1981 After Harry's death, Sandy Chapin creates the Harry Chapin Memorial Fund in order to continue his legacy of philanthropy. [18] The Harry Chapin Foundation was the result. (Note: I'm not including professional race car drivers who died behind the wheel as risk is part of the sport.) He said burial arrangements have not been completed. This biography of Harry Chapin provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline. Passers-by managed to help the unconscious Chapin out of his engulfed 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit and he was immediately taken by helicopter to the nearby Nassau County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:05 PM due to internal bleeding. He also became involved with the theater. It was also one of the first performances on The Midnight Special, with John Denver hosting. In particular I'm a huge fan of classic rock and the oldies. Hewas taken by police helicopter to Nassau County Medical Center where doctors tried for 30 minutes to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at 1:05PM. That resonates with Long Islanders. Raised Thousands for Arts. Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was killed on July 16, 1981, in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. Chapin's mother married Films in Review magazine editor Henry Hart a few years later. Mr. Chapin left music while he studied at the Air Force Academy and at Cornell, and he later worked for a while in the film industry. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Maybehe sure lived !!! Another of Chapins famous story songs, A Better Place to Be is about a midnight watchman regaling a waitress with his story about a beautiful woman hed met the previous week and had a one-night stand with. Harry Chapin was an incredible musician, a gifted storyteller and a committed activist for social justice who co-founded WhyHunger in 1975. with this post, location or person. Born and raised in Arkansas, Ashley has a passion for writing songs and later relocated to Nashville to pursue her music career. 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. He then slowed to about 15 miles (24 km) per hour and veered into the center lane, nearly colliding with another car. Other Long Island landmarks named in honor of Chapin include a graduate-student apartment complex at Stony Brook University, a theater in Heckscher Park in Huntington, New York, and a playground at the intersection of Columbia Heights and Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights. The 10 Best Ashley McBryde Songs of All-Time, Metallica cover band The Wedding Band reveals new show, The 10 Best Ricky Martin Songs of All-Time, Ranking All The Songs from The Mitchells Vs. He achieved international success with a string of hits throughout the 70s and 80s. July 16 th will mark 40 years to the day when Harry Chapin tragically died in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway on his way to perform a free show at Eisenhower Park. Death [ edit] Gravestone in the Huntington Rural Cemetery, Huntington, New York 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. The collision ruptured the gas tank of the VW, causing it to burst into flames. The word "martyr" comes up at least once here, and Chapin's early death in a car crash sealed that reputation. Singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and social activist Harry Chapin died in a car crash in July 1981. His father Jim, brothers Tom and Steve, and daughter Jen Chapin are musicians. In the mid-1970s, Chapin devoted much time and effort to social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. But he did it as a spoken song. Harry Chapin - Story Book: Elektra . Please log in if you don't want to post Eventually, the boy gives in and begins painting the same way as everyone else. 20ms. EHP Hospitality Group is now hiring for the 2023 summer season! The second single, "Remember When the Music," became a top 50 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times. Harry was just there and he was tremendously passionate about this island. Harry Chapin, a 1970s folk-rock composer and performer, was killed when the car he was driving was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer on the Long Island Expressway in Jericho, N.Y., on July. Harry was killed in a car crash on July 16th, 1981. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter is Chapin's fifth cousin. 7 min read hollyblog guest blog banner It was a typically sunny, scorching day that. It had a life of its own. Harry Chapin illustrated on the cover of his 1974 LP Verities & Balderdash (Image: Amazon) It was June of 1981, around midnight and I'm in Boston's Chinatown district eating a late dinner with Harry Chapin. However, the album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. They played with him before his solo career took off, and were credited on the albums Greatest Stories Live, Legends of the Lost and Found, and Chapin Music! 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 to have performed Thursday night at a free concert on Long Island and tonight and Saturday night in New Hampshire. The group seeks to address the causes of hunger and poverty. The song is a followup to Taxi. Harry Chapin Discography: 1972 - Heads & Tales 1972 - Sniper and Other Love Songs Police said his car burst into flames and the truck driver, who was unhurt, cut the seatbelt that pinned Chapin inside and pulled the singer from the burning wreck. We were recently at Bethpage ballpark and we were there doing a food drive, says Pachter. Three teenagers were hospitalized after a train collided with their car in Richland county Saturday morning But Chapin thought of money as an entity that could abet him helping those in need. The song was performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which received so many calls that Chapin returned the next night. The concert is free but donations are appreciated. Chapin was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006. The truck was traveling at 55 miles an hour as Chapin shifted lanes. Its hard to overestimate the amount of good [Chapin] did, said Sen. Patrick Leahy in an interview with Associated Press. The park's theater has since been renamed in Chapin's memory. Mrs. Chapin and her children originally sued for $25 million. The family spends the night at the plumbers home, concluding that the real heroes are often the people you suspect the least. Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art. The 90-minute film traces Chapin's life from his childhood as the member of an intellectual, artistic and liberal East Coast family to his days as one of folk music's most-revered storytellers . Mr. Chapin, who was to have performed last night at a free concert in Westbury, L.I., remained dedicated to folk music in an electrified rock age that prized ornate arrangements and pounding dance beats. An 'all-star benefit memorial service' for Chapin is planned for next month in New York City, Thomas said. He was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. However, Elektra Records underwent a management change and gave almost no promotion for his later albums with Elektra, but they all sold at least 250,000 units each and charted successfully. Harry Chapin 318 Audio CD 39 offers from $2.49 Story Book: Elektra Albums 1972-1978 Harry Chapin 50 Audio CD 15 offers from $29.13 Verities & Balderdash Harry Chapin 137 Audio CD 35 offers from $2.50 The Essentials Harry Chapin 318 Audio CD 39 offers from $2.49 Story Book: Elektra Albums 1972-1978 Harry Chapin 50 Audio CD 15 offers from $29.13 As rocksoffmag.com explains, the song became so popular among fans it earned the nickname the Chapin theme song, with Chapin regularly using it as part of the closing set at his concerts. Some concern existed about the accuracy of the details included in the book. Learn how your comment data is processed. Harry Chapin dies at 38 in car crash JERICHO, N.Y. -- Folk rock singer-composer Harry Chapin, known for his fund-raising work to fight world hunger, was killed in a fiery auto accident. In 1975, Chapin released his fifth album, Portrait Gallery. Originally it was a poem that Harry wrote, it was just words on a page. Released in December 1973, it peaked at number 34 in the UK, number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 9 in Canada, and in the top ten across numerous other countries, eventually selling over a million copies in total. Around noon on July 16, 1981, the 38-year-old singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was driving his daughter's 1975 blue VW Rabbit on the Long Island Expressway heading to perform a free concert that evening at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York. He had no lap belt adding to the reason he ramped back up and over the seat back. He was killed in the crash, and bananas were strewn all over the place. Net Worth: $1 Million; Profession: Songwriter, Singer, Musician, Singer-songwriter, Author, Playwright, Composer, Music Arranger: . [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]. Profile: Born December 7, 1942 New York City. I've been in the film business on and off for a lot of years, and wasn't doing well at one point. Chapin directed Legendary Champions in 1968, which was nominated for a documentary Academy Award. Chapin died at 38 in a fiery car crash on the Long Island Expressway. "Kenny Loggins - Harry Chapin Award Presentation (Live Aid 7/13/1985)", "ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award" |, "Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award" |, "Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity" |, "Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community Service" |, "Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award" (Long Island Cares) |, Recording Industry Association of America, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something, VH1 Behind the Music: The Harry Chapin Collection, "Reflections From Harry's Mom: An Interview with Elspeth Hart", "Harry Chapin Midnight Special, Taxi; intro", "Tubridy, a BassBaritone, Performs in 2d Recital Here", "Runaway Truck Kills Driver; 16 Persons Hurt", "The 'Banana Truck' Crash: 50 Years Later", Jen Chapin shares her dad's idealism but not his voice, "Text of 1977 review of Chapin concert at Landmark Theatre", "The Story of How Harry Chapin Helped Michael Moore Start 'The Flint Voice' in 1977 (10/21/11)", "Harry Chapin's Family Fights to Carry on His Extraordinary Legacy of Compassion", "Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin's driver's license was revoked at the", "Singer Chapin's Widow to Give Lawsuit Funds to Hunger Battle", "Harry Chapin Is Gone, but Friends Carry His Song in Their Hearts", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-JIcKSjnXw&t=64s, https://www.ascap.com/news-events/awards/chapin-award, https://musicbiz.org/events/music-biz-awards/harry-chapin-memorial-humanitarian-award/, https://www.anyoldkindofday.com/index.php/Harry_Chapin_Award_for_Contributions_to_Humanity, https://www.anyoldkindofday.com/index.php/Harry_Chapin_Humanitarian_Award_for_Community_Service, https://www.anyoldkindofday.com/index.php/Harry_Chapin_Humanitarian_Award_(Long_Island_Cares), "Harry Chapin on What Made America Famous", "Billy Joel, DMC, Pat Benatar Appear in Harry Chapin Doc Trailer", Harry Chapin (founder) page on Long Island Cares/Harry Chapin Food Bank website, Stories & memories of Harry Chapin's influences on his fans, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harry_Chapin&oldid=1139720942, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Harry Chapin's Friends - Started in 1998 -, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 15:30. Officials said Chapin's death Thursday may have been due to a malfunction of his 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit. It's real. Released in August 1974, it reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. We as a family feel that we have some help now to continue Harrys work, she said. He was 38 years old. died in 1981 at age 38 in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. The Harry Chapin Foundation still provides food relief to afflicted areas of the United States. Her claim to fame was that she inspired Harry Chapin to write the love song Taxi about former lovers who meet . And then I guess after the Village Gate days, and the beginning of the contract with Electra, he was going through notebooks and looking for material. In 1975 he conceived a multimedia show entitled ''The Night That Made America Famous,'' which received two Tony nominations, and in 1977 came ''Chapin,'' a musical revue that played in several cities. And prove before he died Chapin was noted for his philanthrophy. The contract was one of the biggest of its time. Chapin, whose father was a drummer with the Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman bands, was born Dec. 7, 1942, and raised in New York City's Greenwich Village area. [citation needed] His parents divorced in 1950, with his mother retaining custody of their four sons, as Jim spent much of his time on the road as a drummer for Big Band-era acts such as Woody Herman. March 3 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Louisiana boy with a firm grasp of baseball rules is seeking a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest umpire. Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream? Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin was killed on July 16, 1981, in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Harry Chapin passed away on July 16, 1981 at 38 years old from an auto accident. [31], Singer and songwriter Guthrie Thomas has long publicly stated that Chapin's song "Cat's in the Cradle" is one of the most difficult songs to perform, due to Chapin's master guitar playing and his brilliant syncopation of the lyrics, meaning each word must fit perfectly and in time with the playing. James Taylor wrote "Sweet Baby James" during a road trip to Virginia in honor of his brothers new baby, also named James, whom he was about to meet for the first time. The Europeans first came across bananas when in the early 15th century Portuguese explorers discovered bananas in Western Africa and took them to the Canary Islands. With John Wallace, Tim Scott, and Ron Palmer, Chapin started playing in various nightclubs in New York City. .mw-parser-output .awards-table td:last-child{text-align:center}. The earliest Chapin to come to America was Samuel Chapin, who was the first deacon of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1636. He was 38. The song is a true story of how he met his wife, Sandra Chapin. To take his time on Earth A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, This was based on a true story about an accident in Scranton, Pennsylvania where a driver lost control of a truck full of bananas he was delivering. However, he left towards the end of the 1980s, which was eventually followed by him, Read More The 10 Best Ricky Martin Songs of All-TimeContinue, Wolves are one of the most misunderstood animals in the world. The Chapin accident happened 26 miles away from that tollbooth. Chapin wrote the song when he listened to Connors calling his ex-wife in the WMEX studio. Sales. Mr. Chapin was pronounced dead at Nassau County Medical Center at 1:05 P.M. So Im finally out of traffic and the verses she took off to find the footlights I took off to find the sky were coming out of my mouth googled where exactly did Harry Chapin die on LIE got answer looked where I was right at exit 40 heading to rt 110 exit 49. Chapin's first formal introduction to music was trumpet lessons at The Greenwich House Music School under Mr. Karrasic (sic)[citation needed]. Mr. Chapin's biggest hit single was ''Taxi,'' in 1972. The album was an international success, selling over 1 million units. On Thursday, July 16, 1981, just after noon, Chapin was driving in the left lane on the Long Island Expressway at about 65 mph on the way to perform at a free concert scheduled for later that evening at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. . Over the course of his decade-long career, he released 11 albums and 14 singles, all of which became hits across the globe. Her 1966 Buick Electra land barge collided with a fog-obscured trailer. The village of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, has hosted the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger, a 10k, 5k, and Fun Run, since 1981.[30]. Required fields are marked *. The folk singer Harry Chapin died at the age of 38. His widow Sandy, who co-wrote Chapin's chart-topping 1974 hit "Catsin the Cradle," continued to run the Harry Chapin Foundation to carry on Harry's philanthropic work. Forty years later, his music and Why Hunger, the non-profit he helped create, continue his life work and message. More than half of Chapin's concerts were benefit performances (for example, a concert[16] to help save the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, New York, as well as hunger causes such as food banks), and proceeds from his concert merchandise were used to support World Hunger Year. In What Made America Famous, Chapin sings about a family living in a rundown house that catches fire. The film was released theatrically and through virtual cinema on October 16, 2020 (World Food Day). Bill Ayers in 1975. [citation needed] His other great-grandparents on his mother's side had immigrated in the late 19th century. Four additional organizations once presented awards in the name of Harry Chapin in the past. Guy Thomas, a spokesman for Kragen and Co., Chapin's management firm, said there will be a private funeral attended only by his family and closest friends. His album Dance Band on the Titanic sold poorly, but was voted Album of the Year by The Times of London. After Harry's death, the "Hungerthon" continued, and at the "U.S. Live Aid" concert in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium in 1985, Kenny Loggins was presented with the first "Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award" by actor Jeff Bridges for his work for the World Hunger League in fighting hunger in America. Mrs. Chapin, who lives in Huntington Bay with four of her five children, said she was relieved that the trial was over. Long known for his charity work, such as the World Hunger Year which he founded in 1975, Chapin was on his way to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. to play afree concert the night of his death. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. By the end of the decade, Chapin concentrated more on touring than producing hit singles, but still released one album a year. 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. His father, James Chapin, was a drummer who worked with the bandleaders Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman, and Harry played the trumpet as a child before taking up the guitar. "Who Let The Dogs Out" won a Grammy. He was only 38 years old. March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. Although the 1972 album Sniper and Other Love Songs spawned several hit singles, its true beauty lies in the deep cuts. You're just made up of numbers. It was directed by Rick Korn and produced by Jason Chapin. More Images. Harry was amazing! He was killed in a car accident on July 16, 1981. There was a collection box by our tent with Harry Chapins name on it, and this young father was walking with a child, and he stopped in front the box and he looked at the box and said to his son, You see the man of this man on this box? Hinkle said the Huntington-based foundation, to be called the Harry Chapin Memorial Foundation, was set up with the permission of the Chapin's wife, Sandy. Harry Chapin died July 16, 1981 after suffering a heart attack or had mechanical issues. [25] Since 1987, the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award has been bestowed more than 20 times to various artists for their various "humanitarian contributions." A memorial fund was established in his name following his death, with . 12. Articles . Singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and social activist Harry Chapin died in a car crash in July 1981. Chapin slowed to about 15 miles per hour and swerved in the center lane directly in the path of a tractor-trailer truck. When he died of a heart attack in 1981 after getting into a car accident, his career was basically down to the level of Lobo or Atlanta Rhythm Section: playing whatever venues would have him. Lady Diana Spencer, British royal, 1997. The 10 Best Ty Dolla Sign Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Lupe Fiasco Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best 4 Non Blondes Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Marina and the Diamonds Songs of All-Time, The 10 Best Ruben Blades Songs of All-Time. The same year, he released his debut album, Heads & Tales. Singer, Songwriter, Activist. Chapin began performing with his brothers while a teenager, with their father occasionally joining them on drums. Harry Chapin: The Gold Medal Collection, album notes. March 2 (UPI) -- A Minnesota police officer came to the rescue of a raccoon he spotted running around with a jar stuck over its head. He signed a one-album contract with Boardwalk Records, and released his ninth studio album, Sequel. I knew on the LIE I forgot how long ago. On July 16th, 1981, when he was on his way to play a free concert that evening, Harry Chapin was killed when his small car collided with a large tractor trailer after he was seen swerving in and out of lanes, perhaps because he was late, we will never know. You'll catch me mostly writing articles about the artists and bands I love. The Machines is a film that was released in 2021. The album has been described as his fastest breaking album. He said he was told by lawyers for Supermarkets General, owner of the truck, that there would be no appeal in the case. Although the story told in the song is . Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Supreme Court Hears Dispute Between New York and New Jersey, Foodies Toast Long Islands Top Chefs at Taste The Greats, These Loveable Animals in Long Island Shelters Await Their Forever Homes, These 10 Spring Trends Are Made for Loving, East Ends New Tool in War on Opioid Crisis: Narcan Rescue Stations. The truck hit the back of his car, causing the fuel tank to explode. Chapin wrote Flowers are Red after his secretary told him about a note from her sons teacher that read: Your son is marching to the beat of a different drummer, but dont worry we will soon have him joining the parade by the end of the term. Using the story as his inspiration, he wrote about a little boy who, on his first day at school, is punished by his teacher for painting pictures of flowers in every shade of the rainbow, rather than the prescribed red and green. Harold Forster Chapin (/tepn/; December 7, 1942 July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. A children's picture book was created using the lyrics of "Mr. Tanner" and the illustrations of Bryan Langdo; it was published by Ripple Grove Press in May 2017. At one time, more than half his concerts were benefits. Famous people who died from a car accident or the result of a car accident. The play earned two Tony Award nominations and two Drama Desk Award nominations. The soundtrack for the film is, Read More Ranking All The Songs from The Mitchells Vs. [24] Since WNEW-FM changed formats, other New York stations have continued to do fundraisers for the charity. Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981. His son Josh is involved with the foundation, along with other family members. He influenced people to be that way. The song earned Chapin another Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and he was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Zeppelin are among my favorites and Foghat's "Slowride" is one of my favorite tracks. The Harry Chapin Archivessays that "the driver of the truck, 57-year-old Robert Eggleton of South Plainfield, N.J., and another passerby were able to get Harry out of the burning car through the window and by cutting the seatbelts, before the car was completely engulfed.". Chapins legacy to finding an end to hunger has lasted because he went after the cause with such passion, says Paule T. Pachter, executive director of Long Island Cares, the organization Chapin founded in 1980. It became the number one requested song for 10 weeks in a row. He briefly attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and was then an intermittent student at Cornell University in New York State, but did not complete a degree. Police said Eggleton -- assisted by another truck driver -- cut the seatbelt that was keeping Chapin in the driver's seat and pulled the singer from the vehicle, which was by then enveloped in flames. Arguably Chapins best-known song, Cats in the Cradle is a poignant story about the changing dynamics between a father and son. Officially, Chapin died of cardiac arrest, but there was no way of telling whether it was before or after the accident. Chapins introduction to the world came via Taxi, the first single released from his debut album, Heads & Tales. Homicide detectives said a witness reported Chapin's car was moving at no more than 15 mph in the left lane of the expressway and the emergency lights were flashing. MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz. "[15] He co-founded the organization World Hunger Year with radio personality Bill Ayres, before returning to music with On the Road to Kingdom Come. Harry Chapin's brothers sometimes performed with Harry at various times throughout his career, particularly during live performances. Chapin, driving alone in a Volkswagen Rabbit, was struck from the rear by a tractor-trailer truck as he tried to change lanes on the Long Island Expressway, 15 miles east of New York City. The album was less successful than the last, selling 350,000 units. The song is sung from the point of view of the disc jockey, who is singing to his ex-wife. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. Wolves are also intelligent, social animals, Read More 10 Awesome Songs about WolvesContinue, Mitchells Vs. | The title track, which revisits the characters of Harry and Sue from Chapins very first hit single, Taxi, peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, one position above Taxi. Chapin's life was cut short in 1981, when he was killed in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. This was his home.. In Thursday's accident, police said, a truck driven by Robert Eggleton of Plainfield, N.J., crashed into the back of Chapin's car. [11][12] Other notable songs from the album include "Shooting Star," "Halfway to Heaven," and "Six String Orchestra.". Apparently due to either a heart attack or to mechanical problems, Chapin suddenly put on his flashers and drastically slowed down before his car . On July 16th, 1981, when he was on his way to play a free concert that evening, Harry Chapin was killed when his small car collided with a large tractor trailer after he was seen swerving in and out of lanes, perhaps because he was late, we will never know. Despite being just 38 at the time of his death, he left behind a vast body of work that, over 40 years later, continues to inspire and influence as much as ever. The album sold over 1 million units and produced another international hit, "W.O.L.D.," a song about an aging disc jockey who has given up his entire life and family for his career. His daughter Jen said: "He saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America. You might remember his songs "Cat's in the Cradle," "Taxi," "W*O*L*D," and "Circle," to name a few. Chapin's agent said the singer was en route to a business meeting in New York City. Westbound lanes of the expressway were closed to traffic in the area for three hours. Mr. Chapin is survived by his wife, Sandra; five children, Jaimie, Jono, Jason, Jenny, and Josh; his father, James of Long Island; his mother, Elspeth Hart, of Brooklyn; three brothers, James of Queens, and Tom and Stephen, both of Brooklyn; and two half-brothers, Jeb Hart of Brooklyn, and John Hart of Port Jefferson, L.I. Famous people who died from a car accident or the result of a car accident. Chapin signed a multi-million dollar recording contract with Elektra Records. Listen to Harry Chapin Perform 'Cats in the Cradle', Hejoked about his politically and socially active stance in a 1980 interview: "I've found a lot of music critics wishing I was spending more time in politics and a lot of politicians wishing I was spending more time in music.