Street Player

My Chicago Story

By: Danny Seraphine

Narrated by: Rick Zieff

The inside story of Chicago, one of the most successful and enduring rock bands ever.

With their distinctive blending of soulful rock and horn-infused urban jazz, Chicago has thrilled music fans for more than forty years with their lyrical brilliance. In this no-holds-barred memoir, legendary rocker Danny Seraphine shares his dramatic - and often shocking - experiences as the popular supergroup's cofounder and longtime drummer. He reveals behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Chicagos beginnings as the house band at Los Angeles's legendary Whisky A Go Go, where they were discovered by music icons Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and personal insights about the groups many comebacks and reinventions over the years.

Offers a lively inside account of the music and history of the perennially popular band Chicago, one of the most successful American bands ever with over 122 million albums sold, by the bands cofounder and longtime drummer Danny Seraphine.

Includes riveting tales and rare photographs from Seraphine's time on the road touring with performers including Dennis and Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.

Candidly tackles many rumors about Chicago, including Mafia ties, accounting and payola scandals, and major drug abuse.

Discusses the mysterious circumstances surrounding Seraphine's 1990 firing from the band as well as his comeback with his critically acclaimed new band, California Transit Authority.

Whether you're a diehard Chicago fan or just love a well-told rock-and-roll memoir, Street Player will entertain and surprise you.

©2011 Danny Seraphine (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A good behind – the - scenes look at a mostly faceless band

A well – rounded, introspective look at the band from the guy who was part of the original nucleus going forward. The narrator sounds like he’s speaking to seven-year-olds much of the time, but it doesn’t necessarily detract from the quality of the story.

A GREAT story for Chicago fans

If you grew up listening to, & loving the music of the band Chicago, this is a must read (listen). Danny tells an interesting tale, starting w/ his rough & tough younger life as a gang member, through his interest in playing the drums, his trials and failures w/ some early bands, to his ultimate, over-the-top success w/ Chicago, & his stunning fall from grace w/ his bandmates. NOT the story I would have imagined for the group, let alone the author. I was hooked from the opening to the end. Chicago fans everywhere will want to listen!!!

An outstanding telling of this story.

As a big Chicago fan, and having grown up with that music this story was wonderful to hear. it gave so much insight into the growth and workings of Danny and the band. I can't even imagine how difficult it must have been to write it all down. it left me more anxious than ever to hear more of Danny's music and to hear more of and about Chicago.

A Story of "Chicago" worth reading...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Anyone who grew up listening to Chicago, particularly the seminal CTA and Chicago II and III (and, of course, the unforgettable Chicago IV Live at Carnegie Hall) would appreciate this perspective of Danny Seraphine, the uniquely talented drummer who gave the band its distinctive rhythm. The title, "Street Player" doesn't have the cachet to describe Seraphine's extraordinary and intelligent drumming/

What did you like best about this story?

Learning, for the first time, just how important Terry Kath was to the foundation of the band's sound; as much as I loved the brass arrangements (having played in a Chicago/BS &T cover band during the early '70s), Seraphine is generous in the credit he gives to Kath's gifts as a lead guitarist.

What does Rick Zieff bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Zieff's performance (excuse the pun) hits all the right notes. It's easy to forget that it isn't the author speaking directly to the listener/reader.

EXCELLENT!!

As a fan of Chicago since their first release and up to the point when they decided to focus on the sappy ballads, I have always considered Danny Seraphine one of my favorite rock drummers. Still do. And to get to hear his insight and honesty in telling the story of the band's musical journey was a special treat. What a great book this was, and Rick Zieff's reading was perfection!