Robert William Lamm was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 13, 1944. One of his earliest experiences with music was in the Brookyln Heights choir, but Robert says "I got interested in music, really, from the time I was a toddler where the sound of piano music coming through a radio speaker would entice me into a room." (Both of Lamm's parents collected jazz records that he grew up listening to.) Robert was able to sit down at a piano and play music by ear from his early days in the choir and he would often try to play songs he heard on the radio. He didn't move to Chicago until he was fifteen and his mother got remarried. Robert played in bands and practiced piano through highschool. His musical idol became Ray Charles, and Robert even named himself after Charles, using the stage name Bobby Charles. His other influences are The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Thelonius Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Mose Alison. Lamm majored in art in highschool, but switched to music for college. He studied theory and composition at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago. He was invited to join Chicago, then the Big Thing, in early 1967. Robert has been married several times, and has several children. His first wife was actress Barbara Karen Perk from Indianapolis, known as Karen. He met her at the Whisky a-Go-Go and married her in the early 70's. They divorced, and she accused him of having affairs. Supposedly, she found his diary detailing these affairs. Karen later married Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, but still carries the last name Lamm. She went on to star in a handful of forgotten movies, and to "expose" Robert in a book about the Beach Boys. Robert met Julie Nini in the mid 70's and married her in 1976. The story is that she pushed her way backstage at a Chicago concert at age fifteen and Robert was impressed by her beauty. She and her sister Diane (who married Peter Cetera) are present on Chicago VII doing background vocals and can also be seen in the Dick Clark specials from the 70's. Robert and Julie moved to Bel-Air and their daughter Sacha was born in 1977. Rumour has it that Julie later married a hockey player.
Little is known of Robert's later marriages and children, although many theories (and jokes) abound. He remarried in the mid 80's and has at least two other kids, Sean and Kate who appear on the Chicago Christmas album. Their mother is actress Alex Donnelley. In an interview earlier this year, Alex stated that her children are 11 and 9. Robert has a daughter who was born in 1986 (this is most likely Kate).
Robert currently lives with his wife Joy; they have homes in both New York and Southern California.
Robert's Top Ten Favorite Albums
(In no particular order)The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour
Janet Jackson- Rhythm Nation
Marvin Gaye- What's Going On
The Blue Nile- Hats
The Motels- No Vacancy
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Chronicle
Roxy Music- Avalon
Steely Dan- Aja
The Legendary Joao Gilberto
The Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
If you have any corrections, or interesting information to add, please e-mail me at mjoann@megsinet.net