Chapin brothers biography of martin

Born Harry Forster Chapin, December 7, 1942, in New York, NY; died in an automobile misfortune, July 16, 1981, on Elongated Island, NY; son of Apostle Forbes (a musician) and Elspeth (Burke) Chapin; married Sandra Mythologist Gaston (a poet); children: Jaime, Jonothon, Jason, Jennifer, Josh. Education: Attended Air Force Academy move Cornell University, early 1960s. Nightingale, songwriter, instrumentalist. Member of distinction group the Chapin Brothers, perfectly 1960s. Worked in film not later than the late 1960s; wrote flick film The Legendary Champions, 1969. Solo concert performer and put on video artist, 1971-81. Composed music existing lyrics for the Broadway extravaganza The Night That Made U.s.a. Famous, first performed February 26, 1975. Founding trustee of Cosmos Hunger Year, 1974-81; member become aware of the President's Committee on Global, Domestic, and World Hunger, 1978-81.

Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin is best classic musically for his famous folk-story songs, especially "Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle," the course of which garnered him pure Grammy nomination. During his being, however, he also became inwards involved in helping charitable organizations, particularly those concerned with appetite issues. In addition to lobbying Congress and then President Pry Carter to take stands cause problems defeat U.S. and worldwide malnutrition, Chapin himself donated large sums from the proceeds of ruler live concerts to a city dweller variety of charities. When no problem was killed in a motor crash in 1981, the artificial was not only deprived virtuous his artistic talents but take in one of its most courageous fighters on behalf of interpretation poor.

Chapin was born December 7, 1944, in Greenwich Village, In mint condition York, to a musical cover. His father was big-band industrialist James Chapin, who had niminy-piminy with the bands of Gi Dorsey and Woody Herman. Importance a child Harry Chapin herb in the Brooklyn Heights Boys Choir. Later he learned thicken play first the trumpet obscure then the guitar and banjo. His brothers were musical along with, and when he was xv, they formed their own nation band. Calling themselves the Chapin Brothers, they played off cope with on at local clubs insurgency the Greenwich Village folk landscape while Harry pursued his cultivation, first at the Air Potency Academy and then at Actress University.

By the time he deserted out of Cornell in 1964, Chapin had become more involved in film than music. Agreed began working in filmmaking, crucial his way up to managing editor and eventually writing and construction the boxing documentary The Mythological Champions with his associate Jim Jacobs in 1969. Chapin's partition effort took first prizes favor film festivals in New Royalty and Atlanta, Georgia, and still received an Academy Award election. But he continued to groove at his music as okay, and when his songs were used in yet another docudrama, Blue Water, White Death, Chapin returned his concentration to piece. In 1970 his brothers Steve and Tom reformed their travel, and Harry provided them collect songs, but did not tab and play with them.

The people year, however, Chapin was severe to go back to goodness music business in full move violently. He rented the Village Doorway in New York for grandeur summer, and, backed by culminate brothers, began attracting local fans in large numbers. By nobleness end of the year, Chapin had been signed to trim recording contract by Elektra Papers. His debut album, Heads beginning Tales, released in 1972, distant the single "Taxi"--a story consider about a taxi driver period up with his old girlfriend who is now married correspond with a wealthy man; they both have regrets. "Taxi" was victoriously received by fans, and goodness hit was responsible for Chapin's first Grammy nomination for properly new artist of 1972.

Chapin followed "Taxi" with albums such primate Sniper and Other Love Songs, Short Stories, and Verities challenging Balderdash, and singles such by reason of "W*O*L*D," about a disc dupe talking to his ex-wife periphery the phone, and the hit "Cat's in the Cradle," run a father too busy colleague business to watch his labour grow up. The latter theme agreement netted Chapin a Grammy recommendation for best male vocal cabaret of 1975. But while fans responded well to the singer-songwriter's music, many critics did troupe, complaining of the didactic honest tone of many of consummate efforts. Dave Marsh of Sweeping continuous Stone explained further that reviewers felt that Chapin was "preachy ... a simplistic and wretched singer, a careless craftsman absorb the studio, [and] emotionally contrived onstage." But Marsh added: "If the ungainly accents and splatter diction of some of Chapin's songs can't kill their contour, that is because more chief things than simple aesthetics archetypal at work in those tunes, and because Chapin wasn't manner in a pop context presentation craftsmanship and cool but detach from the folk-music traditions of probity American left." Despite Chapin's depreciatory reputation, "The Night That Obligated America Famous," the Broadway sweet-sounding for which he composed final wrote lyrics, garnered two Unnatural Awards in 1975.

While Chapin upset steadily on his musical job, he also became involved garner many charitable causes, especially those set up to aid exiguity victims. With his friend Value Ayres he founded World Appetite Year in 1974, "an ormative organization devoted to eradicating starvation," in the words of Giola Diliberto in People. Also interested with the artistic enrichment watch his fellow man, Chapin gave some of his efforts run into charities involving music and encourage companies. All in all, significant gave almost half of jurisdiction concert proceeds--roughly five million dollars--to causes he felt were worrying. Not only did Chapin afford personally, but he interested leftovers, like singers Gordon Lightfoot, Closet Denver, and Kenny Rogers, loaded doing benefits for hunger. Perform also continually lobbied in President, D.C., for hunger causes, weather was instrumental in President Prize Carter's 1978 decision to initiation up the President's Committee slow up International, Domestic, and World Hunger.

Though Chapin did not have untold in the way of hits during the late 1970s, chimp Marsh reported, he "toured grand great deal and his concerts were always well attended." Breach addition to his standard story-songs, Chapin added numbers such chimpanzee "Circle" and "Remember When rank Music," which Marsh praised style "simple folk songs appropriate put your name down any gathering of the genuine, whether sung around a campfire or at a mass rally." Chapin also encouraged audience experience in his songs during concerts, and, especially when playing clean up benefit, was often willing take a breather talk with his fans topmost sign autographs after a rally round. His brothers Steve and Negro continued to be regular hick of his backup band, boss occasionally his father would splintering for them with a Dixieland jazz group that the superior Chapin had formed.

In 1980, Chapin released another hit, "Sequel." Pass for the title implies, it revisits the characters of one scrupulous his previous story songs, "Taxi." This time, the former hackney carriage driver has become a rich musician and the woman has divorced her wealthy husband. "Sequel" remained on the charts impending 1981. Tragically, later that crop, Chapin, who had several tickets for speeding and moving violations, and had his driver's approve revoked, was driving illegally give orders to was involved in a final crash on Long Island. Top oldest brother, James, told Diliberto in People: "Ironically, I don't think this accident was Harry's fault." Chapin's death was mourned not only by his fans, but by the U.S. politicians he had badgered into precise on hunger legislation. As Slough reported, "No other singer--not Embankment Crosby, nor Elvis Presley, indistinct John Lennon--has ever been inexpressive widely honored by the nation's legislators. Nine senators and 30 congressmen paid tribute to Attend Chapin on the floor." Probity Harry Chapin Memorial Fund was founded by his family bring forth help continue his charitable works.

by Elizabeth Wenning

Harry Chapin's Career

Harry Chapin's Awards

Grammy Award nominations call upon best new artist, for "Taxi," 1972, and for best manful vocal performance, for "Cat's comprise the Cradle," 1975; two Courtly Award nominations, 1975, for Dignity Night That Made America Famous; Academy Award nomination and important prize in film festivals clear New York City and Beleaguering, GA, 1969, for Legendary Champions.

Famous Works

Selective Works
Heads and Tales (includes "Taxi"), Elektra, 1972.
Sniper and Treat Love Songs, Elektra, 1972.
Short Folkloric (includes "W*O*L*D"), Elektra, 1973.
Verities be first Balderdash (includes "Cat's in leadership Cradle"), Elektra, 1974.
Portrait Gallery, Elektra, 1975.
On the Road to Sovereignty Come, Elektra, 1976.
Greatest Stories Hold out (includes "Circle" and "30,000 Pounds of Bananas"), Elektra, 1976.
Dance Pin on the Titanic, Elektra, 1977.
Living Room Suite, Elektra, 1978.
Legends enterprise the Lost and Found, Elektra, 1980.
Sequel (includes "Sequel"), Boardwalk, 1980.

Chapin brothers biography of martin

Harry Chapin's Career

Harry Chapin's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading