James William Guercio

James William Guercio has produced hits for The Buckinghams, Chicago, and Blood, Sweat And Tears. Born in Chicago in 1945, {Guercio}, as a teenaged guitarist, shared the stage with Mitch Ryder. During his college years, he studied classical composition. After relocating to Los Angeles, he broke into the city's highly competitive session scene, playing on various records. Becoming a songwriter, he wrote Chad & Jeremy's 1966 Top 30 pop hit "Distant Shores." Guercio became a staff producer in the L.A. division of Columbia Records, a division of CBS Records. He had three 1967 pop hits with The Buckinghams who were from his native Chicago: "Don't You Care," which peaked at number six, "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)," and "Susan." Listening to these early sides, one can hear Guercio beginning to shape a brassy "downtown" horn sound that would characterize later hits by Chicago and Blood, Sweat And Tears.



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