Monday, July 16, marks the 35th anniversary of the death of songwriter Harry Chapin, and many of Long Island’s popular folk-rock musicians will gather to perform an the annual “Just Wild About Harry” tribute concert for the late philanthropist.
Chapin reportedly suffered a heart attack or similar health-related issue while driving to perform a concert at Eisenhower Park on July 16, 1981.
According to published reports, his car, a blue 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit, slowed to around 15 miles per hour near exit 40 in Jericho before being struck by tractor-trailer and bursting into flames.
For close to two decades, friends, fellow musicians and fans have gathered once a year to remember the folk icon in song.
Chapin Billboard chart-toppers including “Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Flowers are Red,” and “Taxi,” will be performed by a diverse roster of performers, all selected by event host and singer-songwriter, Stuart Marcus, whose band, Gathering Time, will perform one of Chapin’s most popular hits “Taxi,” which had debuted on the Johnny Carson show back in 1972.
“I get chills each year to think that we’re in essence giving the concert that Harry meant to give on the night he died,” said Marcus, who added that he is inspired by the musician’s contributions in social activism, in specific, through the Harry Chapin Foundation headquartered in Huntington, supervised by Chapin’s widow.
Stuart said that growing up in the 1960s, his own band, Gathering Time, a folk-rock harmony trio, draws inspiration from acoustic rock bands, in addition to Chapin’s work.
“We came together naturally — it started out with Hillary and me sitting in just for fun at the steady gigs of our former member, Glen,” Marcus said.
Simon & Garkunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash work also inspired Marcus, who said he learns “how to meld the sounds and lyrical and musical traditions of folk, [but] with the energy of rock n’ roll.”
Gathering Time’s fourth album, Keepsake, ranked No. 1 on the Folk DJ chart in March, Marcus said.
He added that other local acts such as Folk Goddesses, Patricia Shih, Frank Walk & Robin Eve, Media Crime Jerry DeMeo, Sid Cherry & Helene Schreier Pandal, Kenny Forgione, along with many others are set to take over the stage.
The acts, he said, are vetted by him, and all participants must be local residents.
“[They] have to be comfortable on stage to play in front of a crowd without being intimidated,” Marcus said.
The concert will take place on the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater Stage at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow at 7:30 p.m. and attendees are urged to bring non-perishable food items, along with blankets and lawn chairs to the enjoy hours of nostalgic beats.
“It’s amazing to play on such a big stage in front of thousands of people who are so glad to be there,” Marcus added. “I get a great feeling setting up a concert where so many musicians I respect so much get to play.”
All canned food items and non-perishable food donations will benefit Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
