Constant touring brings Chicago to Hilton

Celine Dion is the most famous resident of Henderson's Lake Las Vegas development, but Chicago's veteran sax and flute guy Walt Parazaider also calls the place home. When he's home, that is.

The classic-rock and power-ballad institution has never sat out a year of touring since it started drawing attention with "Make Me Smile" in 1970.

"We just wanted it to be a rock 'n' roll band with horns," Parazaider once said of the band that had two distinctive eras: the jazz-rockin' fusion years and the pop era helmed by producer David Foster.

"I can't look back at that and say, 'That was really lousy because the horns weren't involved,' " Parazaider noted two years ago. "If that hadn't come along, maybe I wouldn't be talking to you now. I'm not sure."

Chicago plays at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road. Tickets are $88.45-$136.85; call 732-5755.

-- By MIKE WEATHERFORD