Harold Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter,
philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his
folk rock
Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers s ...
and
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
-winning artist and
Grammy Hall of Fame
The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
inductee, has sold over 16 million records worldwide.
Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981. All 14 singles that he released became hits on at least one national music chart.
As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end
world hunger
Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissue ...
. He was a key participant in the creation of the
Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977.
[ In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the ]Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...
for his humanitarian work.
Biography
Harry Forster Chapin was born on December 7, 1942 in New York City, the second of four children of legendary percussionist Jim Chapin
James Forbes Chapin ( ) (July 23, 1919 – July 4, 2009) was an American jazz drummer and the author of books about jazz drumming. He was the author of several albums (later converted to CDs) on jazz drumming, as well as 2 CDs entitled ''Jim Cha ...
and Jeanne Elspeth, daughter of the literary critic Kenneth Burke
Kenneth Duva Burke (May 5, 1897 – November 19, 1993) was an American literary theorist, as well as poet, essayist, and novelist, who wrote on 20th-century philosophy, aesthetics, criticism, and rhetorical theory. As a literary theorist, Burk ...
. His brothers, Tom and Steve, would also become musicians. He had English ancestry. The earliest Chapin to come to America was Samuel Chapin
Samuel Chapin (baptized October 8, 1598 – November 11, 1675) was a prominent early settler of Springfield, Massachusetts. He served the town as selectman, magistrate and deacon (in the Massachusetts Bay Colony there was little separation ...
, who was the first deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...
of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636. His other great-grandparents on his mother's side had immigrated in the late 19th century. His parents divorced in 1950, with his mother retaining custody of their four sons, as Jim spent much of his time on the road as a drummer for Big Band
A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...
-era acts such as Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...
. Chapin's mother married ''Films in Review
The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminat ...
'' magazine editor Henry Hart a few years later.
Chapin's first formal introduction to music was trumpet lessons at The Greenwich House Music School under Mr. Karrasic (sic). Harry's younger brothers Tom and Steve were choirboys at Grace Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights, and through them Chapin met "Big" John Wallace, a baritone with a five- octave range, who later became his bassist, backing vocalist, and straight man
The straight man is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically, the straight man is expected to maintain composure. The direct contribution to the c ...
onstage. Chapin began performing with his brothers while a teenager, with their father occasionally joining them on drums. Chapin graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School
Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech and administratively designated High School 430, is an elite public high school in New York City that specializes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is one of t ...
in 1960 and was among the five inductees in the school's Alumni Hall Of Fame for the year 2000. He briefly attended the United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and U ...
in Colorado Springs, Colorado and was then an intermittent student at Cornell University
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...
in New York State
New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...
, but did not complete a degree.
He originally intended to be a documentary film-maker and took a job with The Big Fights, a company run by Bill Cayton
William D'Arcy Cayton (June 6, 1918 – October 4, 2003) was a boxing promoter and manager. Clients included Mike Tyson, who sued him, yet retained him as manager when the two settled the lawsuit four years later, in 1988. Cayton also acted as ...
that owned a large library of classic boxing films. Chapin directed ''Legendary Champions
''Legendary Champions'' is a 1968 documentary film written and directed by Harry Chapin for boxing promoter Bill Cayton's The Big Fights Inc. production company which features legendary boxers in action. Some famed and pioneering boxers were also ...
'' in 1968, which was nominated for a documentary Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
. In 1971, he began focusing on music. With John Wallace, Tim Scott, and Ron Palmer, Chapin started playing in various nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
s in New York City.
Career
Early music career (1971–1972)
In 1972, there was a bidding war over Chapin between music business heavyweights Clive Davis at Columbia and Jac Holzman at Elektra. Chapin signed a multi-million dollar recording contract with Elektra Records. The contract was one of the biggest of its time. It granted him free recording time, along with many other perks.
The same year, he released his debut album, '' Heads & Tales.'' The album was an international success, selling over 1 million units. Its success was due to the top 25 Billboard Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...
hit single, "Taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...
." The song also became a top 5 hit in Canada. The success of the song in America is credited to American radio personality Jim Connors, who helped promote the song on the radio despite its length, and helped it to stay on the charts for 16 weeks. It became the number one requested song for 10 weeks in a row. The song was performed on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' was an American late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson on NBC, the third iteration of the ''Tonight Show'' franchise. The show debuted on October 1, 1962, and aired its final episode on May 22, ...
,'' which received so many calls that Chapin returned the next night. It was the first time in the show's history that a performer had been called back the next night. It was also one of the first performances on The Midnight Special, with John Denver hosting.
When asked if the song was true, Chapin said "It's emotionally true, if not literally true. I've been in the film business on and off for a lot of years, and wasn't doing well at one point. So I went out and got a hack license for bread, and during the month that I was waiting for it to come through, I heard an old girlfriend of mine had gotten married and instead of becoming an actress she married a rich guy. I envisioned some night I'd be driving a cab in the big city streets and this lady would get in the back, and I'd turn and look at her and she'd look at me and know we both sold out our dreams." Billboard ranked "Taxi" as the 85th song of the year. "Taxi" also earned Chapin a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year.
The follow up album, ''Sniper and Other Love Songs
''Sniper and Other Love Songs'' is the second studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1972. The album's Sniper (song), title song is a vaguely fictionalised account of Charles Whitman's shootings from the clocktowe ...
,'' was also released in 1972. The album's title song, " Sniper," is a semi-fictional account of the University of Texas tower shooting
On August 1, 1966, after stabbing his mother and his wife to death the previous night, Charles Whitman, a Marine veteran, took rifles and other weapons to the observation deck atop the Main Building tower at the University of Texas at Austin, ...
. The single release from the album, " Sunday Morning Sunshine," charted on the Billboard Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...
and became a top 40 on Billboard Adult Contemporary
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
. The album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. The album also contained the Chapin anthem, "Circle." In 2004, the double album ''Sniper and Other Love Songs and Heads & Tales'' was released. It contained previously unreleased tracks from both albums.
Career peak (1973–1975)
In 1973, Chapin released his third album, ''Short Stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...
.'' The album sold over 1 million units and produced another international hit, " W·O·L·D," a song about an aging disc jockey who has given up his entire life and family for his career. The song is sung from the point of view of the disc jockey, who is singing to his ex-wife. It was inspired by American radio personality Jim Connors. Chapin wrote the song when he listened to Connors calling his ex-wife in the WMEX studio. The song became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...
, a top 10 in Canada, and top 10 and 20 in various other countries. Other notable songs from the album not released as singles are "Mr. Tanner "Mr. Tanner" is a song by Harry Chapin from his 1973 album, ''Short Stories''. Big John Wallace plays Mr. Tanner by singing the chorus to "O Holy Night" in the background to the song's chorus.
Story
The song tells the story of Martin Tanner, a loc ...
," "Mail Order Annie," and "They Call Her Easy." The song, "Mr. Tanner," was loosely based on a pair of ''New York Times'' concert reviews of baritone Martin Tubridy – once in 1971 and once in 1972.
In 1974, Chapin released his most successful album, ''Verities and Balderdash
''Verities & Balderdash'' is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1974. (see 1974 in music). "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's highest-charting single, finishing at number 38 for the year on the 1974 ...
.'' The album sold 2.5 million units due to the number 1 hit, "Cat's in the Cradle
"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album '' Verities & Balderdash''. The single topped the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work a ...
." The song is about a father who doesn't find time for his son during the boy's childhood; ultimately the son grows up to be just like his father, not making any time for his dad. The song earned Chapin another Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and he was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame
The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
. ''Verities and Balderdash'' peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200
The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of ar ...
. The album's follow-up single, "I Wanna Learn a Love Song
"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" is a song written and performed by Harry Chapin. The song was included on his 1974 album, Verities & Balderdash. The song is about a guitar teacher who gives guitar lessons to a woman who is falling in love with him.
Ba ...
," charted at number 7 on Billboard Adult Contemporary
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
. The song is a true story of how he met his wife, Sandra Chapin
Sandra Gaston Chapin (born 1934) is an American poet/songwriter and activist. She is best known for her songwriting collaborations with her second husband, singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, and is also the mother of singer Jen Chapin.
Marriages
He ...
. "30,000 Pounds of Bananas
"30,000 Pounds Of Bananas," sometimes spelled "Thirty Thousand Pounds Of Bananas," is a folk rock song by Harry Chapin from his 1974 album, ''Verities & Balderdash.'' The song became more popular in its live extended recording from Chapin's 197 ...
" was included on the album and became the number one requested song for a few weeks, despite not being released as a single. It is a semi-fictional account of a truck crash that occurred in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Lackawanna County. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 U.S. census, Scranton is the largest city in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Wyoming V ...
, transporting bananas -- based loosely on a March 18, 1965, accident involving truck driver Gene Sesky. Other notable songs from the album include "Shooting Star," "Halfway to Heaven," and " Six String Orchestra."
In 1975, Chapin released his fifth album, '' Portrait Gallery.'' The album produced a top 40 Billboard Adult Contemporary
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
hit, "Dreams Go By
"Dreams Go By" is a song written and performed by Harry Chapin. The song was included on his 1975 album, Portrait Gallery. The song is about life passing by, and your dreams not coming true. The song became a top 40 adult contemporary hit, peaking ...
." However, the album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. In addition, he wrote and performed a Broadway play, ''The Night That Made America Famous
''The Night That Made America Famous'' is a 1975 musical revue featuring the songs of Harry Chapin. The music consists of a combination of songs written for the musical and songs from Chapin's previous albums, the latter including " What Made Amer ...
.'' The play earned two Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
nominations and two Drama Desk Award nominations.
Later years (1976–1981)
By 1976, Chapin was established as one of the most popular singers of the decade. He released his first live album, '' Greatest Stories Live.'' The album sold 2.1 million units. However, Elektra Records underwent a management change and gave almost no promotion for his later albums with Elektra, but they all sold at least 250,000 units each and charted successfully.
By the end of the decade, Chapin concentrated more on touring than producing hit singles, but still released one album a year. He earned an estimated $2,000,000 per year (approximately $11,75 M in 2017) until his death in 1981, making him one of the highest paid artists in the world. His album Dance Band on the Titanic
''Dance Band on the Titanic'' is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1977. Its vinyl release is a double album. It was later released as a single CD.
Reception
Reviewed at the time of release, ''S ...
sold poorly, but was voted Album of the Year by The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
of London. In 1980, his recording contract with Elektra expired. He signed a one-album contract with Boardwalk Records
Boardwalk Records is a record label founded by Neil Bogart in 1980, after PolyGram acquired Casablanca Records from him.
History
The label had hit acts with Joan Jett and Harry Chapin. Other artists on the Boardwalk label included, Invisible Man ...
, and released his ninth studio album, ''Sequel
A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
.'' The album has been described as his fastest breaking album. Three singles were released, with all of them becoming hits. The first single, "Sequel," became a top 25 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...
. The song is a followup to Taxi. The second single, "Remember When the Music
''Remember When the Music'' is a posthumously produced album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1987. Produced on CD and cassette tape, it contained the same tracks as the album, ''Sequel (album), Sequel'', which was the ...
," became a top 50 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The last single, "Story of a Life
''Story of a Life'' is the third posthumous compilation album released featuring Harry Chapin, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music). It was released as a box set containing 3 CDs and a 76-page booklet.
Track listing
Disc 1 (1:16:59):
# "Taxi (Har ...
," became a hit on the Bubbling Under chart. The album sold 500,000 units.
Personal life
Chapin met Sandra Gaston, a New York socialite eight years his senior, in 1966 after she called him asking for music lessons. They married two years later. The story of their meeting and romance is told in his song "I Wanna Learn a Love Song." Chapin wrote several additional songs about her, including "Shooting Star" about their relationship, and "Sandy." He had two children with her, Jennifer
Jennifer or Jenifer may refer to:
People
*Jennifer (given name)
* Jenifer (singer), French pop singer
* Jennifer Warnes, American singer who formerly used the stage name Jennifer
* Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
* Daniel Jenifer
Film and tele ...
and Joshua, and was stepfather to her three children from a previous marriage, Jaime, Jason, and Jonathan.
Philanthropic work
Chapin resolved to leave his imprint on Long Island. He envisioned a Long Island where the arts flourished, universities expanded, and humane discourse was the norm. "He thought Long Island represented a remarkable opportunity", said Chapin's widow, Sandy.
In the mid-1970s, Chapin devoted much time and effort to social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States. His daughter Jen said: "He saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America."[Jen Chapin shares her dad's idealism – but not his voice]
, ''Boston Globe'', February 20, 2004 He co-founded the organization World Hunger Year
WhyHunger (formerly known as World Hunger Year, or WHY) is a non-profit registered 501(c)(3) organization working to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire ...
with radio personality Bill Ayres, before returning to music with '' On the Road to Kingdom Come''. He also released a book of poetry, ''Looking ... Seeing'', in 1975. More than half of Chapin's concerts were benefit performances (for example, a concert to help save the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, New York, as well as hunger causes such as food banks), and proceeds from his concert merchandise were used to support World Hunger Year. Among those he helped is filmmaker Michael Moore, who, in 1977, got help funding his Mid-Michigan based independent newspaper startup, ''The Flint Voice'', with Chapin benefit concerts. Chapin's social causes at times caused friction among his band members. Chapin donated an estimated third of his paid concerts to charitable causes, often performing alone with his guitar to reduce costs. Mike Rendine accompanied him on bass throughout 1979.
One report quotes his widow saying soon after his death – "only with slight exaggeration" – that "Harry was supporting 17 relatives, 14 associations, seven foundations, and 82 charities. Harry wasn't interested in saving money. He always said, 'Money is for people,' so he gave it away." Despite his success as a musician, he left little money and it was difficult to maintain the causes for which he raised more than $3 million in the last six years of his life. The Harry Chapin Foundation was the result.
Death
On the afternoon of July 16, 1981, Chapin was driving on the Long Island Expressway
Long may refer to:
Measurement
* Long, characteristic of something of great duration
* Long, characteristic of something of great length
* Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate
* Longa (music), note value in early music men ...
en route to perform at a free benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a type of musical benefit performance (e.g., concert, show, or gala) featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate hu ...
at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York
East Meadow is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York. The population was 38,132 at the 2010 census.
Many residents commute to Manhattan, which is away.
History
In 1 ...
, that evening. At 12:27 PM, Chapin was fatally injured in a fiery traffic collision with a semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semitruck, (or semi, eighteen-wheeler, big rig, tractor-trailer or, by synecdoche, a semitrailer) is the combination of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers to carry freight. A semi-traile ...
outside Jericho, New York
Jericho is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States, on the North Shore of Long Island, approximately 29 miles (47 km) east of Midtown Manhattan. Its population was 13,567 as of the U.S. 2010 Cen ...
. Passers-by managed to help the unconscious Chapin out of his engulfed 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit
The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates ...
and he was immediately taken by helicopter to the nearby Nassau County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:05 PM due to internal bleeding
Internal bleeding (also called internal hemorrhage) is a loss of blood from a blood vessel that collects inside the body. Internal bleeding is usually not visible from the outside. It is a serious medical emergency but the extent of severity dep ...
. Chapin's widow Sandy won a $12 million decision in a negligence lawsuit against Supermarkets General, the owners of the truck involved.
Chapin is buried in the Huntington Rural Cemetery in Huntington, New York. His epitaph is taken from his 1978 song "I Wonder What Would Happen to This World":
Legacy
His work on hunger included being widely recognized as a key player in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger (under 39th President Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
) in 1977 (he was the only member who attended every meeting).
He was also the inspiration for the antihunger projects USA for Africa
United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) was the name under which 47 predominantly U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily locat ...
and Hands Across America
Hands Across America was a public fundraising event on Sunday, May 25, 1986, when 5 to 6.5 million people held hands for 15 minutes in an attempt to form a continuous human chain across the contiguous United States. The attempt to have a co ...
, which were organized by Ken Kragen
Kenneth Allan Kragen (November 24, 1936 – December 14, 2021) was an American music manager, television producer, author, speaker, and non-profit consultant, best known for his role in organizing the 1985 benefit record "We Are the World" and t ...
, who had been Chapin's manager at the end of Chapin's career, after Fred Kewley. Kragen, explaining his work on these benefit events, said, "I felt like Harry had crawled into my body and was making me do it."
From around 1975 until the owners changed the format of the station in the late 1990s, WNEW-FM
WNEW-FM (102.7 FM, ''NEW 102.7'') is a hot adult contemporary formatted radio station, licensed to New York, New York and owned by Audacy, Inc. The station's studios are located at the Audacy facility in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Ma ...
, 102.7, a NYC radio station with the motto "Where Rock Lives" held an annual "Hungerthon" every Thanksgiving, to benefit Harry Chapin's World Hunger League. During the 24-hour period of the event, little to no music was played, with the exception of the iconic "Alice's Restaurant
"Alice's Restaurant Massacree", commonly known as "Alice's Restaurant", is a satirical talking blues song by singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie, released as the title track to his 1967 debut album '' Alice's Restaurant''. The song is a deadpan prote ...
" by Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk singer-songwriter. He is known for singing songs of protest against social injustice, and storytelling while performing songs, following the tradition of his father, Woody Guthrie. Gu ...
played at noon and 6 pm. For the remainder of the day, during every DJ's four-hour show, guests such as Harry himself, other music stars, and experts on hunger brought to the listeners information about the severity of hunger in America, in New York City, and in the tri-state area, sometimes in graphic detail.
After Harry's death, the "Hungerthon" continued, and at the "U.S. Live Aid" concert in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
at JFK Stadium
John F. Kennedy Stadium, formerly Philadelphia Municipal Stadium and Sesquicentennial Stadium. was an open-air stadium in Philadelphia that stood from 1926 to 1992. The South Philadelphia stadium was on the east side of the far southern end of ...
in 1985, Kenny Loggins
Kenneth Clark Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded as Loggins and Messina from 1972 to 1977. His ...
was presented with the first "Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award" by actor Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Bridges comes from a prominent ac ...
for his work for the World Hunger League in fighting hunger in America. Since WNEW-FM changed formats, other New York stations have continued to do fundraisers for the charity. In 1987, singer Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted m ...
was awarded the first-ever "Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award" from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Since 1987, the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award has been bestowed more than 20 times to various artists for their various "humanitarian contributions." The ASCAP awards are now presented by Why Hunger, the organization originally co-founded by Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres as World Hunger Year
WhyHunger (formerly known as World Hunger Year, or WHY) is a non-profit registered 501(c)(3) organization working to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire ...
.
Four additional organizations once presented awards in the name of Harry Chapin in the past. They include: the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award—now known as the Music Business Association or MusicBiz, the Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity by the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA), the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community Service from the Long Island Association, and the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award by Long Island Cares.
Chapin had co-operated before his death with the writer of the biography entitled ''Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story'', by Peter M. Coan, released posthumously, from which the family withdrew their support. Some concern existed about the accuracy of the details included in the book.
The Lakeside Theatre at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York
East Meadow is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York. The population was 38,132 at the 2010 census.
Many residents commute to Manhattan, which is away.
History
In 1 ...
, was renamed Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre during a memorial concert held one month after his death, as a tribute to his efforts to combat world hunger. Other Long Island landmarks named in honor of Chapin include a graduate-student apartment complex at Stony Brook University, a theater in Heckscher Park in Huntington, New York, and a playground at the intersection of Columbia Heights and Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights is a residential neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Old Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge on the north, Cadman Plaza West on the east, Atlantic Avenue on the south, ...
.
The village of Croton-on-Hudson
Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2020 United States census over 8,070 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Cortlandt as part of New York City's northern sub ...
, New York, has hosted the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger, a 10k, 5k, and Fun Run, since 1981.
On December 7, 1987, on what would have been his 45th birthday, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...
for his campaigning on social issues, particularly his highlighting of hunger around the world and in the United States.
In 1994, admirers of the late singer's passionate fight against hunger renamed the then 11-year old Southwest Florida Food Bank (Fort Myers
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
, FL) the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, in tribute to Chapin, and with the permission of his widow.
In 2001, Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle" was ranked number 186 of 365 on the Recording Industry Association of America list of Songs of the Century
The "Songs of the Century" list is part of an education project by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic Inc. that aims to "promote a better understanding of America's musical and ...
.
Chapin was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame was incorporated in July 2005 under the New York State Board of Regents, as a nonprofit organization and holds a provisional charter to operate as a museum in the state of New York. It recognizes ...
on October 15, 2006.
On September 27, 2011, former U.S. Representative Alan Grayson
Alan Mark Grayson (born March 13, 1958) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2009 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was defeated for reelection in 2010 by Republican Daniel ...
wrote an article
Article often refers to:
* Article (grammar), a grammatical element used to indicate definiteness or indefiniteness
* Article (publishing), a piece of nonfictional prose that is an independent part of a publication
Article may also refer to:
G ...
on the internet publication ''The Huffington Post
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' about Chapin's song "What Made America Famous".
Singer and songwriter Guthrie Thomas has long publicly stated that Chapin's song "Cat's in the Cradle" is one of the most difficult songs to perform, due to Chapin's master guitar playing and his brilliant syncopation of the lyrics, meaning each word must fit perfectly and in time with the playing. Also, despite seeming social and political differences with Chapin, Dr. James Dobson
James Clayton Dobson Jr.
(born April 21, 1936) is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family (FOTF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influentia ...
often quotes the entirety of "Cat's in the Cradle" to illustrate dynamics of contemporary American families.
A children's picture book was created using the lyrics of "Mr. Tanner" and the illustrations of Bryan Langdo; it was published by Ripple Grove Press in May 2017.
Greenwich Entertainment
Greenwich Entertainment, founded in 2017, is an independent film distribution company specializing in distinctive, theatrical-quality narrative and documentary features. The company released Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi’s Academy Award-Wi ...
released a documentary film titled '' Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something''. It was directed by Rick Korn and produced by Jason Chapin. The film was released theatrically and through virtual cinema Virtual cinema is a video-on-demand streaming service facilitated by independent film distributors and art-house theaters to release new films and share profits. Under the service, part of the admission price supports a physically located theater.
...
on October 16, 2020 (World Food Day
World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organization ...
).
Family
Harry's widow Sandy is now chair of the Harry Chapin Foundation, where she continues to pursue Harry's legacy. His son Josh is involved with the foundation, along with other family members.
Chapin often remarked that he came from an artistic family. His father Jim
Jim or JIM may refer to:
* Jim (given name), a given name
* Jim, a diminutive form of the given name James
* Jim, a short form of the given name Jimmy
* OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism
* ''Jim'' (comics), a series by Jim Woodring
* ''Jim ...
, brothers Tom and Steve, and daughter Jen Chapin
Jennifer Chapin is an American singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of the singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and Sandra Chapin. She serves on the board of directors of WhyHunger, a grassroots support organization founded in 1975 by her father an ...
are musicians. His nieces Abigail and Lily Chapin perform under the name the Chapin Sisters
The Chapin Sisters are an American folk rock and harmony duo from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of sisters Abigail and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Their sound blurs the lines between old-time Appalachian mus ...
. His paternal grandfather, James Ormsbee Chapin
James Ormsbee Chapin (9 July 1887 – 12 July 1975) was an American painter and illustrator. He was the father of jazz musician Jim Chapin and grandfather of folk singer Harry Chapin.
Life
Chapin was born in West Orange, New Jersey, to James A. ...
, was an artist who illustrated Robert Frost's first two books of poetry; his maternal grandfather was the philosopher and rhetorician Kenneth Burke
Kenneth Duva Burke (May 5, 1897 – November 19, 1993) was an American literary theorist, as well as poet, essayist, and novelist, who wrote on 20th-century philosophy, aesthetics, criticism, and rhetorical theory. As a literary theorist, Burk ...
.[
Harry Chapin's brothers sometimes performed with Harry at various times throughout his career, particularly during live performances. They played with him before his solo career took off, and were credited on the albums '' Greatest Stories Live,'' '' Legends of the Lost and Found,'' and ''Chapin Music!'' Tom and Steve continued to perform together (often with Harry's former bandmates) from time to time after his death.
Country singer ]Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religious contexts
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also call ...
is Chapin's fifth cousin.
Awards and recognition
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
s
, -
, 1972 , , "Taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...
" , , Best New Artist of the Year , ,
, -
, 1975 , , "Cat's in the Cradle
"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album '' Verities & Balderdash''. The single topped the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work a ...
" , , Best Pop Male Vocal Performance , ,
, -
, 1986 , , Harry Chapin , , President's Merit Award , ,
, -
, 2011 , , Harry Chapin , , Hall of Fame Award , ,
Rock Music Awards
, -
, 1976 , , Harry Chapin , , Public Service Award, ,
Billboard
, -
, 1973 , , Harry Chapin , , Trendsetter Award, ,
Rockies
, -
, 1976 , , Harry Chapin , , Public Service Award, ,
, -
, 1977 , , Harry Chapin , , Public Service Award, ,
Other awards and honors
* Harry Chapin ASCAP Award
* Congressional Gold Medal of Honor
*Long Island Music Hall of Fame
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame was incorporated in July 2005 under the New York State Board of Regents, as a nonprofit organization and holds a provisional charter to operate as a museum in the state of New York. It recognizes ...
*Ten Outstanding Young Americans
The Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) program is an annual award given by JCI USA (formally known as The United States Junior Chamber or the Jaycees). It is given to ten Americans between 18 and 40 years of age who "exemplify the best attribu ...
, 1977
Discography
Studio albums
* '' Heads & Tales'' (1972, Elektra)
* ''Sniper and Other Love Songs
''Sniper and Other Love Songs'' is the second studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1972. The album's Sniper (song), title song is a vaguely fictionalised account of Charles Whitman's shootings from the clocktowe ...
'' (1972, Elektra)
* ''Short Stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...
'' (1973, Elektra)
* ''Verities & Balderdash
''Verities & Balderdash'' is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1974. (see 1974 in music). "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's highest-charting single, finishing at number 38 for the year on the 1974 ...
'' (1974, Elektra)
* '' Portrait Gallery'' (1975, Elektra)
* '' Greatest Stories Live'' (Double Album, 1976, Elektra)
* '' On the Road to Kingdom Come'' (1976, Elektra)
* ''Dance Band on the Titanic
''Dance Band on the Titanic'' is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1977. Its vinyl release is a double album. It was later released as a single CD.
Reception
Reviewed at the time of release, ''S ...
'' (Double Album, 1977, Elektra)
* '' Living Room Suite'' (1978, Elektra)
* '' Legends of the Lost and Found'' (Double Live Album, 1979, Elektra)
* ''Sequel
A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
'' (1980, Boardwalk Records)
** Re-released as ''Remember When the Music
''Remember When the Music'' is a posthumously produced album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1987. Produced on CD and cassette tape, it contained the same tracks as the album, ''Sequel (album), Sequel'', which was the ...
'' with bonus tracks (1987, Dunhill Compact Classics)
** '' Storyteller'' (1999, BOA Records, a re-release of ''Sequel'')
Posthumous album
* '' The Last Protest Singer'' (1988, Dunhill Compact Classics)
Compilation albums
* ''Anthology of Harry Chapin
This page is a discography for the singer and songwriter Harry Chapin. Chapin was a popular singer in the 1970s and 1980s. He achieved international success with a string of hits throughout the 70s and 80s. Chapin's career was cut short at its p ...
'' (1985, Elektra)
* ''The Gold Medal Collection
''The Gold Medal Collection'' is a 1988 two-CD compilation album featuring various songs and interviews by singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. It was released by Elektra Records to commemorate Chapin for being posthumously awarded the Congressional G ...
'' (1988, Elektra)
* ''Harry Chapin Tribute
''Harry Chapin Tribute'' is a CD of a tribute concert held at the Carnegie Hall in 1987 to commemorate Harry Chapin's 45th birthday if he were alive, and also to award him the Congressional Gold Medal which was presented to his son Joshua Chapin ...
'' (1990, Relativity Records)
* ''The Bottom Line Encore Collection
''The Bottom Line Encore Collection'' is the fourth live album by Harry Chapin, released in 1998 (see 1998 in music) as a two-CD compilation. It was recorded at the Village in New York, and was Harry's two-thousandth concert. The setlist was compos ...
'' (1998, Bottom Line / Koch)
* ''Story of a Life
''Story of a Life'' is the third posthumous compilation album released featuring Harry Chapin, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music). It was released as a box set containing 3 CDs and a 76-page booklet.
Track listing
Disc 1 (1:16:59):
# "Taxi (Har ...
'' (1999, Elektra)
* '' Onwards and Upwards'' (2000, Harry Chapin Foundation)
* '' VH1 Behind the Music: The Harry Chapin Collection'' (2001, Elektra)
* ''Songwriter'' (2002, Harry Chapin Foundation)
* '' The Essentials'' (2002, Elektra)
* '' Classic Hits of Harry Chapin'' (2003, Warner Special Products)
* '' Heads & Tales / Sniper and Other Love Songs
''Sniper and Other Love Songs'' is the second studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1972. The album's Sniper (song), title song is a vaguely fictionalised account of Charles Whitman's shootings from the clocktowe ...
'' (2004, Elektra. Double CD re-release of first two albums with bonus tracks)
* '' Introducing ... Harry Chapin'' (2006, Rhino Records)
* '' Bottom Line Archive Series: Live 1981'' (2015, The Bottom Line Record Company)
* ''The Singles A's & B's'' (2019, Wounded Bird Records)
Singles
* "Taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...
"
* " Could You Put Your Light On, Please"
* " Sunday Morning Sunshine"
* "A Better Place to Be
"A Better Place to Be" is a song by Harry Chapin from his 1972 album, '' Sniper and Other Love Songs''. The song is about a midnight watchman confiding in a waitress, while drinking gin, about a woman that he met a week before and had a one-night ...
"
* " W·O·L·D"
* "Cat's in the Cradle
"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album '' Verities & Balderdash''. The single topped the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work a ...
"
* " What Made America Famous?"
* "I Wanna Learn a Love Song
"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" is a song written and performed by Harry Chapin. The song was included on his 1974 album, Verities & Balderdash. The song is about a guitar teacher who gives guitar lessons to a woman who is falling in love with him.
Ba ...
"
* "Dreams Go By
"Dreams Go By" is a song written and performed by Harry Chapin. The song was included on his 1975 album, Portrait Gallery. The song is about life passing by, and your dreams not coming true. The song became a top 40 adult contemporary hit, peaking ...
"
* " A Better Place to Be (Live)"
* " Flowers Are Red"
* "Sequel
A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
"
* "Remember When the Music
''Remember When the Music'' is a posthumously produced album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1987. Produced on CD and cassette tape, it contained the same tracks as the album, ''Sequel (album), Sequel'', which was the ...
"
* "Story of a Life
''Story of a Life'' is the third posthumous compilation album released featuring Harry Chapin, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music). It was released as a box set containing 3 CDs and a 76-page booklet.
Track listing
Disc 1 (1:16:59):
# "Taxi (Har ...
"
Video / DVD releases
* ''An Evening With ... Harry Chapin (also known as "The Book of Chapin")'' (1998)
* ''Rockpalast Live'' (2002)
* '' Remember When: The Anthology'' (2005)
* ''You Are the Only Song (also known as "The Final Concert")'' (2006)
References
External links
* – run by Chapin family
Harry Chapin Foundation
*
*
* Harry Chapin's Friends - Started in 1998
Stories & memories of Harry Chapin's influences on his fans
HarryChapin.com
– a fan site
– Contains details about the accident that took his life
World Hunger Year website
Harry Chapin: The Howie Fields years
– Chapin drummer's archival site, 1975–1981
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapin, Harry
1942 births
1981 deaths
American folk rock musicians
American male singer-songwriters
American agnostics
American folk guitarists
American acoustic guitarists
American male guitarists
American people of English descent
American rock songwriters
American pop rock singers
American male pop singers
Congressional Gold Medal recipients
Cornell University alumni
Elektra Records artists
Singers from New York City
Musicians from Brooklyn
Road incident deaths in New York (state)
20th-century American singers
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