Harry Chapin
Tom Chapin
Ron Palmer
Tim Scott
John Wallace
Steve Chapin
Russ Kunkel
Michael Masters
Paul Leka
Jeanne French
Jim Chapin
Howie Fields
Doug Walker
Yvonne Cable
Kim Scholes
This is a FAN page. Harry is my all time favorite singer/songwriter and I just want more people to get a chance to hear him and learn about him.
My name is Ken and I will post my own thoughts here just like the rest of you, as a fan.
-Ken
Harry Chapin
(December 7, 1942 July 16, 1981)
Harry Chapin was an American singer and songwriter. He originally intended to be a documentary film-maker, and directed Legendary Champions in 1968, which was nominated for a documentary Academy Award. In 1971, he decided to focus on music. With Big John Wallace, Tim Scott and Ron Palmer, Chapin started playing in various local nightclubs in New York City.
Chapin's debut album was Heads and Tales (1972), which was a success thanks to the single "Taxi." His follow-up album, Sniper and Other Love Songs, was less successful, but his third, Short Stories, was a major success. Verities & Balderdash, released soon after, was even more successful, bolstered by the chart-topping hit single "Cat's in the Cradle" (co-written by his wife). He also wrote and performed a Broadway musical, The Night That Made America Famous.
In the mid 1970s, Chapin focused on his social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States and co-founding the organization World Hunger Year, before returning to music with On the Road to Kingdom Come. He also released a book of poetry, Looking...Seeing, in 1977.
He was married to Sandy Chapin, and was stepfather to her children as well as having children of his own with her. The story of their meeting and romance is told in his song "I Wanna Learn a Love Song."
Chapin died on July 16, 1981 in an automobile accident on the Long Island Expressway at the age of 38. He was headed to perform a concert in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County when his car was struck by a truck. An autopsy showed that he had suffered a heart attack, but it could not be determined whether that occurred before or after the collision. Although Chapin was a notoriously poor driver, Supermarkets General, the owner of the truck, paid $12 million to his widow in the ensuing litigation.
Chapin was interred in the Huntington Rural Cemetery, Huntington, New York. His epitaph is taken from his song "I Wonder What Would Happen to this World." It is:
Oh if a man tried
To take his time on Earth
And prove before he died
What one man's life could be worth
I wonder what would happen
to this world
Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 1987 for his campaigning on social issues, particularly his highlighting of hunger around the world and in the United States. His work on hunger included being widely recognized as a key player in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977.
Chapin often remarked that he came from an artistic family. His father Jim Chapin and brothers Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin are also musicians, as are his daughter, Jen Chapin, and two of his nieces (see the Chapin Sisters). His grandfather was an artist who illustrated Robert Frost's first two books of poetry.
A biography of Chapin entitled Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story, by Peter M. Coan, was released following his death. Although Chapin had co-operated with the writer, following his death the family withdrew their support. There is some debate about the accuracy of the details included in the book.
Christmas is coming soon. Are you looking for a Christmas present and would like to help handicapped children? Than please request the list of donations in kind from HelpCharity, www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity , by sending me an e-mail at Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de . Many donations in kind are autographed.
If you don't have the chance to request the list of donations in kind, please add HelpCharity to your Top Friends!
Thanks for helping me to support handicapped children!
Christian
Founder of HelpCharity Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 (0) 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 (0) 171 6903352 E-Mail: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Internet: www.MySpace.com/HelpCharity Internet: www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Harry Chapin: A Celebration in Song featuring the Chapin Family Tue, August 4, 2009 at 7:30pm Featuring members of the original Harry Chapin Band ~ Big John Wallace and Howard Fields and Tom Chapin, Steve Chapin, Jen Chapin, with Jonathan Chapin and Clark Wallace, Stephan Crump and Jamie Fox In an evening to remember, the famous, musical Chapin Brothers come together to celebrate and bring alive the music of the late Harry Chapin. Songs like “Taxi,” “Cats in the Cradle,” “Mr. Tanner,” “Circle,” and more. Tickets: $22-52
Community Food Drive to benefit Elijah's Promise Food Pantry YOU CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY! In honor of Harry Chapin and his dedication to the fight against world hunger, the State Theatre in partnership with Elijah's Promise will hold a food drive during the performance of Harry Chapin: A Celebration in Song to benefit the Elijah's Promise Food Pantry in New Brunswick. You can help when you come to see Harry Chapin: A Celebration in Song by bringing in non-perishable food items such as: canned fruits and vegetables, tuna, pastas, rice, and beans. If you cannot make the concert, you can still drop off food items at the Ticket Office between July 28-August 4 during office hours.
On August 4th, 2009 members of the Chapin family, as well as Clark Wallace, Stephan Crump and Jamie Fox will gather at the State Theatre in New Jersey to bring the music of Harry Chapin alive. Songs like “Taxi,” “Cats In The Cradle,” “Mr. Tanner,” and “Circle” are sung by those who know them best—Harry’s original band and his amazing family. You can help by bringing in non-perishable food items to the concert. If you cannot make the concert, you can still drop off food items at the Ticket Office between July 28-August 4 during office hours. Get your tickets now at www.statetheatrenj.org
I was gonna leave you a really cool and clever graphic comment to express my vast admiration for the music, but you disabled HTML., and now I can't think of a single original thing to say.
If any of you are in the Denver area come out and check out the show with Ian Cooke and Pollination Population on the 23rd of July at Old Curtis Street Pub.
CountryHome Forum, http://groups.myspace.com/CountryHomeMagazine , is one of the biggest Forum for country music in Europe and part of CountryHome, www.countryhome.de , Germany's Premier Online Country Music Magazine.
CountryHome Forum have more than 5,000 members. Each news you submit to CountryHome Forum will released to my weekly Newsletter with more than 50,000 readers.
Please submit your artist news and events to CountryHome Forum to help your artists to get well known better in Europe. If you do not have the time to submit your artist news and events by yourself, please send it me to: Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de and I will submit them by myself to CountryHome Forum.
I know that many artists from North America don't have their music videos uploaded to German video websites. The most popular websites are MyVideo.de and ClipFish.de. That means your European audience does not have the chance to find them.
I understand that most of you don't speak German and are not able to upload videos because of the language barrier. If you would like me to upload your videos to the German video websites, please let me know.
Thanks
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de
I recieved this e-mail today and am so sad to hear the news of the loss of such a great man. I had the pleasure of hearing Jim perform at a Harry Chapin "Celebration In Song" Tribute show a few years back and also had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Jim after the show. It was such an honor to just sit and talk with Jim and hear his stories. He will be sorely missed.
"Just wanted to let the Chapin community know of the passing of Harry, Tom, and Steve's dad Jim Chapin. He died on July 4 at about 5 PM in Ft. Myers FL where he resided. He was 89 and will very shortly be cremated at a private service there but plans will begin soon for a memorial service in NYC in September.
For those of you who did not know, Jim was a respected drummer, drum teacher, drum clinician, and author. His true claim to fame lay in his book, "Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer" which has sold over a half million copies since it's first publication in the late 50s. Do visit www.jimchapin. com for more info on this unique individual who will be greatly missed by all of those who knew him.
Thanks….Howard Fields"
Jim Chapin was a musical genius on the drums and was an instrumental part of many drummers lives.
Rest In Peace Jim Chapin (July 23, 1919 - July 4, 2009)
Hey New Jersey Harry Chapin fans, The Chapin Family and members of the original Harry Chapin Band are performing Harry Chapin: A Celebration In Song at the State Theatre in New Brunswick on August 4. Check it out www.StateTheatreNJ.org
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