The following article appeared in the December 2001 issue of our newsletter, Grassroots:
There was a very special concert held October 14th [2001] at the IMAC Theater in Huntington. It was billed “Harry Chapin: A Celebration in Song.” The concert was a sellout and celebrated the life and music of our founder, Harry Chapin.
It featured Tom and Steve Chapin, Harry’s brothers, and his daughter, Jen. Many members of Harry’s original band as well as other members of the Chapin family performed. Some of the concert goers traveled from as far away as California, Las Vegas, Maryland, and Florida.
Lasting almost four hours, the concert was a trip down memory lane, not only with Harry’s music but also with Tom and Steve telling stories about Harry, as only brothers can do. Jen Chapin, Harry’s youngest daughter, was only ten when her father died. She shared with the audience, how she has continued to learn about and appreciate her father and the many lives he touched, through the stories people have told to her.
The grand finale was a rendition of one of our favorite Harry Chapin songs, “All My Life’s a Circle.” It was a fitting end to a heart-warming show. Harry would be pleased that not only is his music still alive, but also Long Island Cares, the organization he started twenty years ago to end hunger here on Long Island.
The mission of the concert was twofold: first was the music, but the second was to announce the public phase of Long Island Cares’ capital fund-raising campaign. The net proceeds from the concert, approximately $50,000, were directed to the campaign.