By: Brooke Johnpier
Harry Chapin was an American singer-songwriter who was a folk and pop rock artist who was known for his philanthropy and humanitarian efforts.
Chapin was born on December 7, 1941, in New York City. He had two older brothers who would go on to become musicians as well. They were all put into music lessons as children – Chapin was in trumpet lessons while his brothers were in a local choir. The three boys were close and performed together during the summers. This would last until Chapin graduated from high school, attended both Cornell University and the United States Air Force Academy, and even directed Legendary Champions in 1968, a movie that was nominated for an Academy Award; but Chapin wasn’t happy. He knew that his true calling was music, and that’s what he did starting in 1971.
After playing nightclubs in NYC, Elektra Records noticed Chapin. In 1972, Chapin signed one of the biggest record deals of all time. The same year, Chapin would release his debut album, Heads & Tales, which contained one of Chapin’s biggest hits (and a personal favorite of mine): “Taxi.” The album placed on the Billboard 200 chart at number 60, but the song hit number 24 on the Hot 100 chart. “Taxi” would also earn Chapin a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year.
Chapin would release yet another album in 1972, this one in October. His second album, Sniper and Other Love Songs, didn’t do nearly as well as his first, but achieved moderate success, placing on the Billboard 200 chart at number 160. The album’s title track, “Sniper,” is vaguely about the University of Texas clocktower shootings. “Sniper” is a long song, two seconds shy of 10 minutes, but it’s another personal favorite of mine.
It would be a year and two months before Chapin would release his third album, Short Stories. This album had Chapin’s world-renowned hit, “W.O.L.D.,” and would go on to become one of the most successful songs of his career. The album landed number 61 on the Billboard 200, and “W.O.L.D.” hit number 36 on the Hot 100 chart. In other countries, the hit single would get top ten status.
In August of 1974, Chapin would release his fourth, and most successful album, Verities and Balderdash. This album contained the hits “Cats in the Cradle,” and “30,000 Pounds of Bananas.” “Cats in the Cradle” has been covered multiple times by many different artists and bands throughout different genres. But the original recording landed number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album itself would hit number four on the Billboard 200 chart. On a more personal level, though, I love the song “30,000 Pounds of Bananas,” but I can’t listen to it because it’s about a truck driver dying, and I have close connections with the trucking industry. Definitely listen to the song though, it’s truly great.
September 27, 1975, saw the release of Chapin’s fifth album, Portrait Gallery. The album was heavily inspired by The Byrds, with the sound closely reminiscent of their folk-rock style. The album had more than 60 musicians featured on it with different instruments and vocals. The album would also peak at number 53 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 1976, Chapin was regarded as one of the most successful artists of the decade. When he released his first live album, it sold 2.1 million copies.
July 16, 1981, was the day that Chapin was supposed to perform in East Meadow, NY, for a benefit concert. That would never happen as his car would have issues; Chapin turned on his four-way flashers, but a truck didn’t see him and hit him in his car. Chapin would be pronounced dead at the hospital later that day.
Chapin still lives by leaving a legacy. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and many of the buildings at NY colleges were named after him. The theater that he was supposed to perform at was renamed in honor of him as well. “Cats in the Cradle” landed number 186 of 365 on the Songs of the Century list. On October 15, 2006, Chapin was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
Chapin was taken from this life too soon, but while he was here, he made some amazing music.
Want a band/artist you like to be written about? Email your suggestion to Brooke at johnpibl23@bonaventure.edu!
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