‏Don Dacus‏

Guitarist and songwriter Donnie Dacus was born October 12, 1951 in Galena Park, Texas. He's noted for his work with Stephen Stills in the early 70s, and a controversial stint with the jazz-rock group Chicago from 1978-1980 (he also had a brief fling with acting, starring in "Hair" in 1979).His career started in a teenage band called The Shux (so named because Jimi Hendrix often ended shows by saying, "Aw shucks"). Reports indicate that The Shux had Go-Go girls, and that Dacus often dressed up as Hendrix. In 1966, the band played at a Mardi Gras in Fort Worth, Texas (the Doors played at there as well). After graduating from Cleburne High, Dacus left to record with a band called the "Yellow Payges."According to various sources, Dacus worked on Crosby, Stills, and Nash's "CSN" album, doing background vocals and playing rhythm guitar. A few years later he teamed up with Stephen Stills for several projects (on "Stills" Dacus has two writing credits, and on "Illegal Stills" he is featured prominently).Stills and Dacus suffered a bitter falling out when Dacus accidentally landed a part in the movie version of "Hair" (he accompanied a friend to auditions and got the part when Milos Forman spotted him). His long blond locks and bland good looks made him a natural for the character of Woof. He also sang some background vocals on Billy Joel's classic "52nd Street." However, fate would soon guide him to his most infamous gig.In January of 1978, bearish Terry Kath - legendary guitarist of "Chicago" - fatally shot himself. Not wanting a Kath clone, the band decided to look for a replacement who could boost their sex appeal. Dacus auditioned between takes on Forman's film almost as an afterthought. "I knew most of the songs," Dacus has said. "I used to do 'Dialogue' in Top-Forty bands. I knew every hit song those guys ever did. They let me play five songs and by the third song - '25 or 6 to 4'