If you’ve ever found yourself arguing over a jukebox about who actually sang "25 or 6 to 4" versus "If You Leave Me Now," you aren’t alone. Most bands have one guy at the front. Chicago isn't most bands. Since 1967, they’ve been a "democracy of voices," which is basically a fancy way of saying they swap lead singers more often than some people change their oil.
So, who is lead singer of Chicago right now?
In 2026, the man hitting those sky-high tenor notes is Neil Donell. He’s been with the group since 2018, and honestly, the guy is a vocal freak of nature. He can mimic the legendary Peter Cetera so accurately it’s almost spooky. But he isn’t the only one holding a mic. Because Chicago was built as a collective, the "lead singer" title is actually shared among several members of the current 11-person lineup.
The 2026 Lineup: Who Sings What?
It's kinda wild to think that a band entering its 59th year of touring still has three original members. Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, and James Pankow are still there, and they all still sing.
Here is how the vocal duties are split up today:
💡 You might also like: Is Steven Weber Leaving Chicago Med? What Really Happened With Dean Archer
- Neil Donell: He handles the "Cetera parts." If it’s a high-pitched ballad or a soaring pop hit like "You're the Inspiration," Neil is the guy.
- Robert Lamm: An original founding member. He has that cool, vibey baritone. He still sings the classics he wrote, like "Saturday in the Park" and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"
- Eric Baines: He joined on bass and vocals around 2022. He picks up a lot of the soulful, gritty parts that used to belong to Terry Kath.
- Tony Obrohta and Carlos Murguia: These guys provide the massive wall of backing vocals that makes the band sound so lush, but they occasionally step out for lead moments too.
Why There’s Never Just One "Lead Singer"
Back in the late sixties, Chicago (then called Chicago Transit Authority) was a revolution. They didn't want a "frontman." They wanted a wall of sound.
Most people associate the band with Peter Cetera because he sang the massive 80s power ballads that dominated MTV. But before the spandex and hairspray era, the band was a three-headed vocal monster. You had Terry Kath's soulful, bluesy grit; Robert Lamm's jazzy, smooth baritone; and Peter Cetera's piercing tenor.
When Terry Kath died in a tragic accidental shooting in 1978, the band lost its "soul." They spent years trying to find that balance again. They eventually leaned heavily into Cetera’s pop sensibilities, which made them millions but also changed their identity forever.
The Post-Cetera Era
When Peter Cetera walked away in 1985 to pursue a solo career (remember "Glory of Love"?), Chicago didn't skip a beat. They hired Jason Scheff, who stayed for over 30 years. For an entire generation of fans, Jason was the lead singer of Chicago.
📖 Related: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
Then you had Bill Champlin. He was in the band from 1981 to 2009 and sang lead on hits like "Look Away." If you grew up in the 80s, his raspy, R&B-tinged voice is probably what you remember most from their later radio hits.
A Quick Cheat Sheet of Historical Lead Singers
If you’re trying to settle a bet, here is the breakdown of who sang the biggest hits:
- Terry Kath: "Make Me Smile," "Colour My World," and "Introduction."
- Robert Lamm: "25 or 6 to 4" (shared), "Saturday in the Park," "Questions 67 & 68."
- Peter Cetera: "If You Leave Me Now," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "You're the Inspiration."
- Jason Scheff: "Will You Still Love Me?" and "What Kind of Man Would I Be?"
- Bill Champlin: "Look Away," "Hard Habit to Break" (shared).
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the band "replaced" Peter Cetera and that was that. In reality, Chicago is more like a sports franchise than a garage band. Players come and go, but the logo and the horn section stay the same.
Neil Donell, the current lead tenor, actually spent years as a session singer in Toronto. He’s known as the "man of a thousand voices." When you hear him live in 2026, he isn't just "covering" the songs; he’s performing them with a technical precision that even Cetera struggled with in his later years.
👉 See also: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Honestly, it’s impressive. Most bands from 1967 are long gone or playing to half-empty dive bars. Chicago is still selling out venues like The Venetian in Las Vegas because they found singers who treat the original arrangements like sacred texts.
How to Tell Who Is Singing When You See Them Live
If you’re heading to a show this year, watch the stage positions. Robert Lamm will be behind the keyboards—usually on the left side of the stage. When he starts singing, the mood gets a little jazzier, a little more "Old Chicago."
Neil Donell usually stands center-stage or moves around with an acoustic guitar. When the lights go down and the piano starts the intro to a ballad, that’s Neil’s time to shine. He’s the one the crowd usually cheers for during the big, emotional high notes.
Moving Forward with the Music
If you want to truly appreciate the vocal complexity of this band beyond the radio hits, check out their early live recordings from Tanglewood (1970). You'll hear how Kath, Lamm, and Cetera traded lines mid-verse. It wasn't about one guy; it was about the blend.
To dive deeper into the current sound of the band, your next best move is to listen to their most recent studio album, Chicago XXXVIII: Born for This Moment. It features the current vocal lineup and shows that even after nearly six decades, they still have something to say. You can also catch their latest tour dates on their official site to hear Neil Donell and the rest of the crew keep that "Sacred Trust" alive in person.