There aren't too many artists that can say they have had two extremely successful careers. Peter Cetera is one that can. An original member of the rock 'n roll band with horns, Chicago, Cetera helped the band score five number-one albums and 21 top-ten singles. His solo career hasn't been too shabby either. Six Top 40 singles, including two that reached number 1. He brings those hits to the Union Colony Civic Center (UCCC) in Greeley Saturday night.

Cetera helped make Chicago become the leading US singles charting group during the 1970s. The band is Second only to The Beach Boys in Billboard singles and albums chart success among American bands. In the 70's Cetera shared the singing duties, but became its only frontman during the band’s huge comeback in the early ’80s.

Before the comeback with Chicago though, Cetera had tried something new. In 1981, Cetera released his first solo album, Peter Cetera, on Warner Bros. Records, after personally buying the rights from his previous contract with Columbia Records, who would not release the project. The album was, subsequently, a commercial failure, which Cetera attributed to Warner Bros.' refusal to promote him as a solo artist out of fear that he would leave Chicago, who had only recently signed with the label.

Chicago would go on to record two more albums after Ceteras failed solo attempt, one of which, Chicago 17, became the veteran band's most successful selling album in their history, eventually going on to sell over 6 million copies in the United States alone. All four singles released from the album were sung by Cetera, including three which he co-wrote, and all of them charted in the top 20. With the advent of the music video and the growing popularity of MTV, Cetera became the 'face' and public leader of the longtime faceless band that was Chicago.

With his newfound popularity, Cetera was interested in recording another solo album. In addition, he had stated his lack of interest for the extensive touring schedule of the band, especially to promote Chicago 17. When the 17 Tour concluded in May 1985, Chicago's management, along with several members of the band, had expressed a desire to book another tour for that summer and start work on the next Chicago album. Cetera insisted that they take a break from touring so that he could concentrate on a solo album and spend more time with his family. After the band rejected his offer to stay in the band while recording a solo album (similar to the arrangement between Phil Collins and Genesis at the time), it was announced that Cetera and Chicago would go their separate ways in July 1985.

Cetera has now release seven more solo albums since his first failed, all of which have been a success.

Have you seen that Heineken beer commercial? A young man at an assisted living home asked one of the residents why he liked Peter Cetera. The older resident replied that he didn't like Cetera, but the ladies did, "and if you like the ladies, then by default, you like Cetera."

 

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