On September 16, 1971, Chicago made history as the first rock band to perform at the newly opened Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Just eight days after its grand opening, the theater had already hosted classical musicians and The Fifth Dimension’s soulful performances.

For over two hours that night, the iconic lineup—including Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals), Terry Kath (guitar/vocals), Peter Cetera (bass/vocals), Danny Seraphine (drums), and the talented brass trio of Lee Loughnane (trumpet), James Pankow (trombone), and Walt Parazaider (woodwinds)—entertained the audience with 26 songs blending jazz, pop, and rock.

This memorable show was recorded (with Kath humorously advising fans on when to start their unofficial recordings during a time when that was frowned upon) and has recently been released as the four-LP, three-CD set titled “Chicago At The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Washington D.C. (9/16/1971).”

This concert is especially significant as it was the live debut of the song “Saturday in the Park,” which the band would soon record for their “Chicago V” album, along with impressive renditions of “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and “Make Me Smile,” featuring an exhilarating guitar solo from Kath (who sadly passed away in 1978 due to a firearms incident).

In a recent interview, Loughnane, now 77, reminisced about Kath, the significant show, and his pride in Chicago’s enduring legacy (the physical release of their “Chicago & Friends: Live at 55” album, recorded last year in Atlantic City, is set for release on November 22).

Question: What motivated you to revisit this particular concert after all these years?

Answer: I don’t think any of us remembered that we had recorded it. We certainly recalled performing there, and it was a significant moment, but it came during a hectic touring schedule where we would spend three months on the road, return home for just three days, and then set off again for three more months. I had completely forgotten how deeply we were involved in writing new music while performing. This was our first live performance of ‘Saturday in the Park,’ and on that night, Peter took more of the lead vocals, but a couple of weeks later, we went into the studio and Robert sang it.

Given that this was your first time performing “Saturday ” live, did you notice anything that influenced your recording?

I don’t think we made any major decisions while playing it. The song was pretty well put together already. Robert would often share his songs with different vocalists in the band to see who could best deliver it.

What else stands out to you from that performance at the Kennedy Center?

The youthful energy we had during that moment. I remember being completely focused on what we were doing. That spirit has remained with us and goes back to our first rehearsal at Walt’s house, where we simply played and loved the sound we created.

Does hearing Terry’s voice in concert recordings still bring you sadness?

Actually, it brings me joy. Of course, I miss him, but it’s wonderful to recall how he prepared for songs. You could hear him establishing the rhythm before his vocals for the next song. Terry had always been a natural leader for us. When we would engage in lengthy solos, he had this piercing whistle that would carry over any volume on stage, signifying it was time to finish and transition into the next part.

The introduction to “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” is quite extensive. Were Chicago known for jamming during their early live performances?

Our performances had a more organic feel, somewhat akin to jazz. However, the entire introduction was always written out, and we still play it that way today. For the solo, I maintain the style people have become accustomed to hearing on the radio.

The band is starting a new tour on October 22 after concluding a summer tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. What drives your ongoing enthusiasm?

What makes this partnership so remarkable?

Both bands love performing together during the encore. Even when we’re doing our own sets, we get to play in front of each other’s fans. Some audience members might not be familiar with our music, which motivates us to deliver our best performance at every show. We understand that for many, this could be their first experience with us. Each band has the talent to shine on stage night after night. I often find myself amazed by this. We’re approaching our 60th anniversary, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we plan a tour to celebrate it.