Ted Aliotta was a Chicago musician whose name is part of one of the city’s best-loved songs.
Aliotta Haynes
In 1970 Ted, his brother Mitch Aliotta and guitarist Skip Haynes came together at the Earl of Old Town folk club on Wells Street and formed the trio Aliotta Haynes, with Ted on drums. He played on the group’s debut album, Aliotta Haynes Music (1970), and then left the band. Keyboardist John Jeremiah took his place, and as Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah the group went on to record “Lake Shore Drive,” written by Skip Haynes, which became an enduring Chicago anthem.
A Life in Music
Ted never stopped playing. For decades he was a familiar face in Chicagoland’s live music rooms, singing in his trademark growl, playing harmonica and fronting his band, The Cave Dwellers. He is pictured here with his favorite Gretsch guitar, said to have once belonged to George Harrison.
The last surviving member of the band, Ted Aliotta died in Berwyn, Illinois, on March 21, 2025, at age 78.
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