No straight lines make up my life;

And all my roads have bends;

There's no clear-cut beginnings;

And so far no dead-ends.

December 7, 1942

Harry Forster Chapin was born in New York City, the second of four children. His parents were Jeanne Elspeth and "Big" Jim Chapin, a legendary percussionist.

1950

Harry’s parents divorce, with his mother retaining custody. She later remarries.

1958

The Chapin Brothers perform their first public gigs.

1959

While singing on the Brooklyn Boys Choir, Harry meets “Big” John Wallace, who would become his bassist, backing vocalist, and longtime friend.

1960

Harry graduates from Brooklyn Technical High School, and attends the US Air Force Academy for 3 months before dropping out.

1961

Between several short stints at Cornell, Harry begins a career in filmmaking.

1965

The Chapin Brothers begin touring professionally, with their father Jim Chapin on drums.

1968

Legendary Champions, a documentary directed by Harry Chapin, is nominated for an Academy Award.

1968

Harry marries poet Sandy Gaston, and relocates to Long Island with her three children.

1971

Harry and his friend “Big” John Wallace form a band, and open for his brothers on tour.

1971

Harry's daughter Jen is born.

1972

Harry’s first album, Heads & Tales, is released under Elektra. The single “Taxi” is a bona-fide hit.

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1972

Sniper & Other Love Songs, his second album, is released. Although less successful than his first album, it contained the hit single “Circle”.

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1973

Short Stories, his third album, is released. The single “W.O.L.D” reached #36 on the Billboard Top 100 and remains one of his most popular songs today.

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1974

Harry's son Josh is born.

1974

Verities & Balderdash, his fourth album, contains the single “Cat’s in the Cradle”. Co-written with Sandy Chapin, the song is Harry’s highest-charting single.

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1975

Portrait Gallery, his fifth album, is released.

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1975

Harry writes and performs The Night That Made America Famous on Broadway.

1975

Harry founds World Hunger Year (or WHY) with radio host Bill Ayres, as a part of his effort to end world hunger. The non-profit lives on today as WhyHunger.

1976

Greatest Stories Live, Harry’s first live album, is released. The single “A Better Place to Be” charted on the Billboard Top 100, and the extended cut of “30,000 Pounds of Bananas” became a fan favorite.

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1976

On the Road to Kingdom Come, his sixth album, is released.

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1977

Dance Band on the Titanic, his seventh album, is released.

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1978

Living Room Suite, Harry’s eighth album, is released.

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1978

Harry Chapin is appointed to President Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Commission on World Hunger.

1979

Legends of the Lost and Found, Harry’s second live album, is released.

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1981

Sequel, Harry’s ninth album, is released under new label Boardwalk Records. It features the single “Sequel”, which continues the story of Harry and Sue from his song “Taxi”, 10 years later.

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July 16, 1981

Harry Chapin was killed in a car crash in Long Island, when his car was hit by a tractor trailer while he was driving to perform a charity concert in East Meadow, New York. He was 38 years old.

1981

After Harry’s death, Sandy Chapin creates the Harry Chapin Memorial Fund in order to continue his legacy of philanthropy. The organization continues today as the Harry Chapin Foundation.

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1987

On his 45th birthday, Harry Chapin is posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts to end world hunger.

1988

Using material recorded before his death, The Last Protest Singer, Harry’s posthumous tenth album, is released under Dunhill Compact Classics.

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1988

The musical The Cotton Patch Gospel, with music and lyrics written by Harry before his death, is released on Broadway.

1988

The Gold Medal Collection, a 2-disc anthology, is released to commemorate Harry’s Congressional Gold Medal.

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2006

Harry Chapin is inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.