Harry Chapin

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Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer and songwriter. Chapin’s debut album, Heads and Tales (1972), 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”. He also wrote and performed a Broadway musical, The Night That Made America Famous.

In the mid 1970s, Chapin focused on 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.

His fellow Long Islanders loved him for his support of local artists, as well. He and his wife Sandy raised funds for the Performing Arts Foundation, a now-defunct local theatre group. They also supported the Long Island Ballet. The band shell at Huntington’s Hecksher Park is named for Harry Chapin.

Chapin died on July 16, 1981 in an automobile accident on the Long Island Expressway at the age of 38. He was headed west from Huntington Bay, where he lived with his wife and three children, to perform a concert in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County when his car was struck by a truck.
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  • vashta1

    one of the most underrated musicians of his time.

    Monday afternoon

  • hashcake77

    I'm in the dance baaaand, on the titanic. Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee". The iceberg's on the starboard bow, won't you dance with me?

    September 2011

  • Karmageddonx

    I am stunned by how few plays this amazing artist has. I had no idea he was so underrated. Kind of sad, actually.

    July 2011

  • Stoosie

    I like his music it's asshame he died so young

    June 2011

  • Nagsworth

    UNDERRATED HERO. One of the great American story-tellers, and an incredibly noble and charitable human being, I started listening when I was about 3 years old in my grandpa's car and I'm still listening today at age 24. His songs bring a chill to my bones.

    May 2011

  • Early_Birds

    Sniper is fantasticly haunting.

    March 2011

  • Fitzer48

    I was lucky enough to see Harry live twice on the U of Illinois campus during the 1970s. He said, they were Champaign-Urbana's house band...the campus loved him.

    March 2011

  • bfmets

    harry is the best ever telling stories with a horse voice and the acoustics behind him

    February 2011
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Recent Interview with Sandy Chapin

30 Nov 2011 | from www.harrychapinmusic.com/component/content/frontpage

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