Harry Chapin

About

Harry Foster Chapin, better known as Harry Chapin, was born on December 7, 1942 in Brooklyn Heights, New York City. A graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School, Chapin briefly attended the United States Air Force Academy and Cornell University before setting out to become a documentary filmmaker. His film Legendary Champions was nominated for a documentary Academy Award in 1968. In 1971, Chapin decided to switch gears and pursue a music career. His first album, 1972's Heads and Tales, was a universal success. His following grew with such popular records as Short Stories and Verities and Balderdash, released in 1973 and 1974, respectively. Chapin's most famous singles include "Taxi," "Circle" and "Cat's in the Cradle," the latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and catapulted him to wealth and stardom. "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's only No. 1 song. Chapin is also known for his work on Broadway productions. After writing and producing The Night That Made America Famous (1975), he wrote music and lyrics for the musical Cotton Patch Gospel (released in 1982). Outside of his musical career, Chapin was deeply committed to philanthropy, particularly fighting hunger i…