Harry Chapin..storyteller extrordinaire

[southernGuild]

Steve that is just a beautiful story! I enjoyed reading that one greatly.
Longtime Harry Chapin fan myself, Thanks to my older brother who came home with many of the albums when I was just a kid. I'd listen to his songs over and over. Those storys and his tellings of them still live in my mind. Great albums. Great man too! noone has really stepped up to fill his shoes either.
Funny to read in this thread that Billy Joel opened for him early on. Reminds me of a connected story. In the early '70's, A friends mom was divorced, and her boyfriend gave her a Early Billy Joel album. She didnt care for it but my friend and I did. The sound was nothing like the later Billy Joel sound, These song were more country laced, and singer-songwriter, and we love it.
When I heard that "BILL" Joel ( Thats what he called himself in the early days) was coming to play at Tulane University auditorium. I begged my brother to take me ( I was underage) I remember what sealed the deal was when I told him " He sounds like Harry Chapin". We did go, and the concert hall only had about 350 poeple in it! A very personal concert, and afterward , He and the band we chatting to folks outside. Inviting fans to meet them in the French Quarter.
Each year afterward, when Billy Joel returned, my brother and I continued to go to see him. The crowds got larger and larger, Up to stadium shows. But I still recall that first show at Tulane.....and I can Thank Harry Chapin for that.
Sure wish I had seen him myself. I Do have a great concert DVD, and that is very nice, But to have seen him in the days would have been great!
I sure do remember the night he died.

 

[CA-35]

These four actually formed a not for profit called The Food Policy Center which was a lobbying group that monitored the President’s Commission on World Hunger of which Harry was a member. Great pic Chris thanks.

Harry's widow Sandy runs the Harry Chapin Foundation. Here's a link to the site: http://www.harrychapinfoundation.org/index.php

I had the pleasure of seeing him live in Gusman Hall on Miami Beach in 1978. He came out with a stool and an acoustic guitar, and then after each of a a few verses a member would join until the whole band was on stage. It didnt occur to me at the time that I was in the presence of such a phenomenal artist.

 

[taabru45]

I'm so appreciating these shared stories and memories...and while I know there are artists poets and musician who have touched us deeply and influenced us and our lives, I'm doubting that many of them have risen to the occasion and reached the depth of our being as Harry did....I always appreciated him......but so much more now,...and what is amazing is that many of us have our prized Guilds from the 70s.....which means that they have been around longer than Harry was....what an astounding legacy he left....within and all around us...phenomenal... Steffan