Chris Pinnick is an American guitarist and songwriter, probably best known for his work with the band Chicago from 1980–1985. Pinnick was born on July 23, 1953 in Van Nuys, California and took up the guitar at the age of seven. An early example of his professional guitar work can be heard on Herb Alpert's single "Rise," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1979.