Southport Magazine

BY: JEFFREY STITES

It takes a bit of chutzpah to put out a double-album as your debut release, but when it sells over a million copies inside of a year it’s safe to say you’ve been vindicated, and are worthy of imitation!

Beginnings, the nation’s premier Chicago tribute band, is coming to Brunswick County’s Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College on Thursday, January 25, to do just that and share some horn-infused rock and roll.

Founded in 2002, decades after the original Chicago’s birth as Chicago Transit Authority in 1969, the eight-piece Beginnings ensemble includes several multi-instrumentalists and a collection of vocalists able to pay homage to the original’s changing styles.

Those are some big shoes to fill. Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the American band with the most single and album Billboard successes. With four hit singles on their debut album, the band took off from there producing five number one albums and 21 top ten singles.

Fun fact: if you were to go to Google looking for a schedule for the El and type in “Chicago Transit Authority,” this band pops up before the actual public transit system. That’s some popularity!

Over it’s multi-decade life-span (and Chicago is still touring and recording today), the band has included almost 20 musicians for various periods, with even more joining to fill out the sound on tours.

During their long career, Chicago Transit Authority became just Chicago as it evolved from a horn-based rock sound to more soft, adult contemporary music. The challenge for a tribute band is to faithfully recreate the original band’s full repertoire with just one line-up of musicians.

Beginnings handles the challenge with a line-up of professional musicians, all veterans of the New York City music scene brought together by a passion for the source material. They strive to bring a family-friendly atmosphere in which they lovingly recreate each decade of the band’s hits.

Beginnings takes to the Odell Williamson stage at 7:30 pm and tickets are available in person at the Odell Williamson Box Office from 9 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 9 am through 2:30 pm on Fridays. The box office also opens one hour and fifteen minutes prior to curtain on the day of the show.

Tickets are also available online at www.bccowa.com or by phone at 910-755-7416.

If you love the classic rock tribute bands, keep an eye out in April when Face To Face comes to Odell, featuring both Elton John and Billy Joel tribute bands!