HARRY CHAPIN DOCUMENTARY DRIVERS

In fact, director Korn points out, the young storyteller was nominated for an Academy Award in 1968 for directing вЂњLegendary Champions,вЂќ a documentary about early boxing legends. Especially when he wasnвЂ™t home, which was often, as conveyed in the doc by various members of his family.Д¬hapin came from a large and competitive musical family in New York City, and his love of storytelling first took hold via his love of film. Though вЂњCats In The Cradle,вЂќ his most enduring song, began life as a poem written by his wife Sandy, thereвЂ™s no doubt the lyricвЂ™s message, massaged with HarryвЂ™s undeniably strong nursery rhyme-like vocal melody and chord pattern, hit home for the father of five.

HARRY CHAPIN DOCUMENTARY DRIVERS

His gift was finding the moral message in chronicling the ordinary and sometimes mundane lives of taxi drivers (which he was), radio DJвЂ™s (with whom he developed great relationships) and the responsibility of being a father. вЂњI use realities I know about to set me going and I try to make the song true to itself,вЂќ he says in an interview. Write what you know is a songwriterвЂ™s mantra, and Harry lived that credo. Musicians Bob Geldof and Kenny Rogers point to ChapinвЂ™s determinedness at finding a solution as inspiration for their own activism. The two tirelessly pressured politicians on Capitol Hill in the вЂ70s, including President Jimmy Carter, into addressing the serious and sadly never-ending issue of hunger. Rather than just singing about it, he doubled down and lent his time and physical efforts, forming the grassroots organization World Hunger Year (now WHYHunger) with like-minded ally Bill Ayres, a Catholic priest and NYC radio personality. Directed by Rick Korn, the 93-minute film, released virtually and in select cinemas today, details an altruistic person who was so giving of his time and talent to charitable causes that it almost became a detriment to the business side of his music, which didnвЂ™t faze him in the least.ДЄ вЂњcitizen artist,вЂќ as politician/friend Mark Green notes, many casual listeners of ChapinвЂ™s beloved, classic story songs- вЂњCats In The Cradle,вЂќ вЂњTaxi,вЂќ вЂњRemember When The Music,вЂќ вЂњWOLDвЂќ and вЂњCircleвЂќ- probably donвЂ™t know the commitment he had to ending world hunger. That phrase is the message that frames ChapinвЂ™s life and provides the title for the documentary Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something, the story of a life well-lived until tragically cut short at the age of 38 in a fiery car crash on Long Island. Undoubtedly though he would look for the positive, leap into action and continue living his motto of вЂњwhen in doubt, do something.вЂќ Maybe I should just change that last sentence and take out the words вЂyou have to wonder if.вЂ™ Because the last 40 years since HarryвЂ™s passing would make him shake his head. Though there are a few dedicated troubadours scattered across the globe, you have to wonder if todayвЂ™s world is too cynical and untrusting. We could use a Harry Chapin in the world today, a gifted songwriter who can make adults cry with a touching lyric and also carry the torch of social activism in song and in daily life.

Harry chapin documentary