A Tribute to Harry Chapin (TV program)
The 1991 Harry Chapin Tribute Concert TV program featured footage from the concert performed in honor of Harry's 45th birthday on December 7, 1987 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The concert was in honor of Harry being awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal. The show was broadcast in the early 1990's, generally as a draw for fundraising efforts by local PBS stations. The program also featured interviews and archival performances of Chapin performances, and songs interspersed with photos of Harry, family and friends. The program was produced by Connecticut Public Television.
A CD was also released in 1990 featuring the performances from the TV program. The CD also includes a performance Delores Hall's performance of "When I Look Up".
Performances and highlights
- Introduction with interviews by Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary)
- Harry Belafonte - introductory remarks
- "Circle" (Oscar Brand, Stephen Chapin, Tom Chapin, Pete Seeger)
- "Sandy" (Graham Nash)
- Audio clips of Harry taking about his early years
- "Cat's in the Cradle" (Judy Collins)
- More interview clips Peter Seeger, Billy Joel, and Harry
- "Mail Order Annie" - archival performance from the 1980 Hamilton, Ontario concert
- fundraising break by Judy Collins turnover with segue to local hosts
- "Shooting Star" (Pat Benatar)
- Steve and Tom Chapin talk about grandfather Kenneth Burke
- "One Light in a Dark Valley" (The Hooters)
- More audio clips about Harry about making a difference
- "Taxi" - archival performance from the 1980 Hamilton, Ontario concert
- "Last Stand" (John Wallace)
- "Six String Orchestra" (The Smothers Brothers)
- Brief video clip with Kenny Rogers
- "W*O*L*D" (Richie Havens with Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin)
- Pete Seeger talks about the Congressional Gold Medal in a video clip, Sandy Chapin receives the award from Patrick Leahy. She then turns it over to her youngest son Josh, who places it in on the empty stool on the side of the stage.
- "Remember When the Music" (Bruce Springsteen)
- fundraising break
- "Tangled Up Puppet" (Terry Klausner) interspersed with a live performance by Harry
- "Circle Reprise (Cast including Peter Paul and Mary)
Promotional video
Production company "Post Perfect" in NYC released a VHS promotional video "Harry Chapin Tribute Excerpts". This tape was probably for used by TV stations to promote the show and for clips to be used during breaks when used as a PBS fundraiser. The brief promotional video include the following clips:
- Harry Belafonte: Show Open - :26
- Graham Nash: "Sandy" - :57
- Judy Collins: "Cat's in the Cradle" - :25
- Richie Havens, Tom and Steve Chapin - :38
- Bruce Springsteen - "Remember When the Music" - 1:33
- Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo - "Shooting Star" - :53
- Harry Belafonte: Finale - :26 (includes start of "Circle")
