trying to switch it up a little bit to get parents more involved in Family Weekend.”

Deondre Davenport, a junior psychology major, said many students do not know about Chicago because the younger generations listen to different types of music than the older generations.

“It’s elderly, old,” Davenport said. “It has more of a laid back setting to the music and our music is more energetic.”

Sara Mantis, a senior business major, said the university was probably thinking more about the parents than just the

students.

“It’s good that Eastern always picks bands that parents can relate too,” Mantis said. “It takes them back to when they were in college.”

Sarah Walker, a sophomore recreation administration major, said she thinks the concerts are a good idea and a fun thing to do, but she wishes that the band was someone she has heard of before.

Some students think it is just a good way to spend time with family.

Michelle Mark, a sophomore recreation administration major, said it gives families something fun to do.

“It gets parents and students together for the weekend,” Mark said. “It gives them something to do, besides walk the quad.”

Tania Moskaluk-Vucsko, a sophomore English major, said that while students may not know much about Chicago, the concert is just something fun to do with their parents, who might know a little more about the band.

Students are more willing to watch the band perform because it will make their parents happy, she said.

Megan Miller, a freshman undecided major, said she has seen Chicago before and thinks many of the students will enjoy it.

“It was obviously directed towards our parents because most of their music was written back then, but I think it’s enjoyable for all generations,” Miller said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-7942 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.