Download free, high-quality (4K) pictures and wallpapers featuring Harry Chapin Quotes. She was nine years his senior. "She was married for seven years to a concrete castle king. The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words. Chapin's first formal introduction to music was trumpet lessons at The Greenwich House Music School under Mr. Karrasic (sic)[citation needed]. Despite his deep love for music, Harry Chapins original career choice was to become a documentary film-maker. $6.49 shipping. The name has since been altered to the Harry Chapin Foundation, and the core focus of the foundation is to assist communities across the country. And my two other brothers who died. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/17/obituaries/harry-chapin-singer-killed-in-crash.html. Avril Lavigne has a perfume named after her song "Black Star." Congressional Gold Medal 1987, "Cat's in the Cradle. Musically, Mr. Chapin worked in a rather rudimentary idiom, allying a conversational baritone with earnest strumming on his acoustic guitar. With John Wallace, Tim Scott, and Ron Palmer, Chapin started playing in various nightclubs in New York City. It holds the record for the longest running chart topper Down Under since the first ever ARIA Chart was listed in 1983. He also studied at Cornell University for a while but did not complete a degree. When he died in an auto accident in 1981, eulogies poured forth from all over the country, and Chapins widow accepted a Special Congressional Gold Medal on his behalf at a Carnegie Hall tribute concert in 1987. "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" comes from the true story of how Harry met his wife. They married on November 26, 1968 and had two children: Jennifer and Joshua. Chapin was a philanthropist and a humanitarian. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Chapin wrote several additional songs about her, including "Shooting Star" about their relationship, and "Sandy." The story of their meeting and romance is told in his song "I Wanna Learn a Love Song." Sandy Chapin and Harry Chapin have been married for 12 years. In 1981, the Harry Chapin Memorial Fund was set up with assistance from Ken Kragen, Chapins former manager and Kenny Rogers with a donation of $150,000, the proceeds of a benefit concert. Harry's younger brothers Tom and Steve were choirboys at Grace Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights, and through them Chapin met "Big" John Wallace, a baritone with a five-octave range, who later became his bassist, backing vocalist, and straight man onstage. In 1994, admirers of the late singer's passionate fight against hunger renamed the then 11-year old Southwest Florida Food Bank (Fort Myers, FL) the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, in tribute to Chapin, and with the permission of his widow. He was killed in a car accident on July 16, 1981. It was also one of the first performances on The Midnight Special, with John Denver hosting. Husband, Timmy Smith is a contractor. .mw-parser-output .awards-table td:last-child{text-align:center}. Age, Boyfriend, Ethnicity, Heig Google Employee Tanmay Bakshi's Wiki: Parents, Sal Where is Allison Munn now? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Its about we. He did not appear to be badly burned, the detective said, adding that he did not know whether Mr. Chapin's car had been disabled or why the emergency lights were flashing. Photo by Mark Lamhut. It was sometime in early spring of 1972 that a little-known American musician named Harry Chapin made a national TV appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The child grows away and takes certain things of yours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The song also became a top 5 hit in Canada. Harry Chapin met Sandy Cashmore (ne Gaston), a New York socialite, in 1966. Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter who became one of the most popular singers of the 1970s. Chapin's mother married Films in Review magazine editor Henry Hart a few years later. by Linda McCarty. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs. The follow up album, Sniper and Other Love Songs, was also released in 1972. Married 5 Dec. 1919 to Aubrey Constuble in Pueblo, Colorado. However, the album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. Mary Chapin is similar to being named Mary Beth. He would have loved my daughters and that theyre singing (as The Chapin Sisters) and that (his daughter) Jen (Chapin) is out there, too. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). I call it event psychosis. Who is Harry Chapin dating? In 1975, Chapin released his fifth album, Portrait Gallery. Last month, Tom and his family did a benefit in Fairfield County, marking the 35th anniversary of the Harry Chapin Foundation, playing songs for which his brother will forever be remembered:abouta lonely DJ, a taxi driver, a father who passes on an unintended legacy. Four additional organizations once presented awards in the name of Harry Chapin in the past. The story of their meeting and romance is told in his song "I Wanna Learn a Love Song". The album was an international success, selling over 1 million units. Chapin directed Legendary Champions in 1968, which was nominated for a documentary Academy Award. . ", She was involved in several lawsuits after Chapin's death: Negligence suits related to the car accident that took his life and suits over his biography and a possible film of his life. Connect any celebrity with Harry Chapin to see how closely they are linked romantically! He originally intended to be a documentary film-maker and took a job with The Big Fights, a company run by Bill Cayton that owned a large library of classic boxing films. Remember how we listened to the radio And I said, "That's the place to be"? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He didnt think the song was a single, Tom said. Chapin was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006. Cat's in the Cradle. The family was of English ancestry. His father, Jim Chapin, was a celebrated drummer whom the singer didn't see much of, and later wrote a song about . Harry Chapin was someone who believed in giving back to the society. Yes we can compete. Recently he stood in the rain for half an hour in the rain at at a large benefit at Caumsett State Park in Lloyd Harbor, greeted each car as it arrived. The success of the song in America is credited to American radio personality Jim Connors, who helped promote the song on the radio despite its length, and helped it to stay on the charts for 16 weeks. Harry Chapin girlfriend, wife list. It's not a luxury. Mr. Chapin's biggest hit single was ''Taxi,'' in 1972. [4][5], She accepted Chapin's Congressional Gold Medal and has worked to ensure his charities continued to function after his death. The couple then had two children: Jennifer and Joshua. American Composer Harry Chapin was born Harry Forster Chapin on 28th December, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York City New York USA and passed away on 16th Jul 1981 Jericho, NY aged 38. He also made an album with his brothers Tom and Steve but it was unsuccessful. Arguably Chapin's best-known song, Cat's in the Cradle is a poignant story about the changing dynamics between a father and son. -- Harry Chapin . photos, On December 7, 1987, on what would have been his 45th birthday, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his campaigning on social issues, particularly his highlighting of hunger around the world and in the United States. Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his campaigning on social issues in December 1987. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest-paid performers. [22] Kragen, explaining his work on these benefit events, said, "I felt like Harry had crawled into my body and was making me do it."[23]. Chapin met Sandra Gaston, a New York socialite eight years his senior, in 1966 after she called him asking for music lessons. In the '70's, Harry joined Electra Records and produced a number of albums capitalizing on his story-telling abilities, resulting in his first major hit, "Taxi", which was one of the longest songs played on radio up until that time. Happy Birthday to rock icon, Peter Gabriel. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Other notable songs from the album not released as singles are "Mr. Tanner," "Mail Order Annie," and "They Call Her Easy." More songs with methods of transportation in the title, More songs that are also the names of TV shows, He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop. "I come in every Thursday. Structural Info Facts Filmography Known for movies Last Vegas (2013) as Soundtrack Shrek the Third (2007) as Soundtrack Mr. Jealousy (1997) as Soundtrack 1958 The Chapin Brothers perform their first public gigs. He always said, 'Money is for people,' so he gave it away." The album's title song, "Sniper," is a semi-fictional account of the University of Texas tower shooting. During the 1970s he also began working on Broadway productions. He was 38 years old. He is most remembered for Congressional Gold Medal 1987, "Cat's in the Cradle.. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. Anyone can read what you share. It was the most inspiring lecture Korn heard in his life. It was directed by Rick Korn and produced by Jason Chapin. Also, despite seeming social and political differences with Chapin, Dr. James Dobson often quotes the entirety of "Cat's in the Cradle" to illustrate dynamics of contemporary American families.[32]. Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something is the inspiring story of Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Harry Chapin ("Cat's in the Cradle"). By all accounts, Harry Chapin was one helluva salesman. "He hasnt been around for 35 years and were still rocking.. The album sold 2.1 million units. Thats the way he was at home and thats the way he brought it to the world. The Untold Truth Of Harris Faulkner's Husband - To July 16, 1981, Interstate 495, New York, United States, Author, Composer, Songwriter, Playwright, Singer-songwriter, Music Arranger, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, United States Air Force Academy, Cornell University, Brooklyn Technical High School, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Jen Chapin, Joshua Chapin, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Jim Chapin, Jeanne Elspeth, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Tom Chapin, Steve Chapin, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Congressional Gold Medal, Grammy Hall of Fame, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Cat's in the Cradle, Taxi, W*O*L*D, Legendary Champions, Harry Chapin: Rockpalast Live. His folk rock songs gained a huge fan following and his fans eagerly awaited his next release. As Harry decided to put his fame to work, establishing himself as an activist for charitable causes as well as supporting self-sufficiency, he convinced President Jimmy Carter to create a Hunger Commission exploring ways to eliminate world hunger. There was a time when she used to hyphenate her name, Mary-Chapin Carpenter. $4.25 shipping. The cause of hunger is poverty, the cause of poverty is powerlessness. She said she wanted to learn to play the guitar and to hear her . She was the daughter of Malcolm MacIntyre, a lawyer and corporate executive who headed up Eastern Airlines from 1959 to 1963. On the afternoon of July 16, 1981, Chapin was driving on the Long Island Expressway en route to perform at a free benefit concert at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York, that evening. One known son. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Required fields are marked *. Harry Chapin is a member of the following lists: Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients, American pop singers and American rock singers. Last four or five years, I was like his benefit band.. We're looking for something grand and good to do. She later remarries. Combating world hunger was one of the humanitarian causes he was devoted to. The first single, "Sequel," became a top 25 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Harry and Clare had met as summer camp counselors in the early 1960s. We can do this.", What: Tom Chapin Band (with Jon Cobert and Michael Mark) Annual Holiday Christmas Show. In recent years Mr. Chapin continued to tour throughout the country, even though mass sales and critical acclaim eluded him. It is a semi-fictional account of a truck crash that occurred in Scranton, Pennsylvania, transporting bananas -- based loosely on a March 18, 1965, accident involving truck driver Gene Sesky. Harry Chapin was previously married to Sandy Chapin (1968 - 1981). The Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award was created in 1981 to honor the legacy of the Folk-Rock singer-songwriter, who fought tirelessly to end world hunger and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1987 for his philanthropic work. This nation is looking for a vision. You wanna come? And hed pay my way, give me 500 bucks so it wouldnt be a waste of a weekend and wed do five shows a weekend. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. The album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. Most celebrity stuff is gestureville. His principal contribution was his self-described ''story song,'' a narrative form that owed much to older talking blues and similar structures. Devised 'Story Song'. This song is about a cab driver who picks up a passenger who turns out to be his former lover. His parents were Jeanne Elspeth and "Big" Jim Chapin, a legendary percussionist. By all accounts, Harry Chapin was one helluva salesman. Sandy continues to serve as chairperson to The Harry Chapin Foundation which continues to raise money for the charitable causes that Chapin was dedicated to. Sandy Chapin and Harry Chapin have been marri Harry Chapin and Mary Woronov separated in 19 See Out of high School, Chapin entered the Air Force Academy to "Learn to Fly." Go to WhyHunger atwww.whyhunger.orgor call 212-629-8850. Upon his marriage he became the stepfather to Sandy's three children from a previous marriage and the couple went on to have two children of their own. His nieces Abigail and Lily Chapin perform under the name the Chapin Sisters. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. [13] In 1980, his recording contract with Elektra expired. Were going to fix this. And Harry was that way with his brothers. Even his film work was on the East Coast, except for that one year in California when he was doing commercials. We built the railroads, industry, won two World Wars. Harry Forster Chapin was born on December 7, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, to Jeanne Elspeth (ne Burke) and Jim Chapin, a well-known percussionist. Tom and Steve continued to perform together (often with Harry's former bandmates) from time to time after his death. Harold Forster Chapin (December 7, 1942 July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter and philanthropist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. Harry Chapin. About Harry Chapin Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 - July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter whose legacy is built not only on his unique style of folk music, but also on the vast. After a short stint in the Air Force Academy and studying architecture and later philosophy, at Cornell University, Harry tried his hand at film-making and found himself to be quite good at it, directing an academy award-nominated film about boxing heavyweights, Legendary Champions (1968). Chapin signed a multi-million dollar recording contract with Elektra Records. The movie does a great job in telling his story from his . "One of the great things about Harry and Bill was Its not about me. His parents divorced in 1950 when he was eight years old. I'd rather make a mistake than do nothing. An Eagle Scout and married man, the well-liked Whitman has consistently been described as an "all-American boy." Indeed, after the shooting, Whitman . In The Beatles "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. Recalled Tom: Harry would call me up and say I played this place last year and the year before and the band is too expensive, so Im going to do a benefit. Father, Chapin Carpenter, was a high-level Life magazine executive, so she spent her youth in Princeton, Tokyo, and Washington,DC. Don't feel comfortable with your info on our site? Born in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., in 1942, Chapin grew up with a musical family. Here to help, folks! Harry Chapin (From a 1980 concert program): Arrived December 7, 1942, the obligatory first step to a life story. The epitaph on his tombstone is a bit of verse from his song, "I Wonder What Would Happen to This World" which reads: "Oh if a man tried To take his time on Earth And prove before he died What one man's life could be worth I wonder what would happen to this world" The tombstone faces the state of Connecticut where he last resided. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated. "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" was included on the album and became the number one requested song for a few weeks, despite not being released as a single. Over the ensuing years he released Short Stories (1973), Verities & Balderdash (1974), Portrait Gallery (1975), and Greatest Stories Live (1976). Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? The album sold 2.5 million units due to the number 1 hit, "Cat's in the Cradle." During the 24-hour period of the event, little to no music was played, with the exception of the iconic "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie played at noon and 6 pm. The song is a followup to Taxi. And thats something that Harry and Bill Ayres from Day One understood. Left with the formidable task of keeping Harry's legacy alive, she runs the Harry Chapin Foundation, which tries with . Harry Chapin: Sequel / I Finally Found It Sandy 45RPM VG+ F198. [citation needed]. He earned an estimated $2,000,000 per year (approximately $11,75 M in 2017) until his death in 1981, making him one of the highest paid artists in the world. Born Harry Forster Chapin, December 7, 1942, in New York, NY; died in an automobile accident, July 16, 1981, on Long Island, NY; son of James Forbes (a musician) and Elspeth (Burke) Chapin; married Sandra Campbell Gaston (a poet); children: Jaime, Jonothon, Jason, Jennifer, Josh. The album produced a top 40 Billboard Adult Contemporary hit, "Dreams Go By." $3.99. Had he lived, Harry Chapin, who was born a year to the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, would have turned 74 tomorrow. There were some things that didnt last, but the important ones are an astonishing legacy, of a good idea, putting the right people there, and people buying into it," his brother said. His brother, singer-songwriterTom Chapin, says that JacHoltzman, who signed Harry to Elektra Records and knows something about selling, called Harry the best salesman I ever met., 'TAXI' INSPIRATION: Scarsdale woman who inspired Chapin dies, BACK TO HUNGRY HOLLOW: Chapin Sisters to perform. Harry Chapin was a singer-songwriter who rose to stardom in the 1970s. [11][12] Other notable songs from the album include "Shooting Star," "Halfway to Heaven," and "Six String Orchestra.". Chapin met Sandra Chapin, a New York socialite eight years his senior, in 1966 after she called him asking for music lessons.They married two years later. Pretty cool chart too! Its unconscionable.. Mr. Chapin organized and appeared in many benefit concerts for causes, including a campaign against world hunger, environmental and consumer issues and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Despite his success as a musician, he left little money and it was difficult to maintain the causes for which he raised more than $3 million in the last six years of his life. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1960 and briefly attended the United States Air Force Academy. In 2000, he was inducted into the Brooklyn Technical High Schools Alumni Hall of Fame. American Composer Harry Chapin was born Harry Forster Chapin on 28th December, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York City New York USA and passed away on 16th Jul 1981 Jericho, NY aged 38. The force of the crash crushed the rear of the car, a 1975 Volkswagen, to the pavement, sending off sparks that set its fuel tank aflame, the police said. Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, has sold over 16 million records worldwide. In addition, he wrote and performed a Broadway play, The Night That Made America Famous. Harry Chapin specialized in ponderous, . Jen Chapin holds son Van and photo of herself with dad Harry Chapin, pictured (r.) in 1973. He signed a one-album contract with Boardwalk Records, and released his ninth studio album, Sequel. Sandy Chapin, who was married to Harry from 1968 until his death in 1981. [1][2] In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.[3]. Chapin donated an estimated third of his paid concerts to charitable causes, often performing alone with his guitar to reduce costs. Harry Forster Chapin was born on December 7, 1942 in New York City, the second of four children of legendary percussionist Jim Chapin and Jeanne Elspeth, daughter of the literary critic Kenneth Burke. Feeding hungry people is important in the short run, but in the long run you've got to realize that powerful forces are creating those hungry people. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. Sandy Chapin, who was married to Harry from 1968 until his death in 1981, told Songfacts the story: "He had been working in film, that was how he made his living. Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama. (AP; News) In the music world, there are superstars and there are supernovas. His epitaph is taken from his 1978 song "I Wonder What Would Happen to This World": Oh if a man tried Sandy Chapin should receive the money in a few days, attorney Anthony Curto said. October 7, 1986 NEW YORK (AP) _ The widow of Harry Chapin will receive $10 million from a jury's verdict in her suit against the owners of a truck involved in the accident that killed the singer-songwriter, her attorney said Tuesday. He also found the time to produce a number of Broadway shows and write songs for his brother Tom's children's TV series, '"Make a Wish' (1970)'". Updated February 2023. 1959 [24] Since WNEW-FM changed formats, other New York stations have continued to do fundraisers for the charity. He has been described as one of the most beloved performers in music history. The errors I make are going to be errors of commission, not omission. Sandy Chapin net worth is $18 Million Sandy Chapin Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Sandy Chapin was born as Sandra Gaston. How do we create a person's profile? 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and shot the album to a Gold sales certification. And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoonLittle boy blue and the man in the moon"When you coming home, dad?" Harry Chapin Quotes. Your email address will not be published. 1. . It became the number one requested song for 10 weeks in a row. He lived in Huntington Bay, L.I., and was particularly generous with organizations on Long Island. In 1978, he released the album Living Room Suite which had the songs It Seems You Only Love Me When It Rains, Why Do Little Girls, Flowers Are Red, and Somebody Said. Harry Chapin met Sandy Cashmore (ne Gaston), a New York socialite, in 1966. Thats your job, to fly. Chapin graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1960 and was among the five inductees in the school's Alumni Hall Of Fame for the year 2000. In those pre-cable, pre-internet days, with only three major over-the-air TV channels, Carson's late night . He took up trumpet playing originally but switched to strumming a guitar later and joined his younger brothers, Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin, in a homegrown musical act that was well received in the folk era of the 1960s. She divorced him to marry Harry Chapin, who was her guitar instructor. Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, and Rihanna all sang on "All of the Lights" by Kanye West. Harry was lucky that his big hits were great songs. Mr. Chapin was pronounced dead at Nassau County Medical Center at 1:05 P.M. And when you fly, the parents say They flew!. Harry Chapin - If you want to feel & I want to know what would h 7" 45RPM (#163) $10.00. Yes we can dream. Lives on a farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. Asked to organize a benefit concert to fight world hunger, he embraced the cause, cofounding World Hunger Year in 1975 and making numerous trips to Capitol Hill and other forums. Died July 16, 1981 when his car was hit by a truck in Jericho, New York. And prove before he died See the article in its original context from. [21], He was also the inspiration for the antihunger projects USA for Africa and Hands Across America, which were organized by Ken Kragen, who had been Chapin's manager at the end of Chapin's career, after Fred Kewley. It was inspired by American radio personality Jim Connors. As a child he started playing the trumpet before taking up the guitar. He wrote and performed the musical The Night That Made America Famous (1975) and also wrote music and lyrics for the musical Cotton Patch Gospel that was released after his death. He co-founded the organization World Hunger Year with radio personality Bill Ayres. The single went to number one and was his breakthrough hit. Login He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest-paid performers. The very reason we ask, why world hunger? The second single, "Remember When the Music," became a top 50 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. "[8] Billboard ranked "Taxi" as the 85th song of the year. [33], Harry's widow Sandy is now chair of the Harry Chapin Foundation, where she continues to pursue Harry's legacy. Its success was due to the top 25 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, "Taxi." The song is about a father who doesn't find time for his son during the boy's childhood; ultimately the son grows up to be just like his father, not making any time for his dad. Josh Chapin (Son): In every way but DNA they were his kids. At the Chapin Family compound in Andover, New Jersey, which is nearing 100 years old, one of Harry Chapin's younger brothers, Tom Chapin singer/songwriter/activist & Grammy Award Winner ponders the photograph of Harry (lower, center) and the painting of his maternal grandfather, the literary giant Kenneth Burke, or K.B. [29], Chapin had co-operated before his death with the writer of the biography entitled Taxi: The Harry Chapin Story, by Peter M. Coan, released posthumously, from which the family withdrew their support. In fact, Chapin is not a last name at all, but part of her first name. Marylou Phillips has handed out food in Punta Gorda for 10 years. The newborn niece of slain University of Idaho student Kaylee Goncalves has been named in honor of her aunt and the young woman's best friend, who was also killed in the November ambush attack, according to a family Facebook page.. Goncalves and Madison Mogen were longtime best friends who grew up together, according to the family and dozens of posts that remain visible on their Instagram . Jang Wooyoung (2PM) Age, Height, Girlfriend, Net W What happened to Bernie McGee from 'Seeking Sister How old is Larray? Success came quickly; his first album, Heads and Tales (1972), stayed in the Top 100 for more than six months, buoyed by the success of the hit single Taxi. Two other albums, Short Stories (1973) and Verities and Balderdash (1974), also produced hitsW.O.L.D. and the chart-topping Cats in the Cradle, respectively. She divorced him to marry Harry Chapin, who was her guitar instructor. I become part of a large, exciting, sprawling, multifaceted brood. The title song Sequel reports further events in the lives of Harry and Sue, the characters in his 1972 hit song Taxi. When asked if the song was true, Chapin said "It's emotionally true, if not literally true. By 1976, Chapin was established as one of the most popular singers of the decade. Harry Chapin: The Gold Medal Collection, album notes, Elektra/Asylum Records, 1988. Chapin modernizes what her father, Harry Chapin, did in the '70s with his hits "Cat's In the Cradle" and Taxi." The young balladeer, along with Ridgefield-er Kevin Briody, opens for Livingston . The song is sung from the point of view of the disc jockey, who is singing to his ex-wife.