THE CHICAGO CATZ

THE CATZ STORY - ESTABLISHED 1986

The Chicago Who?

In 1994, the Chicago Federation of Musicians presented its inaugural Living Art of Music Awards (LAMA) to deserving Chicago based artist and groups. Nominees in the "Best Pop Group" catergory were Chicago, Richard Marx and The Chicago Catz. REWIND !! The Chicago Who? Richard Marx and Chicago, that makes sense; but The Chicago Catz! Who are they and why were they nominated.

The Who?

The Chicago Catz are one of the Windy City's best kept secrets and treasures. For more than 21 years, this group of professional musicians have performed at some of the most prestigious private parties and events in Chicago. "High society hors d'oeuvre music", you're thinking. To the contrary, The Chicago Catz serve up and dish out the hottest "get out of your seat and dance" music in town!

The Why:

During the late 70's and early 80's there were three hugely successful local bands in Chicago: R&B group Third Rail (later known as Maxx Traxx), Ska band Heavy Manners, and blues act Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows. Each band sold out night clubs, played college concerts and put out albums of original music. By day, the musicians were respected studio/session players. Jingle houses and album producers were always putting out the call for "those cats from Chicago". The stress from the "let's make records" grind and the competition from session work was enormous. Several of the guys from the three groups were longtime friends and had similar musical tastes, having grown up listening to R&B pop music. They thought that it would be fun to put together a high energy R&B pop dance band as a side project. It would create a nice change of pace from their daily business pressures and give them the opportunity to play together. Through their contacts, they knew they could pick up some club dates and "let their hair down" playing songs made famous by the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Temptations and other greats of the Motown era.

Their plan was put into action. They got together after their sessions and rehearsed for several months until the music was tight. During this time, word got out that the supergroup had formed. At their first appearance, devoted fans of "Third Rail/Maxx Traxx, Heavy Manners and Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows came out in droves to see them. The fireworks emanating from on stage fueled the audience and the group became an instant success, The "Catz" as they are called by their fans, have gone on to become one of the most sought after groups for corporate, private and special events. They still play occasional club dates at the urging of their friends and fans and always leave the crowd sweating and yelling for more. Their musicianship is arguably the best in Chicago and their philosophy is simple. "We're here to have fun, you might as well join us”.

The Chicago Catz have demonstrated to event planners that a "fun and party" atmosphere does not have to be sacrificed for fear of having a bunch of grungy, mediocre, part-time musicians show up as the evenings entertainment. They have proven there is a choice, other than dancing to the "Sleepy Time Orchestra", for your event.

If you want your guests to attend a party they'll remember, hire The Chicago Catz. There's only one thing worse than being the guest at a boring party: being the host at a boring party.

You've got nothing to lose, except a good time!

SONG LIST:

1999/Prince
A Real Mother For Ya/ Johnny Guitar Watson
A Song for You/Leon Russell
Ain't No Stopping Us Now/ McFadden & Whitehead
Ain't To Proud To Beg/The Temptations
All Day Music/War
Alright Now/Free
Always On My Mind/Willie Nelson
Another Star/Stevie Wonder
Any Way You Want It/Journey
At Last/Etta James
Bad Mama Jama/Carl Carlton
Boogie On Reggae Woman/ Stevie Wonder
Brick House/Commodores
Bustin' Loose/Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers
Can't Hide Love/Earth Wind & Fire
Clean Up Woman/Betty Wright
Cloud Nine/Temptations
Controversy/Prince
Crazy in Love /Beyoncé
Crazy Train /Ozzy Osborne
Dance To The Music/Sly & The Family Stone
Dance Wit Me/Rufus
Disco Inferno/Tavares
Dock Of The Bay/Otis Redding
Ecstasy/Barry White
Express Yourself/Watts 103rd st band
Fight the Power/The Isley Brothers
Fire/Ohio Players
For The Love Of Money/O'Jays
Funky Stuff/Kool And The Gang
Georgia/Ray Charles
Get Down Tonight/KC and The Sunshine Band
Get OnThe Good Foot/James Brown
Give It To Me Baby/Rick James
Good Times /Chic
Got To Give It Up (Part 1)/Marvin' Gaye
Groove With YouI/sley Brothers
Hella Good/No Doubt
Hello It's Me/Isley Brothers
Hollywood Swingin/Kool & The Gang
I Can't Get Next To You/Al Green
I Got the Feelin'/James Brown
I Got You (I Feel Good)/James Brown
I love the Way You Move/ OutKast
I Want To Take You Higher/Sly & The Family Stone
I Wish/Stevie Wonder
If I Ain't Got You /Alicia Keys
If You Don't Know Me By Now/Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
In The Midnight Hour/Wilson Pickett
Is'nt She Lovley/Stevie Wonder
It's Your Thing/Isley Brothers
Jungle Boogie/Kool & The Gang
Ladies Night /Kool & The Gang
Land Of 1000 Dances/Wilson Pickett
Let's Get It On/Marvin Gaye
Let's Stay Together/Al Green
Love And Happiness/Al Green
Love Rollercoaster/Ohio Players
Low Rider/War
Mesmerized/Faith Evans
Mighty Mighty/Earth Wind & Fire
Mighty Real/Sylvester
Misty Mountain Hop/Led Zeppelin
Mr. Big Stuff/Jean Knight
Musicology /Prince
Mustang Sally/Wilson Pickett
My GirlThe /Temptations
Ooh Baby Baby/Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Papa Was A Rolling Stone/The Temptations
People Make The World Go Round/Stylistics
Play That Funky Music/Wild Cherry
Rock and Roll/Led Zepplin
Sara Smile/Hall and Oats -
September
Sex Machine, Pt. 1/James Brown
Shake Your Body Down To The Ground/Michael Jackson
Shotgun/Junior Walker and the All Stars
Signed, Sealed, Delivered/Stevie Wonder
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay/Otis Redding
Skin Tight/Ohio Players
Soul Man/Sam and Dave
Start Me Up/Rolling Stones
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch/4 tops
Superbad/James Brown
Superstition/Stevie Wonder
Sweet Home Alabama/Lynard Skynard
Sweet Home Chicago/Blues Brothers
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice E)/lfSly & The Family Stone
That's The Way Of The World/Earth Wind & Fire
The Payback/James Brown
There Was A Time/James Brown
Think (About it)/Lynn Collins
Uptight (Everything's Alright)/Stevie Wonder
Use Me/Bill Withers
Walk This Way/Areosmith
We Want the Funk/Parliment
Welcome to the Jungle/Guns N Roses
What is hip/Tower Of Power
Whats Going On/Marvin Gaye
Who's Makin' Love/ Johnnie Taylor
Work To Do/Average White Band
Working Day And Night/ Michael Jackson
You And I/Rick James
You Sexy Thing/Hot Choclate
You Shook Me All Night Long/AC/DC