Harry Chapin live - Taxi

[Andy Volk]

Superb songwriting, arranging and performance. The arrangement makes the group sound fuller than it is. The falsetto bridge is astonishing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm-gasyPEQw&t=1s

There is a great documentary about Harry streaming now on Amazon Prime. He was truly a force of nature. I hadn't realized how politically active he was and personally involved with politicians in Washington on world hunger issues. This kind of story-song writing, a mainstay of the folk tradition, seems to really have fallen by the wayside these days.

Other story songs from the folk tradition that have made deep impressions on me ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFKwY_YgZ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VUAJZ7zrF8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK11-Ulbb3A

[Bill McCloskey]

His brother Tom is a local celebrity here in Rockland County, NY and my daughter sang (with a bunch of other kids) on one of his albums years ago. Tom collaborates John Forrester, a very amusing song writer in the vein of Tom Lehrer. so, the Chapin legacy continues in my neck of the woods.

[Greg Forsyth]

Tom Chapin performed at the Walnut Creek Music Festival in Winfield KS last year. He spoke of Harry and then played a wonderful version of Taxi. A fine memory.

Thanks for your post Andy.

[Mike Neer]

I saw Harry perform around 1981 and it was really great. A remarkable storyteller.

I always remember the Hungerthon fundraisers and I’m pretty sure they were run by his organization. He was a special person, really committed to humanitarian causes.