Peter Paul Cetera (/səˈtɛrə/ sə-TERR-ə; born September 13, 1944) is an American retired musician best known for being a lead vocalist and the bassist of the rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985, before launching a successful solo career. His career as a recording artist encompasses 17 albums with Chicago and eight solo albums. With "If You Leave Me Now", a song written and sung by Cetera on the group's tenth album, Chicago garnered its first Grammy Award. It was also the group's first number one single.