"Hello, Honey, It's Me": The Story of Harry Chapin

by Ira Kantor

The life of Harry Chapin, charismatic musician and iconic humanitarian, was unexpectedly and tragically taken on July 16, 1981. He was 38 years old. A "human dynamo" whose sheer tenacity landed him on the Billboard charts, on Broadway, in the White House, and at the forefront of the world hunger movement, Chapin lived by the mantra of "When in doubt, do something." In following this mentality, Chapin's 10-year solo career encompassed more than 2,000 concerts, nine studio albums, the creation of global nonprofit World Hunger Year (now WhyHunger), and the love and respect of fans, fellow musicians, and key political influencers alike. Hailed as a consummate storyteller, Chapin is best known for his character-driven tunes -- "Taxi," "Sniper," "W*O*L*D," "A Better Place to Be," "30,000 Pounds of Bananas," and "Cat's in the Cradle" included. Yet despite having only four Top 40 hits to his name, Chapin's songs remain one of a kind -- elevating him to the same artistic status as classic singer-songwriters of his era like James Taylor, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, and John Denver. Now, nearly 40 years after his death, the following 10-chapter oral biography seeks to tell Harry Chapin's story through the firsthand, on-the-record testimonies of the "characters" who knew him best -- more than 65 family members, friends, business associates, and political and musical contemporaries. This book strives to provide a well-rounded retrospective of a musical shooting star whose life, being, sense of accomplishment, and legacy remain unsurpassed -- even to this day.

213 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2020

Reviews

[Mark Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Harry's music, and want to know more about the man, this is an essential read. Lots that I didn't know, it is told in interviews with the people who knew him. It paints a pretty comprehensive picture of a very driven individual. As with all highly motivated people, Harry had his faults, but none of those faults were negative. Simply there were not enough hours in the day for Harry to achieve all the things he wanted to. The world is a better place for having had Harry Chapin in it.

[Dayva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really think the author of this little book should have disclosed up front that it was 'compiled by' him. Not actually written. While I admit that it was an undertaking to gather and sort the many quotes into chapters, there really is no actual story to enjoy. In disappointment, I originally gave a rating of 1 star, but, later decided to write a review and explain. Not my cup of tea, but, another Harry Chapin fan may actually enjoy the format.

[Monica Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a glimpse into the life of Harry Chapin as seen through the eyes of people who knew him best. I have been a fan of his for many years, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned quite a few things about his life and death. A must read for any fan of his.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just transcripts but some new info

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Harry Chapin, this book was just eh for me.