Arthur “Artie” Baldacci - 73

Chicago, Illinois

Artie Baldacci, Founding member and Drummer of the legendary Chicago band Heartsfield, died unexpectedly Monday. He was 73.

A graduate of Mendel High School, he attended Thornton Community College and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He played many percussion instruments as well as piano and guitar. 

He was a lifelong Detroit Lions fan. He grew up watching the Lions play the Chicago Bears every Thanksgiving and was captivated by the “Honolulu blue” of the Lions’ uniforms. 

The son of classical musicians, the late Florence nee De Muri and Edward “Eddie” Baldacci, he was born and raised in Roseland. His first job was at Zordan’s Music House in that neighborhood. As a young man he lived in Marin County, Ca., for several years as Heartsfield formed. The band later moved to Southwest Michigan, where his next-door neighbor Leslie Gernand became his wife of 41 years. They have two daughters, Natalie Baldacci and Mia (Kalen) Berglind. He recently welcomed his first grandchild Mae Olive Berglind.

He made four albums with Heartsfield in the 1970s on the Mercury and Columbia labels. The band toured the United States for eight years, performing with many of the top artists of the day, including the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Marshall Tucker Band and Atlanta Rhythm Section. In the ‘80s, he joined the John Hunter Band on two albums for Columbia and Private Eye records. That group performed their Top 40 hit “Tragedy” on American Bandstand in 1985.

He managed Midwest Percussion drum shops in Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge and Mokena from 1989 to 2016. In recent years he worked as a driver for DeRe Tire and Auto in the south suburbs.

In addition to his wife, daughters and granddaughter; Artie is survived by his sister, Susan (late Glenn) Pawlak; nieces Dina (Jason) Stack and Anna (Josh) Ford, and nephews Michael Pawlak, George (Theresa) Gernand, and Sam (Gabby) Mezzadra; and many cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

Memorial Visitation at Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home, 530 West 14th Street (US Rt 30, 3 blks E of Western Ave), Chicago Heights on Sunday October 6, 2024 from 2:00 pm until time of Memorial Service 5:00 pm. Interment private. Info 708-481-9230 and panozzobros.com.