Harry Chapin
Biography
Harry Chapin's career as a popular singer/songwriter was cut short by an auto accident in 1981, yet he left behind a series of recordings that his fans continue to treasure decades after his death. Chapin was never a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter. Critics accused him of over-sentimentalizing his subjects and attaching heavy-handed morals to his socially aware story-songs; the heavily orchestrated arrangements that accompanied many of his songs didn't help his case with the critics, either. Nevertheless, Chapin earned a devoted audience during the '70s, through his music and his charity work as a social activist.
Chapin began performing while he was in high school, singing in the Brooklyn Heights Boys' Choir and forming a band with his brothers Tom and Stephen. During college, he decided to pursue a career as a documentary filmmaker; in 1968, he directed the Oscar-nominated Legendary Champions. In 1971, he switched his career, concentrating on music. Chapin recruited a backing band through an ad in the Village Voice; the respondents included bassist John Wallace, guitarist Ron Palmer, and cellist Tim Scott. The group began performing in various clubs around New York and the singer/songwriter was soon signed to Elektra Records.
Selected Discography
My wife and I had the opportunity to see Harry many times but one time stands out, we had arrived early at the University field house in Pensacola Florida, Harry came early and seeing our lone bodies he walked up and chatted with us, a moment we will never forget!
|
||
Harry was incredible-I had the pleasure of hearing approx 15 shows in the Toronto area. The media did not appreciate his many talents-ther e was not a style of music he did not excel at. So often performers are good at one genre, Harry did it all-and all in one show or LP. He was a very generous artist-loved to come out after the show say Hi to everyone and let them take photos. So many of his songs are easy to relate to now as they were then. I miss him.
|
||
I remember him preforming this with his 5 year old son rocking back and forth as he sang, it was very memorable cat's in the craddle moment.
|
||
Absolutely LOVE Harry Chapin. Luckily I had the chance to see him in concert back in the 70's. I think I have all of his albums and played them over and over for years. His music lives on and on!!
|
||
I was to go to a concert he was giving at CCSU. I waited for some time in line at the school for the tickets, but when I reached the counter, they asked me for my student ID. At the time I was part time student and they were only selling 1 tickets per student to only full time students. I went home to get my brother which had a full time ID. By the time we got back they were sold out. Some months later July 1981...Well, never got to see Harry. Heard he was fantastic. One of my greatest losses.
|
||
I'll never forget "Harry, keep the change" a story teller under appreciated and so talented the critics were harsh, but he rose above it all, he learned to fly!!
|
||
Have never found another story teller that I was so connected to....."he was always leaning into a heavy wind that no one else could feel".
|
||
I saw Harry Chapin in concert at FSU in about....'79 . After the concert he was kissing girls for a $1 for a fundraiser! I got a kiss and was a fan of his forever! I love his voice and I always listen to the words as closely as the meody of his songs. I was crushed when I heard he was gone.
|
||
I had a chance in 1974 to go to a small concert in my home town. I always regreted not going. Such an artist was never appreciated for his unbelieveabl e talent.
|
||
This man had an amazing voice and filling of compassion though this site is lacking his finer works of art.
|
||
Taxi got me through a lot of tough times. When I heard on the radio of his stupid death it effected me. This guy had an urging, pleading voice that just tore into my heart. Cat's Cradle got overplayed, which took away from all his other great songs. He was truly an American poet and musician.
|
||
M Dad used to sing Harry Chapin to me all the time, camping trips, fishing trips. Once and a while I'll start humming then singing them to my dad, He expresses a smile and says nothing further... The smile!
|
||
If there were more people like him here with us the world would be a better sane place.Shame he died so young and gifted!
|
||
So.... this is the guy I sing like?
Could be a worse comparison. |
||
MY DAD AND I SANG THIS WHEN I WAS LITTLE! NOW I SING IT WITH MY SON.
STORY OF THE SONG MY DAD SAID LIFE IS TO SHORT SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN. SOON THEY ARE GROWN. I LOVE MY DADDY!! |
||
Great singer story teller, saw him in Jericho High School 1974, came for a gig for the students, then in Miami at U of M, a few years later. He died near exit 40 on the expressway where I grew up. It's a shame!
|
||
I've raised my sons on Harry Chapin and never tire of listening to him. He was a wonderful storyteller whose narratives have enriched our lives.
|
||
Great man - great music. Despite being labeled as 70's soft rock, his lyrics meant something and the musicianship was fantastic - "Greatest Stories -- Live" was one of the best live albums of the mid-70's.... a a h I miss the days of real music.....
|
||
My parents were Harry Chapin fans. I saw him for the first time live in July, 1977, I met him at least twice after concerts, and I saw six shows altogether before he died. For years afterward I couldn't listen to his songs. It was only recently that I revisited his music and came to a true appreciation of the altruism of this humble man. he was a man who truly believed in the ability of the ordinary person to make a significant difference in the world. I saw Tom Chapin and Big John Wallace doing
|
||
He was a wonderful performer and writer. His brother Tom is an incredible musician. Harry Chapin was also a great guy. My ex's brother worked with him on World Wide Hunger issues with OXFAM.
|
||
"Cat`s in the cradle" is one my favorites by this man who left us way to soon.Rickey Skaggs(Count r y ) had a good recording of this song..both are very good ,big message..
|
||
Saw Harry perform at Mizzou when there in 1977. He was literally the last person to leave the auditorium. He sat on the stage after the show talking to us knuckleheads as if our opinions mattered. A sweet, charming, funny, and very emphathetic man. He "made" my roomate play the guitar for him, and then insisted he send him tapes of his songs. My roomate never followed up. He encouraged us all to "be the change!" He was a giant of a man with an even bigger soul.
|
||
I consider Harry Chapin to be the Kurt Vonnegut of singer/songw r i t e r s : human, honest, wonderfully imperfect, perfectly wonderful.
|
||
Having met Harry at a concert he gave with his brother Tom in Italy at a USO function in 1980, I felt I lost a good friend. In September 2007 I was at a meeting of people that we had to bring a song that had meaning and touched something within ourselves to signify our life. I brought "Cat's in a cradle". It brought tears to everyone in the room, with several people leaving to cry, off by themselves. When they returned, they opened up, and found a renewed energy to straighten out themselves. H
|
||
To think of this wonderful voice screaming its last in horrible pain on the LIE is one of the worst memories I have of Harry. I wish I had been able to see him in concert...he was so much fun on the albums. Sorely missed after 27 years, rest in peace, Harry!
|
||
One of the first albums I bought (that tells you how old I am!) was his Greatest Hits album. I could listen to "A Better Place to Be" for hours and never get tired of it. I attended a concert of his at Bryant College and he couldn't get the first words to "Taxi" out of his mouth before the crowd went wild. He is truly one of the great story tellers of our life and his intro to "A Better Place To Be" starts to prepare you for the incredible song that comes next. Harry, you are the greatest and te
|
||
Harry to me is a timeless artist, the world is a better place, because he was here. He put his whole heart in every song, He was helping the poor, before it was popular. He did it because he saw the need. His music brings me great joy, I can't wait to hear his storys, even though, I know every word by heart. I can only to be half the person he was, we lost him too soon, but he left us with soo much. I think if you listen to his songs, each one of us, could find one, and more than that for me, th
|
||
i grew up listening to the songs with my folks and the songs still have dear meaning to all of us. They are lasting stories that show a piece of all of us and our shortcomings that show our hopes, dreams and sorrows. I understand they still do a benefit concert in LI in the late summer or fall.
|
||
Had achance to see Harry once and I said " I'll go next time" . Well there was no next time. Serious lesson learned there. Deffinately the best story song writer ,EVER. Can't listen to "A BETTER PLACE TO BE", "Coreys Coming", "Mail Order Annie",Tangl e d Up Puppet ,without crying .
|
||
Knew him well...nites of trading tunes on the axes...first nite we met, my girlfriend kept saying it's Harry!..yeah ; okay...after a nite or playing and drinks...he finally said he had to go but wanted to play one more but he couldn't sing the high parts, did anyone know the words? and of course, my date started..I do, I do...what the?..He started singing and I was going it's Harry Chapin! Taxi was the tune...Harry ' s w/me everyday...I see his kindness come out in the most curious places....Th a n k
|
| report abuse |
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC.